Things to Do in Johannesburg in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Johannesburg
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
- + Johannesburg in December is the city at full tilt, outdoor markets trade until 9 PM under soft warm nights, braai smoke curls above Zoo Lake every Sunday, and the famous afternoon thunder-storms crash through at 4 PM on the dot, rinsing the heat away in ten minutes of sky-splitting theatre.
- + School holidays turn Maboneng Precinct into an open-air cinema every night, Constitution Hill stages free sunset concerts, and the Neighbourgoods Market spills onto Juta Street with double the food stalls and live jazz that keeps going past midnight.
- + UV climbs to 8, yet the sun lingers until after 7 PM, good for stretching an afternoon game drive at Lion & Safari Park into drinks at sundowner spots locals still keep off the pages of guidebooks.
- + December keeps Johannesburg's galleries open late for First Thursdays, you can stroll from Stevenson Gallery on Jan Smuts to Goodman Gallery on Jan Smuts in shorts and flip-flops, wine glass in hand, while the night air carries the sweet scent of jacaranda blossoms.
- − The 4 PM downpour means business, it can unload 25 mm (1 inch) in 20 minutes, flood Market Theatre's parking lot ankle-deep, and send Uber increase pricing rocketing across the CBD.
- − December 16th is a public holiday (Day of Reconciliation) and December 25th/26th shut most kitchens, if you're in town for Christmas, lock in braai tables at Marble or The Grillhouse two weeks early or resign yourself to hotel buffet.
- − Humidity sticks at 70% even after dark, so an Airbnb in Melville without aircon turns into a sweat lodge after 10 PM, Sandton budget hotels slap weekend rates on every single day of the month.
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
December dawns at 20°C (68°F), making a morning cycle through Soweto's Orlando West and Vilakazi Street comfortable, the route past Mandela House and Desmond Tutu's former home covers 10 km (6.2 miles) of flat ground, and the afternoon storm timetable has you back at Sakhumzi Restaurant with a cold local beer by 2 PM. The township lights up on December weekends with street parties and braai stands, scenes winter visitors never witness.
Sterkfontein Caves hold a steady 18°C (64°F) all year, an easy escape when December pushes 28°C (82°F) outside. Guides weave 2025's newly announced fossil finds into the script, and the 45-minute underground circuit includes sections where you crawl past the exact spots early hominid bones were lifted, wear gear you're happy to dust with limestone.
Daylight stretches until 8 PM, giving you time to walk the 2 km (1.2 mile) loop between Arts on Main and Revolution House. Weekend night markets add 30 extra food stalls slinging zebra burgers and craft gin cocktails, the smell of boerewors mingling with cannabis smoke from the new legal dispensaries. Street-art walks run until 9 PM under LED art pieces that only switch on during summer.
The 81-hectare (200-acre) gardens stage Sunday afternoon concerts all December, local bands playing beneath century-old trees while families sprawl on blankets. Summer heat coaxes the strongest perfume from the rose garden, and the beer garden pours craft brews from Gauteng micros you won't find elsewhere. By 7 PM the temperature eases to 20°C (68°F), cool enough for shorts and a tee.
Sunset at 7 PM throws golden light over lion cubs born in November, and the post-storm lull sends animals roaming when tours restart at 4 PM. The 600-hectare (1,500-acre) reserve opened a new cheetah enclosure in 2025, and thick summer growth nudges zebras and giraffes closer to the vehicle tracks. Toss a light jacket in the bag, the mercury drops 8°C (14°F) after dark.
December Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
December 16th turns Newtown's Mary Fitzgerald Square into one giant block party: live kwaito, traditional beer brewing demos, and stalls selling bunny chow beside craft gin. The festival runs 10 AM to 10 PM with free entry, braai smoke wrestling with cannabis smoke from the nearby legal dispensaries.
On every first Thursday in December, galleries between Rosebank and Maboneng unlock until 9 PM with free wine and rooftop views. Stevenson Gallery launches its new show at 6 PM sharp, then a walking circuit knocks off 15 stops in Rosebank's art quarter. The December edition beams outdoor projections onto Keyes Art Mile façades, a light show that doesn't appear any other month.
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Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
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Top-rated things to do in Johannesburg this December
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