South Africa is always a top destination year-round but when winter comes, the country transforms into a unique wonderland of snow and arid parts. 

If you’re looking to spend your winter like a real South African, here’s a fun list of fun things to do in South Africa during winter. 

1. Go stargazing at Sutherland of the Karoo 

Website: salt.ac.za

Address: Sutherland, South Africa

Contact details: 27 21 447 0025

Operating hours:

• Open 24 Hours

Sutherland is a small town just a couple of hours away from Cape Town, and it’s a primary hotspot for stargazing during the winter. The area is home to the SALT observatory, which houses one of the largest telescopes in the world. 

The area of Sutherland is known for its low light pollution and clear skies, which means you can get a picturesque view of stars in the sky without visiting the observatory. This is great for anyone who wants to enjoy the stars while feeling the Karoo’s cool breeze.

Pro tip: We recommend taking a picture with the SALT observatory during sunset. The observatory makes a great backdrop for Instagrammable photos and really complements the sunset.

2. Check out flowers at Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden

Address: Rhodes Dr, Newlands, Cape Town, 7735, South Africa

Contact details: 27 21 799 8783

Operating Hours: 

• Monday to Wednesday and Friday to Sunday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
• Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Spring is usually the time when flowers bloom, but in South Africa, winter is the best time to witness the flowers, especially at Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden. 

This delightful botanical garden is connected to Table Mountain and boasts a high concentration of fynbos, which is unique to the region! 

These bloom best during the winter season, so anticipate seeing various colourful blooms in orange, pink, and red, throughout the area.

Pro tip: One winter bloom we recommend keeping an eye out for is the king protea. This beautiful flower flaunts a mix of pink, yellow, and white colours, making it an excellent photo subject.

3. Enjoy whale watching in Hermanus

Hermanus, just an hour away from Cape Town, is an excellent location to observe Southern Right Whales seeking warmer waters. It offers numerous whale-watching spots like Grottos Beach and the 12-kilometre Cliff Path. 

You can also relax by the beach or stroll along the trail to watch whales frolic in the water and surface for air.

Pro tip: You can also opt for a boat or kayak excursion to witness these beautiful and tranquil whales up close. Some even offer whale-watching activities through scenic helicopter rides.

4. Try a winter safari

In the winter, South Africa experiences dry conditions, typically leading to increased animal activity and movement, providing some great safari experiences.

One of our top recommendations for winter safaris is Kruger National Park, where you can encounter a diverse array of animals. Animals, both prey and predator, often gather around small water holes, making them easier to observe and photograph.

Pro tip: Look out for the Black-headed Heron. This is one of the most eye-catching birds in the safari worth observing with its sleek body, long black feathers, and long beak.

5. Experience the sardine run

Winter in South Africa brings about extreme temperature changes, resulting in fascinating phenomena like the incredible sardine run. This natural spectacle occurs in June when millions of sardines migrate up the coast in search of cooler waters.

During this event, you’ll witness the waters of the continental shelf teeming with millions of sardines coming remarkably close to the shorelines. In fact, they come so close that you’ll often find people scooping up tons of sardines in several buckets.

Pro tip: While you can enjoy the spectacle from a boat, we highly recommend donning scuba gear and observing the event underwater.

6. Have a blast at the Knysna Oyster Festival

Website: https://knysnaoysterfestival.co.za/

Address: Knysna Central, Knysna, 6570, Garden Route, Western Cape, South Africa

Contact details: 27 (0)44 382 5510

Knysna Oyster Festival features tons of outdoor activities, wine tasting, live music, and, of course, oysters. This popular festival is perfect for those seeking an adrenaline rush, as it’s filled with sports events like running, golfing, and cycling. 

For those who prefer exercising their stomachs, you can indulge in some fine spirits and wine tasting at the Knysna Wine Festival. 

Pro tip: If you’re feeling sporty, we recommend joining the Knysna Cycle Tour, which has both a mountain bike and road bike race.

7. Join in on the fun at AfrikaBurn Festival

Website: https://www.afrikaburn.org/

Address: Tankwa Karoo, R355, Quaggafontein, Western Cape, 8190

Price:

• R 499

If arts and music are more your style, the AfrikaBurn Festival also takes place in winter. This festival lights up the Western Cape’s quiet desert and adds a touch of life through live music, artistic sculptures, and much more.

You’ll find everything here from groovy jazz performances to out-of-this-world sculptures standing several feet tall. Expect to see “mutant vehicles”, which are basically working automobiles made out of random couches, fridges, and whatnot.

Pro tip: We recommend you create a cool dystopian-esque outfit before coming to this event. AfrikaBurn is known for its extravagant and avant-garde-like outfits, which are meant to fit the experimental theme of the festival.

8. Go surfing at Jeffrey’s Bay  

Known for having the world’s longest and most flawless right-hand point break, Jeffrey’s Bay becomes even more intense in winter, offering a challenging experience for experienced surfers.

In addition to the thrilling surfing, the J’Bay Winterfest also takes place in July, bringing the bay to life with numerous surf competitions, mountain bike racing, live music, and other vibrant activities that will create long-lasting memories.

