Both The New York Times and The Daily Telegraph recently named Cape Town the best place to visit. It is hard to disagree with that.
Cradled among mountains that boast a unique floral kingdom and are surrounded by sea, Cape Town’s natural beauty is legendary. It can also be freely enjoyed. And, as South Africa’s oldest city, it connects historically to parts of Europe, Asia, and America.
It is nonetheless a vibrant modern capital with world-class entertainment, excursion, and accommodation options.
Is August a Good Time to Visit Cape Town?
August is a good time to visit Cape Town as it is not yet high season. Thus, crowds are smaller, and flights and accommodation are cheaper. However, it is the tail-end of the region’s winter. Conditions can be unpredictable, with intermittent spells of sunshine and rain.
Additionally, this month gives you its own unforgettable natural and cultural events. It is West Coast wildflowers and Hermanus whale-watching season, and time for Cape Town Fashion Week. Add these to everything else Cape Town has to offer, and August becomes a wonderful time to visit Cape Town.
Special Tip: Safari / Game Viewing
While August may not be the best month to hit the beaches every day, it’s an excellent time for a safari tour and game viewing in the reserves of South Africa. The downside: You need to book a tour. The upside: There are amazing tours available from Cape Town (see above).
Why now? It’s still the dry season in South Africa and an exceptional safari time. Thus, animals gather close to water sources and they are super easy to spot and photograph.
If you don’t like to book a longer tour, we suggest the 2-day safari (see the banner above). Of course, you are free to do anything else in August:
Other Recommended Activities in August
Weather
August weather in Cape Town can be cold and rainy, where cold means daytime lows of 14 °, but you are just as likely to wake up to clear skies and glorious sunshine. The average high temperature is around 17° C (63°F). It is seldom cooler than 14 °C (57°F) and can be as warm as 22° C (72°F).
Typical August highs:
- Early August: 15°C (59°F)
- Mid-August: 17°C (63°F)
- Late August: 18°C (64°F)
A typical daily temperature progression:
- Morning (8:30 AM): 12°C (59°F)
- Afternoon (2 PM): 17°C (63°F)
- Night (11:30 PM): 10°C (50°F)
While nights and early mornings can be cold, temperatures are always well above freezing point and most days are cool to warm.
Rain
The rainfall average is around 55mm.
- 1 August: 64 mm
- 11 August -57mm
- 21 August: 52 mm
- 31 August – 48mm
The rain in Cape Town does not fall for days at a time. It comes and goes in brief, sometimes dramatic, spells. A good time for glass wine in a cozy cafe or restaurant perhaps, or for a visit to one of Cape Town’s many museums or galleries.
Wind
August is when The coming summer’s Southeasters displace the northerly winter winds. The crossover causes lively atmospheric movement, but nothing extreme enough to prevent a mountain walk or a stroll on one of the beaches.
What to Pack | What to Wear
As the daily temperature progression shows, layers in Cape Town are needed when it comes to clothing. It is cold in the mornings and evenings, warmer by day, and sometimes wet. You typically wear a jumper, windbreaker, and a raincoat. However, sometimes it’s t-shirt weather.
Make sure you pack:
- Bathing suit and shorts (just in case)
- Sun hat
- Sunglasses
- Warm jacket or windbreaker
- Tee shirt
- Jeans or equivalent slacks
- Smart casual outfit (for dining, etc.)
- Good walking shoes (for sightseeing and mountain walks)
- Warm socks
- Driver’s license.
- Special interest articles (binoculars, climbing boots, etc.)
- Umbrella
Crowds – How Busy Is It?
August precedes the summer high season, so it is less crowded. As a result, flights and accommodation are cheaper, and there are more available options in Cape Town.
Things to Do in August / Places to Visit
Hermanus and the Whales
For an authentic wildlife experience, a visit to Hermanus on the East Coast is worth the 120km (75mi) drive. This charming seaside town is considered the best place on earth to see whales. And August is the best time for that. Hundreds of Southern Right whales turn up in the bay to breed and give birth.
Safari: 1-5 Days
As August is an incredible time for game viewing, we highly recommend at least a safari tour from Cape Town. If your time is limited, plan a 1-2-day tour. Otherwise, a 4 or 5 tour is an unforgettable experience.
West Coast Wildflowers
An hour or two drive north of the city, you will find another August exclusive, on the West Coast this time. From late July, tapestries of multi-coloured wildflowers shroud the landscape. They turn the semi-desert into a vast enchanting rock garden. You will not see this anywhere else, so take pictures.
Diving
July through August happens to be the best time for snorkelling or scuba diving in Cape Town. The Northwesterly winds ensure clear waters and visibility of up to fifteen meters on the Indian Ocean side. Training for novices, or refresher courses, are easy to find. Attractions for seasoned divers include shipwrecks, seal islands, shark-cage dives, and seaweed forests.
Cape Town Fashion Week
The highlight of Cape Town’s August social events calendar is Cape Town Fashion Week. South Africa’s premier fashion event is a three-day designer showcase housed at the V&A Waterfront. Apart from the runway shows, there are parties, award ceremonies, and mingling with well-dressed devotees.
More Things to Do
Boulders Beach
Boulders Beach, outside Cape Town, is a cluster of inlets amongst massive granite rocks. This naturally sheltered strand has become a sanctuary for over 3000 African penguins. You can picnic amongst these lovable birds for a small entrance fee and snorkel or swim in the sheltered water.
