The structure of Africa and also of southern Africa developed when Gondwanaland broke in several continents about 300 to 100 Million years ago.
South Africa is encased form a mountain wall which is called the Great escarpment. The highest points of the escarpment are nearly 4000 meter high especially in the Drakensberg in Zululand and in Lesotho, the Mountain Kingdom. Between the ocean and the escarpment runs a strip which is called the lowfeld. In the east the Indian Ocean with the warm Agulhas current make the land very fertile and fruitful. In the west the Atlantic Ocean with its cold Benguela current helps the arid shoreline flow into the interiors succulent desert. On the other side of the Escarpment is the Highveld, which mainly grassland, great for crops and cattle farming.
Climate:
Summer: In October –February is mostly dry and hot with short powerful thunderstorms in the Highveld and tropical rain showers in the lowveld. This is when the South African go on holiday and literally overflow Cape Town and the coastline up and into Mozambique. It might be too hot for some people to visit the Kruger or the Karoo and anything further north. This period is rainy season in Johannesburg.
Autum and spring: April, May and September, October is nice and warm and not too hot. The nights are a little cooler with sunny days. It is always a special time to see the nature changing to the season. In spring you will see many baby animals running around in green flora and the colors of the Namaqualand and the Kalahari are outstanding.
Winter: May - August is beautiful in Johannesburg the Kruger National Park and in the eastern part of South Africa. The warm days are similar to the European spring and the nights a bit chilly. The grass is shorter and viewing wildlife is better because you can see even further. It is rainy season in Cape Town and the Cape Provinces.
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South Africa highlights
Recommended South Africa Tours & Safaris Johannesburg to Cape Town |
| Some other great attractions in South Africa | ||
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