South Africa has a generally temperate climate, due in part to being surrounded by the Atlantic

and Indian Oceans on three sides, by its location in the climatically milder Southern
Hemisphere and due to the average elevation rising steadily towards the north (towards the
equator) and further inland. Due to this varied topography and oceanic influence, a great
variety of climatic zones exist. The climatic zones range from the extreme desert of the
southern Namib in the farthest northwest to the lush subtropical climate in the east along the
Mozambique border and the Indian Ocean. Winters in South Africa occur between June and
August.

The extreme southwest has a climate remarkably similar to that of the Mediterranean with wet
winters and hot, dry summers, hosting the famous fynbos biome of shrubland and thicket. This
area also produces much of the wine in South Africa. This region is also particularly known for
its wind, which blows intermittently almost all year. The severity of this wind made passing
around the Cape of Good Hope particularly treacherous for sailors, causing many shipwrecks.
Further east on the south coast, rainfall is distributed more evenly throughout the year,
producing a green landscape. This area is popularly known as the Garden Route.

The Free State is particularly flat because it lies centrally on the high plateau. North of the Vaal
River, the Highveld becomes better watered and does not experience subtropical extremes of
heat. Johannesburg, in the centre of the Highveld, is at 1,740 m (5,709 ft) and receives an
annual rainfall of 760 mm (29.9 in). Winters in this region are cold, although snow is rare.
The high Drakensberg mountains, which form the south-eastern escarpment of the Highveld,
offer limited skiing opportunities in winter. The coldest place on mainland South Africa
is Sutherland in the western Roggeveld Mountains, where midwinter temperatures can reach
as low as 15 C (5 F). The Prince Edward Islands have colder average annual temperatures,
but Sutherland has colder extremes. The deep interior of mainland South Africa has the hottest
temperatures: a temperature of 51.7 C (125.06 F) was recorded in 1948 in the Northern
Cape Kalahari near Upington,[75] but this temperature is unofficial and was not recorded with
standard equipment, the official highest temperature is 48.8 C (119.84 F) at Vioolsdrif in
January 1993
Sudfrica tiene un clima generalmente templado, debido en parte a estar rodeado por
los Ocanos Atlntico e ndico en tres lados, por su ubicacin en el Hemisferio Sur
climticamente ms suave y debido a la elevacin promedio que se eleva
constantemente hacia el norte (hacia el ecuador) y Ms al interior Debido a esta
variada topografa e influencia ocenica, existe una gran variedad de zonas climticas.
Las zonas climticas van desde el desierto extremo del sur de Namib en el noroeste
ms lejano al exuberante clima subtropical en el este a lo largo de la frontera de
Mozambique y el Ocano ndico. Los inviernos en Sudfrica ocurren entre junio y
agosto.

El extremo suroeste tiene un clima notablemente similar al del Mediterrneo con

inviernos hmedos y veranos calurosos y secos, acogiendo el famoso bioma fynbos de
matorrales y matorrales. Esta zona tambin produce gran parte del vino en Sudfrica.
Esta regin tambin es particularmente conocida por su viento, que sopla
intermitentemente casi todo el ao. La gravedad de este viento haca pasar por el Cabo
de Buena Esperanza particularmente traicionero para los marineros, causando muchos
naufragios. Ms al este en la costa sur, la lluvia se distribuye de manera ms uniforme
durante todo el ao, produciendo un paisaje verde. Esta rea es popularmente
conocida como la Ruta del Jardn.
El Estado Libre es particularmente plano porque se encuentra en el centro del altiplano.
Al norte del ro Vaal, el Highveld se riega mejor y no experimenta extremos
subtropicales de calor. Johannesburgo, en el centro del Highveld, est a 1.740 m (5.709
pies) y recibe una precipitacin anual de 760 mm (29.9 pulgadas). Los inviernos en
esta regin son fros, aunque la nieve es rara.

Las altas montaas de Drakensberg, que forman la escarpa del sur-este de Highveld,
ofrecen oportunidades limitadas de esqu en invierno. El lugar ms fro en la parte
continental de Sudfrica es Sutherland en las montaas occidentales de Roggeveld,
donde las temperaturas del invierno pueden alcanzar tan bajo como -15 C (5 F). Las
Islas del Prncipe Eduardo tienen temperaturas anuales ms bajas, pero Sutherland
tiene extremos ms fros. El interior ms profundo de la parte continental de Sudfrica
tiene las temperaturas ms calientes: una temperatura de 51.7 C (125.06 F) se
registr en 1948 en el Cabo Norte Kalahari cerca de Upington, [75] pero esta
temperatura no es oficial y no se registr con el equipo estndar , La temperatura ms
alta oficial es 48.8 C (119.84 F) en Vioolsdrif en enero de 1993.