Drakensberg Weather

The Drakensberg Mountain range lies in the eastern Cape along the southeast coast of South Africa. The region enjoys a sub-tropical climate with hot summers and mild winters, and experiences four distinct seasons. Sitting at an elevation of over 3,000m, the majestic mountains offer exceptional conditions for activities such as walking, hiking and adventure sports.

 

Both the autumn and spring seasons are considered to be the best time to visit the Drakensberg Mountains, with the warm dry days ideal for many on the outdoor activities that the region is known for. Autumn runs from February to April, and sees temperatures of 23C-25C with 7 hours of sun, together with a little cloud and mist. Springtime in the Drakensberg - the most scenic as the wildflowers blanket the plains - is from August to October, with temperatures dropping to between 18C-20C, with at least 5 hours of sunshine. Summers run from November to March, with the temperatures rising to 25C in the peak season months of December and January, and humidity being the highest at this time. Summers see plenty of precipitation, often with daily thunder storms, and heavy rain sometimes falling for days at a time. The annual average rainfall in the Drakensberg ranges from 740mm-1,000mm.

 

The winter season, running from June to August, sees dry weather and warm temperatures of around 17C-18C, although the higher elevation can see some snowfall, with skiing even available in a small region of the mountains. Winter nights can get extremely cold, with temperatures often dropping below zero.