Swimming in South Africa in may 2024 Sea temperature by city in may

Do you want to go to the beach in South Africa in may 2024? 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 may in South Africa by city and our opinion on the chances of enjoying pleasant sea conditions.

Sea temperature in South Africa in may 2024

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

Western Cape

on average:

62°F

min: 59°F / max: 65°F

on average:

62°F

min: 61°F / max: 64°F

Agulhas National Park

on average:

62°F

min: 59°F / max: 65°F

Arniston

on average:

62°F

min: 59°F / max: 65°F

Cape of Good Hope

on average:

63°F

min: 59°F / max: 67°F

Cape Agulhas

on average:

62°F

min: 59°F / max: 65°F

KwaZulu-Natal

on average:

75°F

min: 73°F / max: 78°F

on average:

75°F

min: 72°F / max: 78°F

on average:

76°F

min: 75°F / max: 78°F

on average:

75°F

min: 73°F / max: 78°F

iSimangaliso Wetland Park

on average:

77°F

min: 76°F / max: 79°F

Santa Lucia

on average:

76°F

min: 75°F / max: 78°F

Eastern Cape

on average:

69°F

min: 66°F / max: 72°F

on average:

75°F

min: 73°F / max: 78°F

on average:

75°F

min: 72°F / max: 78°F

Kenton-on-Sea

on average:

72°F

min: 68°F / max: 75°F

Port St Johns

on average:

76°F

min: 73°F / max: 79°F

St Francis Bay

on average:

66°F

min: 62°F / max: 71°F

Northern Cape

on average:

58°F

min: 56°F / max: 61°F

Hondeklip Bay

on average:

59°F

min: 58°F / max: 61°F

Kleinsee

on average:

58°F

min: 56°F / max: 61°F

Lepelsfontein

on average:

59°F

min: 57°F / max: 60°F

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

Swimming in South Africa in may is pleasant (in the best case scenario)

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

As for Durban, Coffee Bay, East London, Margate, Richards Bay, Ballito (Dolphin Coast), iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Kenton-on-Sea, Port St Johns, Santa Lucia, Sodwana Bay, The Wild Coast, Port Alfred and Port Shepstone, swimming is pleasant in may. The sea water is 75°F on average (min: 73°F/max: 78°F) so you can easily spend time in the water.

Swimming in may in Port Elizabeth (South Africa), Cape of Good Hope, Gansbaai, Knysna, Pearly Beach, St Francis Bay, Wilderness, Jeffrey's Bay and Plettenberg Bay is possible but the sea is generally cool. So though the sea temperature may sometimes reach 72°F, it can also go as low as 66°F. Note that the average is 69°F.

Swimming in may in Cape Town, George, Agulhas National Park, Arniston, Cape Agulhas, Groot-Jongensfontein, Hermanus, Still Bay, Witsand, Mossel Bay and Saldanha is possible... with a wetsuit! Indeed, the water is cold at this time of year with an average temperature of 62°F (min: 59°F/max: 65°F).

Forget about swimming in Port Nolloth, Hondeklip Bay, Kleinsee and Lepelsfontein in may! The water temperature is freezing, reaching as low as 56°F (and only 61°F at the best of times). Our advice: plan on sightseeing, and don't bring your beach towel!

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

ideal swimming pleasant swimming cool swimming cold swimming freezing swimming

Water temperature and seasonal norms in may

Cape Town

May
Average sea temperature 62°F
Minimum sea temperature 59°F
Maximum sea temperature 65°F
Average outside temperature 65°F
Maximum outside temperature 70°F
Minimum outside temperature 59°F
Precipitation 4.8in
Number of days of precipitation 6 jour(s)
(18%)
Cloud cover 32%
Our opinion cold swimming

More information on swimming in Cape Town in may

Durban

May
Average sea temperature 75°F
Minimum sea temperature 73°F
Maximum sea temperature 78°F
Average outside temperature 70°F
Maximum outside temperature 76°F
Minimum outside temperature 65°F
Precipitation 2.8in
Number of days of precipitation 3 jour(s)
(9%)
Cloud cover 26%
Our opinion pleasant swimming

More information on swimming in Durban in may

Port Elizabeth (South Africa)

May
Average sea temperature 69°F
Minimum sea temperature 66°F
Maximum sea temperature 72°F
Average outside temperature 68°F
Maximum outside temperature 74°F
Minimum outside temperature 63°F
Precipitation 1.7in
Number of days of precipitation 3 jour(s)
(8%)
Cloud cover 25%
Our opinion cool swimming

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

Coffee Bay

May
Average sea temperature 75°F
Minimum sea temperature 73°F
Maximum sea temperature 78°F
Average outside temperature 63°F
Maximum outside temperature 74°F
Minimum outside temperature 54°F
Precipitation 1.3in
Number of days of precipitation 2 jour(s)
(6%)
Cloud cover 24%
Our opinion pleasant swimming

More information on swimming in Coffee Bay in may

East London

May
Average sea temperature 75°F
Minimum sea temperature 72°F
Maximum sea temperature 78°F
Average outside temperature 70°F
Maximum outside temperature 74°F
Minimum outside temperature 65°F
Precipitation 1.4in
Number of days of precipitation 2 jour(s)
(7%)
Cloud cover 26%
Our opinion pleasant swimming

More information on swimming in East London in may

List of coastal cities in South Africa

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