South Africa
Johannesburg in December
☀️ SummerPleasant and often rainy.
🎒 Pack: compact umbrella or rain jacket
Why December scores 8.6What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort9.1
- ✓Comfortable temperatures (26°C highs / 15°C lows)
- ✓Comfortable humidity (dew point 12.3°C)
- !Wet: ~130 mm rain, ~3 heavy-rain days
- Air quality6.7
- !Elevated (PM2.5 ~28 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline7.0
- ·Increased caution
| Dec | Sep | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.6 Excellent | 8.9 Excellent |
| Season | ☀️ Summer | 🌷 Spring |
| High / low | 26° / 15° | 24° / 10° |
| Rain | 130 mm | 16 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 12° | dew pt 1° |
| PM2.5 | 28 µg/m³ | 26 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Johannesburg weather-station normals. Rainfall: Johannesburg weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsDecember 2026
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Christmas Day 25–27 Dec · 3 days off in a row
Other public holidays: Day of Reconciliation (16 Dec)
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore JohannesburgEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallySouth Africa's largest city and economic hub, visited for apartheid history, Soweto, galleries and as a gateway to safaris.
No major events on our calendar for December.
Coming up later
Freedom DayEvery year27 April every year
Public holiday marking South Africa's first democratic election in 1994.
Why go: Some businesses close; museums like the Apartheid Museum are especially relevant.
Where: Nationwide
Heritage DayEvery year24 September every year
Public holiday celebrating South Africa's cultures, popularly called 'Braai Day'.
Why go: Expect barbecues and cultural events around the city.
Where: Nationwide
Jacaranda bloomingDate variesUsually October to November
Streets turn purple as jacaranda trees flower.
Why go: Peak bloom lasts only a few weeks.
Where: Northern suburbs and nearby Pretoria
Apartheid Museum
A major museum telling the story of apartheid and its end.
💡 Allow at least two to three hours.
Constitution Hill
A former prison complex, now home to the Constitutional Court and museums.
Soweto and Vilakazi Street
The historic township, including the Mandela House museum on Vilakazi Street.
💡 Guided tours are the easiest way to visit.
Maboneng and Braamfontein
Inner-city districts with galleries, markets and street art.
💡 Visit by day or with local guidance; ask locally about safe areas.
Cradle of Humankind
A UNESCO site northwest of the city with fossil caves, including Sterkfontein and the Maropeng visitor centre.
Jacaranda season
Thousands of purple-flowering jacaranda trees line the northern suburbs.
Braai
South African barbecue of boerewors sausage, meat and pap.
💡 Restaurants, shisa nyamas and home gatherings
Kota
A hollowed quarter-loaf of bread stuffed with chips, polony, egg and sauces.
💡 Township takeaways, especially Soweto
Bunny chow
Hollowed bread filled with curry, originally from Durban.
💡 Takeaways and casual restaurants
Biltong
Air-dried spiced meat snack.
💡 Butcheries and supermarkets
Pap and chakalaka
Maize porridge served with spicy vegetable relish.
💡 Shisa nyamas and local eateries
Beadwork
Zulu and Ndebele-style beaded jewellery and objects.
💡 Craft markets such as Rosebank's Sunday market
Rooibos tea
Caffeine-free South African red bush tea.
💡 Supermarkets and shops
Wire and tin art
Sculptures and toys made from recycled wire and cans.
💡 Craft markets and street sellers
Biltong
Vacuum-packed dried meat (check import rules at home).
💡 Butcheries and airport shops
Airport transfer Kiwitaxi
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