Swimming in South Africa in january 2025 Sea temperature by city in january

Do you want to go to the beach in South Africa in january 2025? Is it the right month to go for pleasant temperatures and staying in the water for a long time? The answer is on this page with the sea temperatures in january in South Africa by city and our opinion on the chances of enjoying pleasant sea conditions.

Sea temperature in South Africa in january 2025

Here, find the average sea temperature in South Africa in january in several coastal cities.

Western Cape

Cape Town

on average:

66°F

min: 62°F / max: 70°F

George

on average:

70°F

min: 65°F / max: 74°F

Agulhas National Park

on average:

70°F

min: 68°F / max: 74°F

Arniston

on average:

71°F

min: 68°F / max: 74°F

Cape of Good Hope

on average:

67°F

min: 64°F / max: 71°F

Cape Agulhas

on average:

70°F

min: 68°F / max: 74°F

KwaZulu-Natal

Durban

on average:

79°F

min: 76°F / max: 82°F

Margate

on average:

79°F

min: 77°F / max: 81°F

Richards Bay

on average:

81°F

min: 78°F / max: 83°F

Ballito (Dolphin Coast)

on average:

79°F

min: 76°F / max: 82°F

iSimangaliso Wetland Park

on average:

82°F

min: 79°F / max: 85°F

Santa Lucia

on average:

81°F

min: 79°F / max: 83°F

Eastern Cape

Port Elizabeth (South Africa)

on average:

72°F

min: 70°F / max: 75°F

Coffee Bay

on average:

79°F

min: 76°F / max: 82°F

East London

on average:

76°F

min: 74°F / max: 79°F

Kenton-on-Sea

on average:

74°F

min: 70°F / max: 77°F

Port St Johns

on average:

79°F

min: 76°F / max: 82°F

St Francis Bay

on average:

70°F

min: 67°F / max: 73°F

Northern Cape

Port Nolloth

on average:

65°F

min: 61°F / max: 67°F

Hondeklip Bay

on average:

65°F

min: 61°F / max: 68°F

Kleinsee

on average:

65°F

min: 61°F / max: 68°F

Lepelsfontein

on average:

64°F

min: 61°F / max: 68°F

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Sea temperature in december in South Africa

Sea temperature in february in South Africa

Where should you go swimming in South Africa in the month of january?

Swimming in South Africa in january is ideal (in the best case scenario)

In january in South Africa swimming conditions vary by city. Details below:

In january in Durban, Margate, Richards Bay, Ballito (Dolphin Coast), iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Santa Lucia, Sodwana Bay, The Wild Coast and Port Shepstone, swimming conditions are perfect! With water reaching a maximum of 82°F and an average of 79°F, going in the water (and staying there!) feels great.

As for Port Elizabeth (South Africa), Coffee Bay, East London, Agulhas National Park, Arniston, Cape Agulhas, Groot-Jongensfontein, Kenton-on-Sea, Port St Johns, Still Bay, Witsand and Port Alfred, swimming is pleasant in january. The sea water is 72°F on average (min: 70°F/max: 75°F) so you can easily spend time in the water.

Swimming in january in Cape Town, George, Port Nolloth, Cape of Good Hope, Gansbaai, Hermanus, Hondeklip Bay, Kleinsee, Knysna, Lepelsfontein, Pearly Beach, St Francis Bay, Wilderness, Jeffrey's Bay, Mossel Bay, Plettenberg Bay and Saldanha is possible but the sea is generally cool. So though the sea temperature may sometimes reach 70°F, it can also go as low as 62°F. Note that the average is 66°F.

Where to go swimming in South Africa in january: the map of sea temperatures

ideal swimming

pleasant swimming

cool swimming

cold swimming

freezing swimming

Water temperature and seasonal norms in january

Cape Town

	December	January	February
Average sea temperature	65°F	66°F	65°F
Minimum sea temperature	62°F	62°F	62°F
Maximum sea temperature	68°F	70°F	68°F
Average outside temperature	74°F	76°F	76°F
Maximum outside temperature	77°F	81°F	81°F
Minimum outside temperature	68°F	70°F	70°F
Precipitation	1.1in	0.8in	0.6in
Number of days of precipitation	2 jour(s) (6%)	1 jour(s) (4%)	1 jour(s) (4%)
Cloud cover	19%	17%	16%
Our opinion	cool swimming	cool swimming	cool swimming

