Page 45 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

SOUTH AFRIC A THROUGH THE Y EAR  43

Winter
This is the dry season for most
of the country; only the winter
rainfall area along the south-
western and Southern Cape
coast is lush and green at this
time. Inland, days are typically
warm, although nightly frosts
are common in high-lying areas.
Snowfall occurs on the
mountains of the Western
and Eastern Cape and in the
KwaZulu-Natal and Lesotho Safari wildlife-viewing drive at Sabi Sabi, Mpumalanga
highlands. Late winter is
particularly good for game- international drama, film, dance, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
watching, as the thirsty wildlife visual arts and music. (third weekend in Jul), Cape Town.
gathers around waterholes. July Handicap (first Sat in Jul), Awash with glamour, this intro-
Greyville Race Course, Durban duces the spring and
June (see pp286–9). This is summer collections
Comrades Marathon (mid- the glamour event of South Africa’s
Jun), between Durban and of the Durban top designers.
Pieter maritzburg. This horse-racing
ultra-long-distance fraternity. August
running event attracts Knysna Oyster Standard Bank Joy of
top-class runners from Festival (early Jul), Knysna oyster Jazz (Aug), Johannesburg
all over the world Knysna (see (see pp314–15). Jazz
(see p39). p244–5). The festival, festival with local and
centred on the international acts.
July commercial oyster Hantam Vleisfees,
Dullstroom beds in Knysna (last weekend in Aug), Calvinia.
Winter Lagoon, coincides with Located in the Northern Cape,
Festival (first a forest marathon. Calvinia is sheep country.
weekend in Berg River Canoe This festival is a celebration
Jul), Dullstroom Marathon (Jul), Paarl (see of lamb in all its forms: stewed,
(see p334). A pp206–7). This strenuous curried or grilled. The three-
delightful Christ- four-day canoe race day event also offers music
mas-in-winter provides some high concerts, a vintage car rally,
themed event with High fashion, July excitement. It is staged and the glittering Miss
restaurant evenings, Handicap annually when the river Vleisfees competition.
chocolate, whisky and is in full flood. Oppikoppi Bushveld Festival
wine tasting, and a trout The Ballito Pro Presented by (Aug), Northam/Limpopo,
fly-fishing competition. Billabong (see pp264–5) (mid- north of Sun City. Alternative
National Arts Festival (early to Jul), Ballito (see p296). This popular rock festival.
mid-Jul), Grahamstown (see week-long surfing championship
pp256–7). An extremely popular attracts the world’s best surfers Public Holidays
two weeks of local and and hordes of spectators.
New Year’s Day (1 Jan)
Human Rights Day (21 Mar)
Good Friday (Apr)
Family Day (Apr)
Freedom Day (27 Apr)
Workers’ Day (1 May)
Youth Day (16 Jun)
National Women’s Day
(9 Aug)
Heritage Day (24 Sep)
Day of Reconciliation
(16 Dec)
Christmas Day (25 Dec)
Day of Goodwill (26 Dec)
Performers at the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown

042-043_EW_South_Africa.indd 43 25/05/17 11:58 am