Cape Point Nature Reserve
After visiting the penguins, follow the signs to Cape Point Nature Reserve. (The coastal drive — 20 km (13 mi) of ocean and mountain views – is itself a treasure.)
Inside the reserve, pristinely preserved Cape biodiversity is set amongst rugged hills and a rocky shore. Cliffs towering up to two hundred meters (650 ft) above the sea provide mesmerizing ocean and coastal views.
Mountain Trails
There are almost four hundred mountain trails. They range from refreshing walks to challenging rock ascents.
Locals tell us they never grow tired of the beauty of the trails. If you stick to the few safety measures, dress appropriately, and take water, Cape Town’s trail hikes are a safe and exhilarating adventure.
Table Mountain
Viewing the panorama of the city, sea, and coastline from the top of Table Mountain is on every visitor’s itinerary. In season, this means endless queues for cable car tickets and boarding. In August, though, there is no such discomfort.
Those with more energy may prefer taking one of the multiple foot trails. August’s cooler weather suits this option.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
The Kirstenbosch Gardens was established to conserve, research and display the country’s indigenous plants. For visitors, it is an enormous tranquil garden. You can picnic on one of the vast lawns or explore the winding, tree-shaded paths through magnificent floral exhibits. There are also two restaurants in the gardens, an excellent memorabilia shop, and a plant museum.
Bokaap (Lit. Above Cape).
In the 1700s, the Dutch East India Company shipped in thousands of Muslim slaves from various colonies in the East. After slavery ended, the newly freed people built homes on an area of mountainside where they preserved their Islamic way of life.
Bokaap, as it is now known, is home to the oldest Mosque in South Africa. The modern community still takes pride in its Islamic roots and traditions. Cobbled streets and vividly colourful historic cottages make the Bokaap a delightful place to spend time.
Township Tours.
Townships, in South Africa, are ghettos once set aside for black or mix-race people. Historically, these areas were excluded from the tourism routes. Now, well-managed township tours allow visitors to safely experience and wonder at an extraordinary side of South Africa that apartheid hid from the world.
MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES
Cape Town is South Africa’s oldest city. Its story spans eras of ancient hunter-gatherer peoples, European settlers, slavery, wars, and the anti-apartheid struggle that led to today’s democracy. The city’s museums and galleries preserve glimpses into a socially dynamic five centuries.
Robben Island Museum
Robben Island is known as the site of the apartheid era prison that held Nelson Mandela for 28 years. However, few people are aware that its grim history reflects hundreds of years of isolation and oppression. The exiled have included the hopelessly sick, rebels, the mentally unsound and lepers.
From the sea crossing to the guided tour, a visit to Robben Island is a deeply moving experience.
The Cape Town Castle
Built in the 17th Century, the castle is the oldest building in the country. Today, this inner-city feature houses military history exhibitions, art, and evocative artefacts. At the same time, it is still used as a barracks for military personnel.
The Slave Lodge
Another historical building, the former Government House, is now known as the Slave Lodge. ‘Under the theme, ‘from human wrongs to human rights”, exhibits reflect the long history of slavery in South Africa.
District Six Museum
District Six Museum is housed where, in the 1970s, apartheid authorities removed over 60,000 people from their homes. The poignant exhibitions commemorate the evicted peoples’ plight and subsequent decades of hardship.
In 2003, the Netherlands honoured the museum with a Prins Klaus award.
IZIKO (Lit. The Hearth)
IZIKO museums is a national heritage body. They operate 11 major museums, including the Slave Lodge, in Cape Town. All of these exhibitions are housed in magnificent historic buildings and bring the city’s natural and social heritage to life.
The Company Gardens
The Company Gardens, close to the city centre, dates back to the arrival of the first dutch settlers. Today, its historical architecture house some of IZIKO’s museums. Its lush flora likewise reflects its beginnings as the plot for growing fresh produce for passing ships.
The Zeitz Gallery
The Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Modern Art Africa (MOCAA) exhibits the work of artists from all over Africa and the African Diaspora.
Opened relatively recently, it has become a favourite for locals and visitors.
THEATRE
Now that the main COVID threat seems behind us, theatre is live in Cape Town again. Besides the three main theatres, Artscape, The Baxter, and Theatre on the Bay, Cape Town has an array of exciting smaller theatre venues. August highlights would include drama, comedy, musicals, opera, ballet and contemporary dance programmes
SHOPPING AND DINING
The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront
The Victoria & Alfred (V&A) Waterfront is a network of old dockside warehouses turned into hundreds of modern retail outlets. The variety of choices make it Cape Town’s most irresistible shopping, dining and entertainment hub.
The harbour still operates. You can watch ships docking or fishing boats delivering their catch, while you dine
MARKETS
The many markets are well-documented in guide books and brochures, so you can explore your options.
Greenmarket Square
The most exciting daily market is the African market on Greenmarket Square in the city’s centre. You will find everything African there, from garments and carvings to drums, jewelry and masks. The sound of busking dancers and musicians, and the buzz from pavement cafes, will guide you to it.
Transport
You can get around the city centre on foot. If preferred, there are also bus, taxi, and Uber services. However, to get out and explore the full extent of this exquisite destination, a car is your best option.
Eating
Like all modern city’s Cape Town, has an abundance of shops, department stores, shopping centres, malls, and megamalls. Dining options, also abound. European, Asian, and American food are readily available.
However, Cape Town has its own local delights. The unique taste of Cape Malay dishes is a favourite among locals and visitors. There are also a variety of mouthwatering African (not only South African) dishes and atmospheric restaurants to explore.