South Africa lies in the southern hemisphere, which means that we experience the exact reverse of the seasons in the northern hemisphere. South African temperatures are governed by three main features. Firstly, because of South Africa’s greater height above sea level, temperatures tend to be lower here than in other regions in the world in similar latitudes, for example Australia.

Secondly, despite a latitudinal span of 13 degrees, average annual temperatures are remarkably uniform throughout the country, mainly due to the increase in the height of the plateau towards the north-east.

The dry conditions and abundant sunshine are caused by South Africa’s location in the subtropical belt of high pressure. Fortunately, the wide expanses of ocean on three sides of South Africa have a moderating influence on the climate. Where the land meets the sea, galeforce winds frequently blow, especially in the south-western and southern coastal areas. The rest of the country, however, does not suffer from these winds. Winter temperatures are generally mild and clear and periodic snowfalls only occur in the higher mountain ranges of the Eastern and Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. South Africa has an average annual rainfall of only 464 mm, against the world average of 857 mm. In total, 65 per cent of the country has an annual rainfall of less than 500 mm which is usually regarded as the absolute minimum for successful dry-land farming. This potential problem has largely been countered by the construction of excellent irrigation systems.

Frost often occurs on the interior plateau during cold, clear winter nights, with ice forming on still pools and in water pipes. The incidence of frost decreases to the north of the country, while the coast is virtually frost-free. Snow is a rare occurrence except on some mountaintops, for example in the Drakensberg mountain range. Another example of our astonishing diversity is the Western Cape province that experiences a Mediterranean climate (dry summers and winter rainfall) while the rest of the country gets its rain in summer.