Winter warmers weather
Bobotie – Curried minced meat with a creamy golden topping
Cape Malay Curry – Mango, coriander and cumin all join forces in this chicken dish that puts the fire in your belly.
Potjie – A cast-iron pot where meat and vegetables are stewed, and occasionally mixed with Dutch spices.
Getaways at a fraction of the full price
Anywhere between May – August will see rates for luxury guest accommodation drop alongside the temperatures. There is nothing that feels more homely than an affordable stay in a hideaway lodge, with roaring open fires.
Walk in a winter wonderland
We still find it quite funny when you tell non-South Africans that you get snow here every now and then. They seemingly recoil in horror. In the Western Cape, the Ceres Mountains and Sutherland receive regular dustings. The Eastern Cape is also good for a flurry of flakes.
Prime time for a safari
The winter months in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu Natal and Northern Cape are the dry months. Dry months mean limited water supply and sparse vegetation. In terms of game viewing, both of these are gold to Big Five hopefuls.
Temperatures still hover around 20C…
Yes, we do get increased rainfall and overcast hues. But, for the most part, the temperature is never far away from the 20-degree mark. Here’s a fun fact for you: South African sea waters on the south and west coasts are warmer in the winter. That’s because the summer heat melts Antarctic ice, which then drifts up to SA and cools the water.
Great excuse to visit wine cellars
Well, if you do get a miserable day, you best write it off nice and early to give yourself the best possible chance to sample the delights of wine country.
Whale watching season
From the Western Cape’s False Bay right round to Hermanus and Gansbaai, whales – much like European tourists – make the most of the warm seas, rather than the clement weather.
The beasts of the deep can be spotted from June onwards, before the peak of their season culminates with the Hermanus Whale Festival at the end of September.
Source: www.thesouthafrican.com/why-visiting-south-africa-in-winter-is-a-good-idea/
This is our case for why the colder months remain the best ones.
By Tom Head