Here in Southern Africa, the seasons are opposite to the northern hemisphere. Spring runs from September to November, summer from December to February, autumn from March to May and winter from June to August.
Autumn and winter are the driest months, with the annual rains usually arriving around October and November. This is when the heat builds up. Once the rains arrive, it gets hot and humid, with spectacular storms that have to be seen to be believed!
In late autumn and winter, the early mornings and evenings are cold. It may seem odd that Africa can be chilly, but be warned – you will need a beanie hat, scarf, gloves and warm wind-proof jacket as well as long trousers and closed boots on morning and evening game drives as these are done in an open safari vehicle and the wind-chill as you are moving can feel icy!
During the day it is usually sunny and warm (warm enough for shorts and T-shirts in most cases) but as soon as the sun begins to set it starts to get cold so you will need to adopt a layered approach to clothing, adding and subtracting as required.
In spring and summer, the temperatures rise considerably, peaking at the high 30s and low 40s during the day at the height of summer (in degrees Celsius). Expect warmer evenings and summer storms from late October to March each year.