When to Visit Johannesburg

It is the wettest month of the year, with around 132mm of rain, nearly all of it arriving in afternoon or evening thunderstorms that can be spectacular to watch rolling in off the horizon.

Storms remain frequent. Afternoons clear quickly. The evenings feel fresh.

The air carries a touch less weight than it did in January, and the afternoons have a quality of late-summer light that is rather appealing.

The city is dry and clear, and visitor numbers are at medium-low, making April one of the more underrated months to visit Johannesburg.

Crowd levels are low. Johannesburg takes on a quieter, locals-heavy character that is worth experiencing.

This is a low-crowd month that suits travellers who prefer Johannesburg without the summer humidity or the holiday rush.

Certain tourist sites draw moderate numbers of international visitors from the northern hemisphere's summer, but overall crowd levels remain low to medium and the city feels unhurried.

There is a shift in energy as Johannesburg starts to warm. Spring is visible in the returning blossom on some of the city's trees, and the light changes subtly. Crowd levels are low, and this is arguably the finest month for outdoor photography given the combination of clear winter air and warming afternoons.

Crowd levels climb to medium as the jacaranda season draws visitors from across South Africa.

The jacaranda bloom peaks early in the month, coating streets and parks in purple, and then the first of the summer rains begin arriving. October typically sees around 69mm. Crowd levels are medium to high, and Johannesburg in October is as photogenic as it gets.

Johannesburg is green and energetic, visitor numbers build toward the high-season peak, and the city's outdoor restaurant culture comes fully back to life.

Johannesburg is busy with domestic and international visitors, and the city carries a festive, end-of-year atmosphere that is worth experiencing if crowds do not put you off.