Thinking of visiting Cape Town between June & August (Winter)? Read this first

Written by Beth

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but Cape Town between June & August can be cold, windy and wet.

My name is Beth and I live in the UK. I love Cape Town because I went to university there, and it holds memories of a time before kids. My husband and I wanted to go there on holiday with our three kids, but we could only travel in August (Winter).

We bit the bullet and went to Cape Town in August 2024. And you know what? Even though the weather wasn’t perfect every day, we still had a wonderful time.

Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever visited, thanks to the coastline and mountain shaken together like a well-balanced cocktail. It receives most of its rainfall in its winter months, but there can be sunny days with the temperature reaching around 25 degrees Celsius. Famously, you can experience four seasons in one day, thanks to the winds around that big, beautiful mountain. Don’t expect to go swimming much, but you can still sit on the beach, and do so much more.

Here are my tips for making the most of a Cape Town holiday in June, July & August:

1. Be semi-flexible with your itinerary

We didn’t plan our daily outings until around 48 hours in advance. That way, we could check the weather report and decide which sights to visit accordingly. Most places aren’t fully booked at this time of year; Winter is a great time to avoid some of the crowds.

If you have your heart set on specific activities, check before booking your flights whether they’re possible on your dates. For example, the Table Mountain cable car was closed for renovations when we visited in August 2024, as was Chapman’s Peak road.

Whale and shark sightings are good in these winter months, however. Signal Hill also remains open and offers beautiful views of Table Mountain when the sky is clear.

2. Stay somewhere with character

We chose accommodation with panoramic views of the beach, so that even if we stayed inside, we could snuggle up and appreciate the panorama of the waves below.

I would recommend staying in Camps Bay or Bakoven for stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. Breathtaking mountain views can be seen in many places around Cape Town, but Newlands and Constantia are my accommodation recommendations if you want to experience a cosy forest feeling. When choosing your accommodation, look carefully at the photos, and factor ‘room with a view’ as one of your decision makers.

3. Prepare a list of rainy day activities in advance

Two Oceans Aquarium (must-see), shopping at the V&A Waterfront, lunch at Harbour House in Kalk Bay, and The District Six Museum are all places that you can enjoy in Cape Town when it’s chilly outside. There are plenty of websites that give lists of places to go in Cape Town in Winter if you have a quick Google. From jazz bars to flea markets, the options are extensive.

4. Split your holiday between Cape Town and somewhere warmer in Africa

We combined our Cape Town holiday with a trip around Zimbabwe where the weather is much warmer and more predictable. Winter in Zimbabwe is typically sunny and cloudless during the day, but cool at night. Cape Town is a short 2 to 3-hour flight from must-see Victoria Falls, the capital city of Harare, or Bulawayo near the fantastic Matobo Hills – all flying with Airlink Airlines. Perfect for a combination safari, city & beach holiday.

5. Pack a fleece and/or windbreaker with you wherever you go

Thanks to that big, beautiful mountain, the weather in Cape Town changes dramatically at the drop of a (sun) hat, so keep a jacket in your bag. Even if it’s sunny when you leave your accommodation! 

I like the Columbia Women’s Lightweight Windbreaker on Amazon here.

6. Check both sides of the mountain

Cape Town is unique in that it has a mountain slap-bang in the middle of it. This means that the weather may be completely different depending on where you are. Sometimes it’s cloudy on the Eastern side of the mountain, while the Western side is clear. When you’re checking the weather forecast, you should also input where in Cape Town you plan to be.

I hope these tips help you plan your holiday to Cape Town in the months of June, July and August. If you can only travel in these months, don’t let fears about the weather stop you from visiting this must-see travel destination.

Practical travel info: We flew from the UK to Cape Town with BA. We hired a car with Woodford: they were the best car hire company we’ve experienced (much better than in Europe). We stayed in Camps Bay; I’m happy to share the accommodation with you if you contact me directly. I’ll post my itinerary here in due course. From Cape Town, we flew to Harare, Zimbabwe with Airlink. We drove via Bulawayo to Hwange National Park for a safari. We flew back Harare to the UK with BA, via Johannesburg.

We paid for all of it ourselves, without sponsorship, and booked everything independently.

Here are a few more photos and tips from Cape Town …

Great Zimbabwe Guide gives travel tips, information and inspiration about Zimbabwe, Africa. We share stories of Zimbabwe’s talented people, world-class wilderness & wildlife safari experiences, all wrapped up in an unmatched climate.

Do you have a question about visiting Zimbabwe? Start with the Quick-reference list of travel advice. 

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Are you planning a Cape Town or Zimbabwe holiday? I can recommend Go2Africa, Africa’s Leading Safari Company (and one of our affiliates).

Go2Africa has been tailor-making safari holidays for thousands of clients from across the globe since 1998. You can research African destinations, accommodation, tours, and more. Even better, you can directly contact their safari specialists who can help you get the African experience that’s perfect for you.

Check out the Go2Africa website to start exploring.

Tours that I’d recommend from Go2Africa:

• Luxury 13-day tour of South Africa and Zimbabwe
• Affordable 12-day tour of South Africa and Zimbabwe
• Historian’s 17-day tour of Cape Town, Victoria Falls and Kenya

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