More information on swimming in Cape Town in january

Durban

	December	January	February
Average sea temperature	77°F	79°F	79°F
Minimum sea temperature	74°F	76°F	77°F
Maximum sea temperature	81°F	82°F	82°F
Average outside temperature	74°F	76°F	77°F
Maximum outside temperature	77°F	79°F	81°F
Minimum outside temperature	72°F	74°F	74°F
Precipitation	6.9in	6.3in	5.9in
Number of days of precipitation	11 jour(s) (34%)	9 jour(s) (28%)	7 jour(s) (25%)
Cloud cover	57%	51%	47%
Our opinion	pleasant swimming	ideal swimming	ideal swimming

More information on swimming in Durban in january

Port Elizabeth (South Africa)

	December	January	February
Average sea temperature	71°F	72°F	71°F
Minimum sea temperature	68°F	70°F	69°F
Maximum sea temperature	74°F	75°F	74°F
Average outside temperature	74°F	76°F	76°F
Maximum outside temperature	76°F	79°F	79°F
Minimum outside temperature	70°F	72°F	72°F
Precipitation	2.2in	2.3in	2.7in
Number of days of precipitation	3 jour(s) (9%)	3 jour(s) (9%)	4 jour(s) (15%)
Cloud cover	38%	37%	36%
Our opinion	pleasant swimming	pleasant swimming	pleasant swimming

More information on swimming in Port Elizabeth (South Africa) in january

Coffee Bay

	December	January	February
Average sea temperature	76°F	79°F	79°F
Minimum sea temperature	73°F	76°F	77°F
Maximum sea temperature	79°F	82°F	82°F
Average outside temperature	72°F	74°F	74°F
Maximum outside temperature	77°F	79°F	79°F
Minimum outside temperature	67°F	68°F	67°F
Precipitation	6.7in	8.5in	7.7in
Number of days of precipitation	10 jour(s) (34%)	12 jour(s) (38%)	11 jour(s) (38%)
Cloud cover	59%	58%	57%
Our opinion	pleasant swimming	pleasant swimming	ideal swimming

More information on swimming in Coffee Bay in january

East London

	December	January	February
Average sea temperature	75°F	76°F	77°F
Minimum sea temperature	72°F	74°F	74°F
Maximum sea temperature	77°F	79°F	81°F
Average outside temperature	74°F	76°F	76°F
Maximum outside temperature	76°F	79°F	79°F
Minimum outside temperature	70°F	74°F	74°F
Precipitation	2.6in	3.1in	4in
Number of days of precipitation	4 jour(s) (13%)	4 jour(s) (14%)	5 jour(s) (18%)
Cloud cover	48%	46%	45%
Our opinion	pleasant swimming	pleasant swimming	pleasant swimming

More information on swimming in East London in january

List of coastal cities in South Africa

Cape Town in january	cool swimming
Durban in january	ideal swimming
Port Elizabeth (South Africa) in january	pleasant swimming
Coffee Bay in january	pleasant swimming
East London in january	pleasant swimming
George in january	cool swimming
Margate in january	ideal swimming
Port Nolloth in january	cool swimming
Richards Bay in january	ideal swimming
Agulhas National Park in january	pleasant swimming
Arniston in january	pleasant swimming
Ballito (Dolphin Coast) in january	ideal swimming
Cape of Good Hope in january	cool swimming
Cape Agulhas in january	pleasant swimming
Gansbaai in january	cool swimming
Groot-Jongensfontein in january	pleasant swimming
Hermanus in january	cool swimming
Hondeklip Bay in january	cool swimming
iSimangaliso Wetland Park in january	ideal swimming
Kenton-on-Sea in january	pleasant swimming
Kleinsee in january	cool swimming
Knysna in january	cool swimming
Lepelsfontein in january	cool swimming
Pearly Beach in january	cool swimming
Port St Johns in january	pleasant swimming
Santa Lucia in january	ideal swimming
Sodwana Bay in january	ideal swimming
St Francis Bay in january	cool swimming
Still Bay in january	pleasant swimming
The Wild Coast in january	ideal swimming
Wilderness in january	cool swimming
Witsand in january	pleasant swimming
Jeffrey's Bay in january	cool swimming
Mossel Bay in january	cool swimming
Plettenberg Bay in january	cool swimming
Port Alfred in january	pleasant swimming
Port Shepstone in january	ideal swimming
Saldanha in january	cool swimming