What's the Weather like in Johannesburg in December
Temperature
December is the second-hottest month in Johannesburg after January. The average monthly temperature is 20°C. During the daytime you'll experience average temperatures of 25°C and during the night you'll have a very pleasant average temperature of 13°C. Temperatures slowly rise throughout December, but only by a couple of degrees going into January.
Rainfall
December sees a slight drop in total rainfall between the wetter months of November and January. December's average totals are 110mm spread out over 17 days of rain. The probability of precipitation averages close to 53% for the entire month with little variation. Most rainfall is produced by short but intense passing storms.
Sunshine Hours
The longest day of the year in Johannesburg is in December, with 13 hours 47 minutes between sunrise and sunset. The longer days, combined with only a 35% chance of mostly cloudy or overcast skies, will give you an average of 11 hours of sunshine in December.
Humidity
The average relative humidity in Johannesburg in December stays just under 70% for the entire month. The average daily temperatures of 20°C will keep the air quite comfortable, with rare instances where you might consider it "humid."
Wind
Wind velocities will continue to decrease throughout December, a trend started in November. By the end of the year the average wind speed is only 3.3 m/s. Winds are mostly northerly, with the remainder split up between easterly and westerly directions.
Dress Code
Bring a raincoat and umbrella if you're visiting Johannesburg in December. The rains can be heavy at times and you'll get drenched if you're caught out in them. Otherwise, some very comfortable temperatures call for shorts, skirts, and short-sleeve shirts during the daytime with the possibility of pants and a light sweatshirt at night. Johannesburg is a very casual city and you won't need to worry about dressing up unless you're going out to a show or a nice restaurant. Be sure to check the Johannesburg 14-day forecast before you start packing for a better idea of what the weather will be like for your trip.
Johannesburg Hotels in December
The Peech Hotel
A wonderful boutique experience is waiting for you at The Peech Hotel. This stylish four-star hotel was once vacation condos but has been transformed into one of the top Johannesburg boutique hotels. There are 16 rooms at this property, from smaller standard rooms to large suites. You'll enjoy the modern furniture throughout and the large bathrooms with rainforest showers. The Peech Hotel has an on-site restaurant with an outstanding seasonal menu comprised of local, fresh ingredients. There are also often fun wine-tasting events hosted at the hotel. The Peech will give you easy access to the Melrose Arch neighborhood and their amazing shops and restaurants.
Protea Fire & Ice
One fun and trendy hotel in the Melrose Arch neighborhood is the four-star Protea Fire & Ice. This chic hotel is styled after Old Hollywood, and you'll find this atmosphere throughout their lobby, diner, and rooms. There are 197 modern, air-conditioned rooms available in suites or standard rooms, all with sizeable bathrooms and comfortable beds. The diner serves gourmet burgers and excellent milkshakes, along with many other amazing choices for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Protea Fire & Ice offers a shuttle service to the nearest Guatrain station where you can launch further explorations of greater Johannesburg.
The Michelangelo Hotel
Sandton and Nelson Mandela Square are one of the most glamorous areas of Johannesburg, and also where you can find one of the most upscale hotels. The popular five-star Michelangelo Hotel beautifully compliments Sandton with its amazing Renaissance architecture complete with elaborate arches and gold leaf accents. The stunning 242 rooms come in all sizes and are built around a large central atrium & fountain inside the hotel. The Michelangelo has one amazing fine dining restaurant on site, an indoor pool, a fitness center, and a five-star health & beauty spa. The hotel staff consistently earns high marks for their professional & friendly service, going out of their way to make this a memorable vacation for you.
The Residence Boutique Hotel
You'll get a five-star boutique hotel experience out of the Residence Boutique Hotel where you'll be pampered your entire stay. This 18-room hotel in Houghton Estate, close to Braamfontein, is very luxurious and perfect for an anniversary or birthday celebration. Some of the rooms you'll be able to choose from are the pool villa, luxury rooms, or standard suites. The Residence also features a health & beauty spa with steam room, three total pools, fitness center, and conference room. The kitchen staff will prepare an amazing breakfast, lunch, or dinner for you to enjoy in their formal dining area. The Residence also provides limousine service for your transportation around Johannesburg.
Bars and Restaurants
The Grillhouse Rosebank
You won't be able to visit Johannesburg without eating at one of their amazing steakhouses. Rosebank's The Grillhouse is one of the best-reviewed in the city. If your lodging accommodations have a kitchen or you're going to grill somewhere you can also pick up great cuts of meat here. Their lunch and dinner menu features amazing, tender cuts of beef, lamb, and venison. They also have great salads and chicken dishes on their menu, as well as choices for vegetarians. The atmosphere is very warm with their dark wood furnishings, and they can easily accommodate large groups. A complete selection of wines and full bar are available to go with your dinner. There are also two other locations in Sandton and Melrose Arch. The Grillhouse is open every day from noon until 10:30PM. Reservations are accepted and encouraged.
