Cape Town, South Africa: What to pack, what to wear, and when to go [2018]
Traveling to Cape Town, South Africa? If you're planning to go to Cape Town, here is some important information about when to go, what to wear, and what to pack:
When to go to Cape Town, South Africa
Based on the climate and weather in Cape Town, the best time to go is February. See below for details.
What to wear/what to pack for Cape Town, South Africa by month
January
If you go to Cape Town in January, you will notice that it is a perfect temperature and somewhat hazy. Expect it to rain occasionally. Daytime temperatures are in the high 70s F (mid 20s C).
What to wear/what to pack:
- Skirts
- Umbrella
- Rain coat
- Sandals
- Dresses
- Sunscreen lotion
- Light footwear
- Long and short sleeve shirts
- Waterproof luggage
- If you're going to the beach, bathing suits, swimwear
- Shorts or short pants
- Waterproof footwear
February
If you visit Cape Town during February, you are likely to find that it is a perfect temperature and somewhat hazy. Temperatures tend to hover around the high 70s F (mid 20s C) during the day, while at night they can dip into the low 60s F (high 10s C).
Humidity is generally around 60 during the day. In terms of precipitation, you can expect it to rain sometimes.
What to wear/what to pack:
- If you're going to the beach, bathing suits, swimwear
- Rain coat
- Sunscreen lotion
- Skirts
- Waterproof footwear
- Waterproof luggage
- Dresses
- Sandals
- Long and short sleeve shirts
- Light footwear
- Umbrella
- Shorts or short pants
March
Traveling to Cape Town in March, you will notice that it is warm and somewhat hazy. Expect it to rain sometimes. Daytime temperatures are in the 70s F (mid 20s C).
What to wear/what to pack:
- Waterproof footwear
- Rain coat
- Sandals
- Light footwear
- Waterproof luggage
- Sunscreen lotion
- Shorts or short pants
- Skirts
- If you're going to the beach, bathing suits, swimwear
- Umbrella
- Long and short sleeve shirts
- Dresses
April
Traveling to Cape Town in April, you will notice that it is mild and somewhat hazy. Expect it to rain a bit less than half of the time. Daytime temperatures are in the low 70s F (low 20s C).
What to wear/what to pack:
- Umbrella
- Waterproof luggage
- Skirts
- Waterproof footwear
- Shorts or short pants
- Sunscreen lotion
- Light footwear
- Sandals
- Rain coat
- Dresses
- Long and short sleeve shirts
- If you're going to the beach, bathing suits, swimwear
May
In May, Cape Town is balmy, somewhat rainy and somewhat hazy. Temperatures routinely are in the 60s F (high 10s C) and a bit less than half of the time jump into the low 70s F (low 20s C) range. At night, lows are in the low 50s F (low 10s C).
This is also a rainy time for Cape Town, with several of the days of the month having rain. In May, humidity reaches as high as 70%.
What to wear/what to pack:
- Light jacket or fleece
- Long skirts
- Waterproof footwear
- Long sleeve shirts or blouses
- Socks
- Pants or jeans
- Dresses
- Rain coat
- Waterproof luggage
- Standard footwear
- Umbrella
June
Traveling to Cape Town in June, you will notice that it can be chilly and somewhat rainy. Expect it to rain about half of the time. Daytime temperatures are in the low 60s F (high 10s C).
What to wear/what to pack:
- Light jacket or fleece
- Standard footwear
- Waterproof luggage
- Socks
- Rain coat
- Long skirts
- Dresses
- Waterproof footwear
- Umbrella
- Pants or jeans
- Long sleeve shirts or blouses
July
If you are traveling to Cape Town in July, you will notice that it is cool and somewhat rainy. Expect it to rain about half of the time. Daytime temperatures are in the low 60s F (mid 10s C).
What to wear/what to pack:
- Long skirts
- Rain coat
- Waterproof footwear
- Socks
- Standard footwear
- Pants or jeans
- Dresses
- Light jacket or fleece
- Umbrella
- Long sleeve shirts or blouses
- Waterproof luggage
August
If you vacation in Cape Town during August, you are likely to find that it is relatively cool, somewhat rainy and somewhat hazy. Temperatures tend to hover around the low 60s F (high 10s C) during the day, while at night they can dip into the 40s F (single digits C).
Humidity is generally between 60 and 70% during the day. In terms of precipitation, you can expect it to rain about half of the time.
What to wear/what to pack:
- Long skirts
- Standard footwear
- Umbrella
- Waterproof luggage
- Light jacket or fleece
- Socks
- Dresses
- Pants or jeans
- Long sleeve shirts or blouses
- Rain coat
- Waterproof footwear
September
September in Cape Town is relatively cool, somewhat rainy and somewhat hazy. The rain can amount to several inches/centimeters. During this time, temperatures average in the 60s F (high 10s C).
What to wear/what to pack:
- Long sleeve shirts or blouses
- Umbrella
- Rain coat
- Pants or jeans
- Socks
- Waterproof footwear
- Light jacket or fleece
- Standard footwear
- Waterproof luggage
- Long skirts
- Dresses
October
October in this region is balmy and somewhat hazy. Temperatures average in the high 60s F (low 20s C) during the day. It rains 5-10 days this month.
What to wear/what to pack:
- Light jacket or fleece
- Long skirts
- Socks
- Long sleeve shirts or blouses
- Waterproof luggage
- Pants or jeans
- Waterproof footwear
- Standard footwear
- Rain coat
- Dresses
- Umbrella
November
If you vacation in Cape Town during November, you are likely to find that it is mild and somewhat hazy. Temperatures tend to hover around the low 70s F (low 20s C) during the day, while at night they can dip into the high 50s F (mid 10s C).
Humidity is generally between 60 and 70% during the day. In terms of precipitation, you can expect it to rain about a third of the time.
What to wear/what to pack:
- If you're going to the beach, bathing suits, swimwear
- Sunscreen lotion
- Skirts
- Waterproof footwear
- Long and short sleeve shirts
- Rain coat
- Sandals
- Waterproof luggage
- Umbrella
- Light footwear
- Dresses
- Shorts or short pants
December
December in Cape Town is warm and somewhat hazy. Temperatures average in the low 70s F (low 20s C) during the day. It rains regularly.
What to wear/what to pack:
- Sandals
- Waterproof footwear
- Umbrella
- Waterproof luggage
- Dresses
- Light footwear
- Shorts or short pants
- If you're going to the beach, bathing suits, swimwear
- Skirts
- Rain coat
- Sunscreen lotion
- Long and short sleeve shirts
Year-round what to wear/what to pack for Cape Town, South Africa
Here are some general tips on what to wear in Cape Town, as well as several items to remember to pack when traveling there.
- A plug adadpter that supports outlet types C, M and N
- A SIM card that works in Cape Town
- If you plan to visit a church, make sure to bring appropriate clothing
- If you plan to visit a mosque, pack clothing that covers the knees and shoulders
- Theft can be a problem, so pack theft protection, including locks for luggage and a money belt or pouch
- Appropriate museum wear
- Bicycle friendly attire, if you plan on biking anywhere
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