Northern Cape Travel Guide – Attractions & Tours

Featured Lists

Northern Cape's Absolute Essentials

Explore the vast expanses of South Africa’s largest province, defined by the red dunes of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and the arid Karoo. This selection features essential waterholes like Jan se Draai and Dikbaardskolk, critical for observing Kalahari lions and cheetahs. It also includes the remote regional airstrips and private lodge runways that provide vital access to this sparsely populated territory, alongside local landmarks like the desert golf course in the mining town of Aggeneys.

20 places

Northern Cape — Map

Climate & when to visit

Best time to visit: April, May, June, July, August, September

Select a month

Typical weather in January

Poor

37° (feels like 34°) · extremes 16°–41°
21° at night
7 rainy days
26 sunny days
12 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 14 · extreme

Up to 22 days above 35°

Typical weather in February

Poor

36° (feels like 34°) · extremes 16°–40°
21° at night
7 rainy days
23 sunny days
11 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 13 · extreme

Up to 20 days above 35°

Typical weather in March

Poor

34° (feels like 32°) · extremes 13°–39°
19° at night
6 rainy days
26 sunny days
10 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 11 · extreme

Up to 13 days above 35°

Typical weather in April

Great

30° (feels like 27°) · extremes 8°–35°
15° at night
4 rainy days
25 sunny days
10 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 8 · very high

Typical weather in May

Great

26° (feels like 22°) · extremes 4°–31°
10° at night
2 rainy days
28 sunny days
10 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in June

Great

22° (feels like 17°) · extremes 2°–27°
6° at night
1 rainy day
27 sunny days
9 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in July

Great

22° (feels like 16°) · extremes 0°–27°
5° at night
1 rainy day
29 sunny days
10 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in August

Great

24° (feels like 19°) · extremes 2°–31°
7° at night
1 rainy day
29 sunny days
10 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in September

Great

29° (feels like 24°) · extremes 4°–35°
10° at night
1 rainy day
27 sunny days
11 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 8 · very high

Typical weather in October

Good

33° (feels like 28°) · extremes 8°–39°
14° at night
2 rainy days
28 sunny days
12 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 10 · very high

Up to 10 days above 35°

Typical weather in November

Fair

34° (feels like 30°) · extremes 10°–40°
17° at night
3 rainy days
27 sunny days
12 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 12 · extreme

Up to 15 days above 35°

Typical weather in December

Poor

36° (feels like 33°) · extremes 14°–41°
19° at night
5 rainy days
28 sunny days
13 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
UV index 14 · extreme

Up to 22 days above 35°

Climate data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2) · 1996–2025

Practical information

Currency: South African Rand ZAR R · Card payments · Widely accepted
Electricity: Type C / Type D / Type M / Type N
230 V · 50 Hz

Languages: Afrikaans, English, South Ndebele, Swati, Southern Sotho, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
Tap water: Safe to drink
Driving side: Left
Calling code: +27