Fishmonger Illovo
Seafood lovers will need to put Fishmonger Illovo on their list of restaurants while visiting Johannesburg. This amazing fish house in Sandton is perhaps the best in Johannesburg, serving an amazing collection of remarkably fresh seafood. They serve lunch and dinner every day in their large, relaxed dining room. Most dishes have heavy Mediterranean influences with strong flavors. You'll be able to enjoy prawns, langoustine, kingklip, hake, and calamari, all served in various ways. Fishmonger Illovo is also a great choice for sushi, and you can sit at their informal sushi bar if the dining room is too much. If there are non-seafood eaters in your family, you'll also find great chicken and steak dishes on the menu. Fishmonger Illovo is open daily from noon until 10:30PM and accepts reservations.
Level Four
The restaurant in the 54 on Bath hotel is open to non-hotel guests and has become a very popular choice for couples celebrating that special occasion. The elegant Level Four in Rosebank serves amazing European cuisine all day long. For breakfast you'll be able to choose from their fresh scones, a perfect eggs benedict, and various quiches. The items on the dinner menu will be competing for your attention, with tender filet, flavorful duck, and creamy lobster bisque. The menu is also able to accommodate vegetarians and those with other food allergies. Level Four is open every day from 6:30AM until 10:30PM. Reservations are accepted and recommended.
Che Argentine Grill
For a taste of South America, spend a night dining at Che Argentine Grill, one of the latest excellent restaurants to revitalize Maboneng Precinct. Che cooks nothing but the best locally-sourced, grass-fed Angus and Wagyu beef. These are all prepared in wood-fired ovens using house seasonings and served with a flavorful house chimichurri. Other menu items include tapas, vegetarian options, and seafood dishes. Che has a full bar and extensive wine menu of the best South American and local wines. A wonderful atmosphere will make you feel like you're dining at an Argentine ranch. Che is open noon until 11PM Tuesday thru Sunday.
Things to do in Johannesburg in December
Gauteng Lion & Safari Park
Don't miss out on viewing magnificent elephants, lions, antelope, leopards, giraffes, and cheetahs while you're in Johannesburg. You can see all of these at the Gauteng Lion & Safari Park, 45 minutes north of Johannesburg. This large reserve will let you learn about conservation efforts and interact with African animals. Admission to the park is free. You'll only end up paying for the activities that you choose to participate in. Some of these activities include giraffe feeding, nighttime safaris, and cub interactions. You'll also be able to drive yourself around the reserve on a self-guided tour. The park is open daily at 8AM and closes at 8PM on weekends and 6PM on weekdays.
Johannesburg Markets
Johannesburg is home to some excellent markets in many different neighborhoods. You'll be able to find everything from stylish clothing, craft beers, and artisan food in the various Johannesburg markets. You'll find most of these markets taking place on the weekends, and they occur year-round. One of the popular Saturday markets occurs in Parkhurst, where you can find everything from fresh fruit & vegetables, meat, and amazing street food. Also on Saturday is the Neighborgoods Market in Braamfontein, which features artisanal food, handmade crafts, and specialty cocktails. On Sundays be sure to check out the rooftop markets in Rosebank, with vendors selling fashionable clothing, fresh food, and souvenirs.
Orlando Towers
Much of what makes Johannesburg special is how they've taken old, somewhat dark pieces of history and transformed them into beautiful attractions. One example is the old nuclear cooling towers in Soweto. What are known as the Orlando Towers has turned into a "vertical adventure center". These decommissioned towers have been used as a canvas for beautiful paintings from local artists. The towers also serve as a popular launching point for BASE jumping (for experienced people only), and also bungee jumping and SCAD freefall inside of one of the towers. Those not wishing to take the plunge can go to the top of the towers to enjoy the view or participate in an intense game of paintball.
Spend a day in Midrand
One of Johannesburg's rapidly-expanding areas is the former municipality of Midrand, now a part of Johannesburg. This revitalized business hub north of Sandton has seen much modern development recently and is a major industrial center in Gauteng. Midrand hosts an excellent family market on the first Saturday of every month, has a large collection of rescued animals at the Lory Park Animal & Owl Sanctuary, and offers tours of underground gemstone mines. The largest mosque in South Africa was also recently completed in Midrand, and you'll need to see how beautifully it is lit up at night. Also new is the expansive Mall of Africa, a large shopping complex of over 300 different shops & restaurants.
