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Cape Town in January

Africa's best authentic tailor-made safaris

Climate

The month of January enjoys hot, sunny days with clear skies and plenty of daylight hours. Sunset is only after 8 PM! Daytime temperatures are in the mid to high 20°C/68°F, although it’s not uncommon for temperatures to rise well over 30°C/86°F. Cape Town falls within a winter rainfall region, so this month is mostly dry. Expect the occasional (very) windy day.

January enjoys hot, sunny days with clear skies and plenty of daylight hours.

Best Regions
  • The month of January is perfect for just about any outdoor activity. A day on the beach is the best way to enjoy the hot weather, and a visit to Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town is exceptional since you might spot juvenile penguins.
  • January often experiences windy days, popular with kitesurfers in areas like Bloubergstrand. For calmer conditions, head for the picturesque beaches of Clifton, where the coastline is sheltered from the wind.
  • Hiking trails on the Table Mountain range are best enjoyed in the early morning when it’s cooler, while sunset picnics on Signal Hill are a treat.
  • In the evenings, movie lovers can look forward to the Galileo Open Air Cinema screenings at various venues around the city, including Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, the V&A Waterfront, and the Cape Winelands.
  • The one-of-a-kind Cape Town Minstrel Carnival, a colorful parade that dates back to the city’s slave era of the 1800s, takes place on the 2nd of January in the city center.
Pros and Cons

Long, warm and sunny days make exploring the city and surrounding areas a joy, and Cape Town’s social scene blossoms in this period with many events and activities on offer. On the other hand, January is one of the busiest months of the year, so Cape Town gets crowded with visitors. Flights and accommodation are harder to find and more expensive.

 

 

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"We are based in Sydney and had our initial conversation with Cayleigh Brown by video. She came back to us with a proposed itinerary and was very accommodating of one of our guests who uses a wheelchair. The iitinerary was fantastic and built so that each..."

Liz, Australia22 Aug 2026

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"My husband and I started planning our Safari in Sept to go in May. Vihann at Discover Africa was wonderful!! He setup a video call on our timeline to ask what we wanted and actually listened. He came up with a plan that we agreed to and the rest was easy. A..."

April Wilson, United States16 Jun 2026

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Trustpilot review

"Matthys van Aswegen of Discover Africa went above and beyond to plan a two week trip for myself and my family (6 travelers) through multiple African countries that was unforgettable! There were many moving parts to our schedule, but every step was thorou..."

Ann Schall, United States08 Mar 2026

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"I contacted a few agency, Discover Africa was fast to respond. Every steps of the way in planning to the very end of departure, all things were planned with precise accuracy. Adelle was always in communication and ready to help and answer everything. Fra..."

Boaz Leung, United States21 Feb 2026

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"We were initially overwhelmed with all of the options for African Safaris when we first started planning our trip. Luckily, Discover Africa responded promptly to our initial request for information and we were quickly scheduled for an initial consult with A..."

John Stanton, United States26 Nov 2025

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"Justin helped me book my camp experience with short notice, he made the whole process very easy, took care of everything, was easy to contact and my trip was perfect."

Jen Flack, Australia09 Sep 2025

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