When to go · Johannesburg

Johannesburg in January

Avoid month. Listed as a month to avoid: Dec–Feb (afternoon thunderstorms, peak crowds and prices); Jun–Jul nights near freezing.

Key facts

Verdict: Avoid
Temperature: 26°C (78°F)78°F (26°C) / 15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C); average high / low
Rain days: 13
Crowds: High; South Africa overall
Prices: High; South Africa overall

Plan around it

Verdict

AvoidBest and avoid months for Johannesburg

Listed as a month to avoid: Dec–Feb (afternoon thunderstorms, peak crowds and prices); Jun–Jul nights near freezing.

January is rated avoid. These months rate higher:

Long-term averages

JohannesburgHighs around 25.5 °C (78 °F), lows around 14.9 °C (59 °F), rain on about 13 daysHighs around 78 °F (25.5 °C), lows around 59 °F (14.9 °C), rain on about 13 days
Highveld, South Africa · Johannesburg, Pretoriarainy
At 1,750 m: afternoon thunderstorms in summer, sunny frosty winters.

South Africa overall: Cape at its best: hot, dry, windy. School holidays until mid-January; Kruger is hot and green.

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Johannesburg, side by side.

First month

Second month

Verdict
Jan: Avoid
Apr: Great (better)
Daytime high
Jan: 25.5 °C (78 °F)78 °F (25.5 °C)
Apr: 21.7 °C (71 °F)71 °F (21.7 °C)
Night low
Jan: 14.9 °C (59 °F)59 °F (14.9 °C)
Apr: 10.7 °C (51 °F)51 °F (10.7 °C)
Rain days
Jan: 13
Apr: 5 (better)
Crowds
Jan: High
Apr: Medium
Prices
Jan: High
Apr: Medium
Festivals listed
Jan: 0
Apr: 1

January: Listed as a month to avoid: Dec–Feb (afternoon thunderstorms, peak crowds and prices); Jun–Jul nights near freezing.

April: Inside Johannesburg's best window: Apr–May, Sep–Oct (dry, mild, clear).

Johannesburg: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.