KwaZulu Natal, is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east and the Drakensberg Mountain escarpment to the west producing a warm, subtropical climate. The climate of KwaZulu Natal is tourist friendly all-year-round. Situated in the Southern Hemisphere the seasons are reversed, this means traveling from a Northern Hemisphere winter to KZN you’ll arrive in summer and experience warm weather, lush vegetation and a multitude of birds and animals.
Summer (November – February) are hot and humid averaging 28°C, and experience the majority of the annual rainfall. Although summer is an excellent time to observe wildlife in prime condition, the game is often obscured by tall grass and thick bush which flourishes in the rainy season. Heavy rains and electrical thunderstorms are common.
Autumn (March – May) in KZN are mild as temperatures begin to cool. This is a good time to see migrating birds gathering for their journey north.
Winter (June – August) with average temperatures of 23°C, are warm, dry and clear. There is occasional frost in the interior and snow often falls in the higher reaches during the winter. Winter sunshine averages almost seven hours a day, some of the highest in the country. Winters are dry and this is conducive to grass fires, most reserves provide areas for barbecues but caution is advised when open fires are lit.
Spring (September – October) is the beginning of the rainy season and temperatures begin to warm. This is often the perfect time for viewing game as most wildlife are raising newly born offspring on the fresh growth that arrives with the first rains. This is also the perfect time for viewing flowers as everything is blooming. Migrating birds begin to arrive back during spring and into summer.
