The Climate of Limpopo Province

The Limpopo Province is situated in the northernmost corner of the South Africa. It shares its international borders with Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, while its local boundary meets with that of Gauteng. Limpopo is one of the two provinces which enjoy a connection with the Kruger National Park and visitors to this province can usually access the park without crossing to the Mpumalanga Province. The Limpopo Province is named for the long, winding Limpopo River which winds its way through the province providing nourishment to the surrounding flora.

The climate in the Limpopo Province is quite hot since the area is bisected by the tropic of Capricorn. Those who choose to visit this northern tip of the country will find that they can enjoy long sunny days and dry weather on most days. During the summer months the heat is often interrupted by a short thunderstorm which is usually a welcome respite from the sometimes extreme heat of the day. Polokwane, the capital city of the province, is situated at roughly the centre of Limpopo. Its weather is normally mirrored by much of the province with the exception of the eastern regions of Limpopo. Polokwane is fortunate enough to enjoy very a very pleasant climate for much of the year with plenty of sunshine regardless of the season. However, it can get a bit hot during the summer months which are between October and March each year. During this time, the temperature can average about 27º C.

When you head out of town towards the lowveld, you will find that summer weather becomes even more extreme with towns such as Phalaborwa experiencing temperatures as high as 45º C. However, this is more the exception than the rule and visitors to the spectacular Kruger National Park are more likely to have the mercury rise to about 30º C in the summer months. Visitors from cooler countries usually prefer to visit in winter when the province continues to experience plenty of sunshine but the air itself is a bit cooler. During this time of the year the days usually start with a chill in the air which progresses to a warm midday and cool, dry afternoon. At night the temperature drops dramatically and you usually need to reach for a blanket or warm top to stay comfortable.

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