Things to Do in Johannesburg in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
March Weather in Johannesburg
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
Is March Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
- + Late-summer thunderstorms paint the sky in gold-pink streaks visible from Northcliff Ridge, the year's best light show hits around 6:30 PM when storms break and the horizon ignites.
- + March lands well before winter crowds descend, weekday mornings at the Apartheid Museum feel like private viewings when you have the exhibits almost to yourself.
- + Jacarandas along Jan Smuts Avenue are just beginning their purple bloom in late March, forming natural tunnels good for photos without the October tourist crush.
- + Restaurant week stretches through mid-March with prix fixe menus at Marble and DW Eleven-13, tables that are normally impossible to book suddenly open up.
- − Afternoon thunderstorms strike at 2:30 PM like clockwork, schedule outdoor adventures for mornings or you'll find yourself trapped in Rosebank Mall's parking garage watching hailstones bounce off windshields.
- − The UV index climbs to 8 by 10 AM, sunburn strikes faster than expected at this altitude, when clouds create a false sense of coolness.
- − Load shedding schedules shift weekly and can leave you stranded in Sandton's concrete canyon when traffic lights blink out and intersections turn into four-way stops.
Best Activities in March
Top things to do during your visit
March mornings settle at the ideal 20°C (68°F) for 4-hour rides through Orlando West and Vilakazi Street. The route glides past Mandela's house and Regina Mundi church while dodging summer's harsh rays. Afternoon storms arrive just as you're wrapping up with cold beers at Sakhumzi Restaurant.
Underground caves maintain a steady 18°C (64°F) year-round, making March's unpredictable surface weather irrelevant. The Sterkfontein Caves become your refuge when afternoon storms send other tourists running, stalactite lighting appears more dramatic in cooler temperatures.
March's low humidity prevents paint fumes from hanging around the massive Anansi mural and other street art pieces. The 2-hour walk from Arts on Main to Ghandi Square runs smoothest 9-11 AM before heat builds and before storms threaten the outdoor gallery.
Early March mornings bring light mist across the 81-hectare gardens that photographers chase. The rose garden near Emmerentia Dam captures golden hour well at 6:45 AM, and you'll find the succulent garden's 85 species empty before families arrive with picnic blankets.
March's mild temperatures make the 2-hour walking tour through Old Fort Prison and Constitutional Court comfortable, summer heat turns this into a dripping ordeal. The outdoor exhibits covering apartheid history read better when you're not battling 30°C+ temperatures and can focus on the information panels.
March Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Classical concerts fill the acoustically-perfect Linder Auditorium through mid-March. The Johannesburg Philharmonic performs where Nelson Mandela gave his first post-release speech, triggering goosebumps that have nothing to do with the music.
Africa's largest consumer exhibition packs Nasrec with everything from Boerewors competitions to helicopter rides. The livestock section smells exactly like 4,000 animals should. But the food hall's bunny chow competitions draw queues that wrap around the hall.
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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 March
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