Pro tip: After catching the waves by the bay, we recommend visiting Jeffery’s Bay Shell Museum nearby. This place features an interesting display of different types of sea shells from creatures found in South Africa.

9. Have a fun day exploring Hogsback 

In Hogsback, you can relish hiking around the mountain, taking in the snowy scenery, exploring frozen waterways, and admiring the waterfalls. Additionally, you can engage in a fun snowball fight since Hogsback is known for dense snowfall due to its height.

For those Lord of The Rings fans, Hogsback is also recognized as the inspiration for the novel’s land masses. Thus, you can capture some fantastic fantasy-themed photos for Instagram while exploring the snowy forests of Hogsback.

Pro tip: When the snow becomes too chilly, we recommend stopping by Red Clay Cafe, located near Hogsback. This spot serves delicious coffee and hot chocolate, offering a delightful way to warm up during the winter.

10. Enjoy the art at the National Arts Festival

Website: https://nationalartsfestival.co.za/

Address: National Arts Festival, 1820 Settlers Monument, Fort Selwyn Drive, Makhanda, 6139

Contact details: +27 (0) 46 603 1103

For those eager to immerse themselves in everything South African, we suggest visiting the annual National Arts Festival. This event hosts over 700 performances that transform Makhanda into a lively haven filled with local talent, tradition, and culture.

In this festival, you’ll encounter diverse performances, ranging from funky jazz music to ecstatic dance performances and dramatic theatre shows. These performances showcase traditional or contemporary elements of South Africa’s culture.

Pro tip: We recommend exploring different venues in Makhanda that host the National Arts Festival. The festival is spread out across various places in Makhanda, and each location offers something unique, enhancing your overall experience.

11. Camp in the snow

One of our favourite places to go camping during the winter season is in the Golden Gate National Park in the Free State. During winter, this park has a tranquil atmosphere with lots of snowfall, and animals roam around, minding their own business.

A notable feature of the park is how its sandstone cliffs, usually covered in fine golden sand, are beautifully wrapped in layers of fluffy snow – quite the sight. 

Pro tip: Another cool camping spot we recommend visiting is AfriCamps in Gowan Valley Guest Farm. This place boasts beautiful scenery and is also one of the locations that sees lots of snowfall during winter.

12. Watch the horses at the Durban Handicap

Website: https://durbanjuly.co.za/

Address: Greyville Racecourse; Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Contact details:  031 572 4042

July isn’t just the winter season; it’s also the time for the craziest horse racing event in South Africa. The Durban Handicap is a derby that has been taking place since 1897 at the Greyville Racecourse, offering the country’s most entertaining horse races to date.

The race features several riders on giant South African Thoroughbred horses racing around a circular track for several rounds. The great thing about this race is that horses of all ages are welcome, so you’ll see tons of different-looking horses during the derby.

Pro tip: Before you attend the Durban Handicap, we recommend putting on your best suit and loudest hat, so you’ll fit in with the crowd. The handicap is known to attract the most extravagant crowds who dress in the best suits and outrageous hats.

13. Try some wine at the Robertson Wacky Wine Weekend

Address: 2 Reitz St, Robertson, 6705, South Africa, Robertson, Western Cape 6705

Contact details: 023 626 1160

The Robertson Wacky Wine Weekend showcases 48 wineries, each delivering their own special sets of new, classic, and experimental wines for a diverse tasting experience. 

It’s also an event jam-packed with fun activities like tractor trips, sunset game drives, and street theatre, making it great for families. There’s even a farmers market on site where you can get some of the freshest fruit and seasonal ingredients.

Pro tip: Don’t miss the annual fireworks display, which always features vibrant colours and interesting formations.

14. Sip on some brandy at R62 Brandy route

The scenic R62 Brandy route, stretching from Oudtshoorn to Barrydale and even to Worcester,  is home to some of the biggest brandy makers in South Africa, like the famous Klipdrift Distillery. 

Here, you can learn all about the brandy-making process and the historical significance of brandy in South Africa. We recommend stopping by distilleries like KWV House of Brandy and Die Brandewyn Tuin and sampling brandy.

Pro tip: On the way to the R62 Brandy route, there will be tons of mountain ranges, vineyards, and orchards in the distance. These are especially picture-worthy during the winter’s clear skies.

15. Watch the Comrades Marathon

Website: https://www.comrades.com

Address: KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Contact details: 27338978650

Another fun thing to do during the winter is to watch the annual Comrades Marathon that takes place in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. This gruelling and extreme marathon is about 90 kilometres long and takes place under the heat of the sun.

With thousands of runners participating, you’ll witness a beautiful sea of runners racing down the wide roads of KwaZulu-Natal in different colours, which is quite a sight to see.

Pro tip: If you’re watching the marathon, we recommend you bring lots of water and a hat. Not only will you be standing under the heat of the sun, but also the winter tends to be extremely dry, so you’ll need a refreshing drink to keep you hydrated.

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