Garden Route Climate and Weather, South Africa

Port Elizabeth and the Garden Route

Garden Route Weather and Climate

The Garden Route has a Mediterranean Maritime climate, with moderately hot summers, and mild to chilly winters. It is one of the richest rainfall areas in South Africa. Most of the rains occurs in the winter months, brought on by the humid sea-winds from the Indian ocean. The Garden Route's temperate weather falls between two climatic regions of summer and winter rainfall so it rains mostly at night which keeps the area perennially green.

You can feel spring in the air by the end of August and into September. October can be quite mixed because just when you think summer has arrived, another cold front moves in. Summer is from November to March and days are warmer, with December to February seeing mid-summer daily temperatures of about 24-30ºC.

Temperatures start cooling down from about April (Autumn) but it can still be very pleasant until June. June, July and August are the winter months. The days may be bright and warm, but it gets cold in the evening.

The Garden Route

Featured and Related Garden Route Pages

An Introduction to the Garden Route

The Garden Route includes one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline, whose starting point is constantly contested as towns such as Witsand, Stilbaai and Albertinia join the route that winds its way for some 200 km via George, Wilderness ...

View garden route

Attractions of the Garden Route

This is a strip of land like no other in the world in terms of beauty, natural attractions and unique flora and fauna - hence its name. Three of South Africa’s top hikes take place here - the Otter Trail and the Tsitsikama and Dolphin trails and man’s footprint has ...

View garden route attractions

Maps of the Garden Route

A comprehensive set of maps of the Garden Route, South Africa. Includes a hybrid physical / political map showing the major towns of the region, the largest game reserves and the national roads, relief map showing the terrain in the Garden Route and street ...

View garden route map

Visiting the Garden Route?
See Things To Do in Garden Route or check out Things To Do in South Africa to view activities by category, including watersports, sightseeing activities, arts & crafts and many, many more.