While there are so many activities to be enjoyed in Cape Town regardless of the weather, having an enjoyable experience at Table Mountain is heavily dependent on the weather. A sunny day with clear skies with little to no wind is the perfect weather for Table Mountain.
Live Cape Town Weather
Best time to visit
When planning your trip to Table Mountain, keep in mind that the best months to visit is from October to March. Cape Town’s rainy season is from April to September with sporadic showers and chilly winds. While it is cheaper to visit during the winter season, it is not the ideal conditions to head to Table Mountain. Visibility will be low and Table Mountain will most likely be covered in a blanket of clouds.
This graph highlights the average rainfall during a given month over the past 10 years. You can clearly see the spikes in rainfall during the months of June and July.
What we see here is the average cloud cover per given month over the past 10 years. I’ve highlighted February 2017 which had an average of 12% cloud cover during that month. The months of December, January and February have the lowest amount of cloud cover which is perfect for a visit to Table Mountain.
The best season to visit
The summer season is more favourable. With very little rain fall and breathtaking sunsets, you have a good chance of seeing Table Mountain in all its glory. Take care though, the infamous south easter wind (often called “The Cape Doctor”) might ruin your trip if it’s on form. If you’re visiting the Cableway, be sure to pick a day when the south easter wind is not blowing strong, or get there early in the morning when it is still lying dormant.
The south easter wind is strongest during the months of December, January and February as shown in this graph. With these months being the most popular months to visit, it is crucial that you check the weather in advance to see how active the south easter wind will be.
The best time of the day to visit
It is advisable to head to Table Mountain early in the morning during the summer season. Not only is it not that hot, but you will avoid the crowds. The average morning temperature is 17C, with the temperature hitting 25C at midday.
This graph shows the average minimum and maximum temperatures during a given month over the past 10 years. Temperatures usually spike during December, January and February.
The sun shines between 11 – 15 hours during summer, so if you can’t get there early in the morning, don’t worry, you have lots of time to experience all Table Mountain has to offer. During summer, the sun rises as early as 5:30 and sets as late as 20:00.
This graph shows you the average amount of hours the sun shines during a given month. As you can clearly see, it peaks in December and I’ve highlighted December 2014. In that given month, the sun was shining for an average of 15 hours per day.
A local’s perspective
I’ve now shown you all these graphs and stats, and it is quite obvious that the best months to visit will be from October to March. With December, January and February being the most popular months. As a local, I can tell you that December and January are the busiest months, not only at Table Mountain, but the rest of Cape Town as well. If you want to stay clear of the crowds, then I recommend that you visit Table Mountain in late October, early November. It is also less busy in February, but the south easter wind tends to be at its worst during that month.
What to take with you
If you’re planning on visiting Table Mountain during the summer months, I recommend that you always bring the following items with you.
1.) Water
Regardless of your planned activities at Table Mountain, it is always a good idea to take a bottle of water with you to stay hydrated.
2.) Warm Jacket
Without sounding like a typical mother, pack a warm jacket just in case. The south easter wind will often bring cooler temperatures with it. While that can be a blessing in disguise while you are hot from hiking during the day, it can catch you off-guard later in the afternoon. Especially while you are enjoying the sunset from the top of Table Mountain.
3.) Sunblock
Because there is so much to explore, a trip to Table Mountain always lasts a couple of hours. And during the summer season you will be exposed to the sun’s harmful rays. It is therefor recommended that you bring sunblock with you as well. Choose a sunblock with a high SPF (I recommend SPF 70) with sweat and water resistance.
