Things to Do in Johannesburg in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
March Weather in Johannesburg
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
75°F (24°C)
High Temp
56°F (13°C)
Low Temp
3.7 inches (94 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ High UV Index (8) due to altitude - sun protection is non-negotiable.
⚠ Sudden, severe afternoon thunderstorms with potential for localized flooding and lightning.
Is March Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + March hands you Johannesburg's summer warmth without the December-January blast that hits 30°C (86°F) and empties the parks by noon.
- + Highveld storms still stage afternoon theater. They crash in near 3pm, dump a furious 20-minute curtain of ozone and wet earth, then exit. The air feels scrubbed, the light turns gold.
- + Holiday hordes have left the Apartheid Museum and Constitution Hill. You can read every panel without being nudged forward.
- + In the Cradle of Humankind vineyards, harvest is underway. Cellar tours let you taste grapes straight from the vine and watch the crush.
Considerations
- − That 70% humidity plus 24°C (75°F) afternoons feels muggy. You will hunt shade by 2pm.
- − Schedule open-air markets in Maboneng or walks in the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden for morning. Storms love the afternoon.
- − March is shoulder month for Kruger safari operators. Some switch to winter rates and timetables. Nail your booking window.
Best Activities in March
Top things to do during your visit
March in Johannesburg feels like the city's slow exhale. Daytime still hits 24°C, but you'll want a light jacket after dark. Expect ten days of rain, usually crackling afternoon storms that leave Parktown's jacaranda streets smelling of wet earth and ozone. Locals squeeze in the last outdoor cafes and evening braais before winter's dry chill. The mood is relaxed, transitional. What to do here? Follow the contrasts: struggle memorials one minute, street life the next. The city unrolls in distinct precincts, Maboneng, Braamfontein, Sandton, each with its own rhythm. A solid itinerary mixes hard history with the throb of contemporary creativity. Safety worries are real. Stick to organized tours and busy districts during daylight and you'll be fine. March makes a strong case for "best time." High-season crowds have gone, the weather still forgives long walks, and the rain arrives in short, predictable bursts. You get the city with elbow room, whether you're examining its past or skating through its present.
Private Half Day Authentic Soweto Tour from Johannesburg or Pretoria
guided_experiencedives past monuments into the township's beating heart. Kwaito rhythms spill from shebeens, geometric murals brighten Vilakazi Street, history lingers outside the former homes of Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela. Resident guides shape the narrative with personal anecdotes and entry to spots big groups miss.
It gives an intimate, unfiltered look at Soweto's spirit and present-day life, not a scripted timeline.
Insider tip: Ask to be shown the shebeen serving traditional maize beer, tart, slightly sour, utterly local.
This month: Late-summer downpours can appear fast. Pack a light rain jacket for open-air sections.
Exploring Johannesburg through Skateboarding - incl. skate lesson for beginners!
otherturns concrete sprawl into playground. Feel board vibration across Newtown's smooth bricks, view underpass graffiti from board-level height, hear wheels clatter off curbs. It is a visceral, kinetic way to tap the city's urban pulse.
Active, contemporary, and led by skaters who know every ledge and crack.
Insider tip: Wear closed, flat-soled shoes you don't mind scuffing. Master basics in a quiet lot before cruising scenic routes.
Exclusive Classic Flight for Two
private_tourlifts you above Johannesburg and the highveld. Watch the urban grid dissolve into geometric gold-mine tailings, feel the vintage plane bank over the Magaliesberg, see afternoon light throw long shadows across the land. The cockpit is calm, the panorama vast.
A rare, romantic chance to grasp Gauteng's scale and topography from a classic aircraft.
Insider tip: Book late-afternoon for clearest visibility. Morning haze or building March clouds can blur the view.
Half Day Apartheid Museum Tour
culturalis essential, emotionally bruising, and unmissable. Enter through separate doors marked "White" and "Non-White," see stark photos, hear witness recordings, feel the architecture force confrontation. Exhibits demand reflection time.
It is the most complete, thoughtfully curated place to understand apartheid's machinery and human cost.
Insider tip: After the guided portion, sit quietly in the courtyard or memorial. The emotional weight needs stillness to settle.
LocalPlaces Understanding Johannesburg Walking Tour
walking_tourdissects the inner city: art-deco shells, repurposed warehouses, public spaces reborn. Smell coffee roasting in Maboneng indie cafes, hear street-art stories in Braamfontein, rest in the shade of Johannesburg Art Gallery's garden. It tracks ongoing regeneration and the people pushing it.
Ground-level, anecdote-rich, led by residents active in the cultural scene.
Insider tip: Wear supportive, comfortable shoes for mixed pavement and cobblestones. Bring a reusable bottle for water top-ups.
Johannesburg and Apartheid Museum and Soweto Guided Full-Day Tour
day_tripcrams historical heft and township vitality into one coherent loop. Stand among the museum's concrete slabs, feel Vilakazi Street hum, watch sunset glaze the Orlando Towers. It connects the dots for visitors on tight schedules.
It links institutional apartheid history to living Soweto in a single, efficient arc.
Insider tip: Pack hat and sunscreen for Soweto; March sun is strong. Layer up for the air-conditioned museum.
Where to Stay in Johannesburg in March
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for March travellers.
Packing Checklist
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Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Johannesburg Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Locals know the best time for a sundowner is right after a March afternoon storm. The clouds break, the sky turns a ridiculous peach-and-purple, and the whole city seems to take a breath. Find a rooftop bar in Maboneng or a spot at the Living Room in Forest Town for this specific, fleeting light.
For a local lunch, skip the sit-down restaurants and head to the Eastern Food Bazaar in the city center. The sound is a cacophony of sizzling griddles and shouted orders, the smell is cumin, curry leaves, and fried dough, and for a few rand you can get a plate of bunny chow or a lamb biryani that feeds two.
The Rosebank Sunday Market is better in March than in peak summer. It's still busy. But you can move between the stalls selling shea butter soap and wire sculptures, and the live jazz feels less drowned out by crowds. Go early, before 10am, to beat the heat and the families.
If you're driving, note that potholes are worse in March. The summer rains have done their damage, and repairs are often still pending. Rent a car with good suspension and stay alert, on secondary roads in the suburbs.
Avoid These Mistakes
Underestimating the sun and altitude. A cloudy March day in Johannesburg can still deliver a severe sunburn. Slather on the SPF 50, even if it doesn't feel hot.
Scheduling outdoor activities or long drives between 2pm and 4pm. This is prime time for those spectacular but disruptive thunderstorms. Mornings are your friend.
Packing only for 'summer'. The temperature drop from day to night is significant. You'll be shivering at an evening braai if you don't have a jacket.
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