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88 / 100
ZA

South Africa

Compare countries and cities by VanSky score and pick your next stop Compare regions by VanSky score and pick your destination

Ideal 88 / 100
69%
29%
Ideal 69% Comfortable 29% Acceptable 2%
Best spot: Gauteng — 94
Typical conditions: 84
Cities: 126 Regions: 9 Updated: 30 Aug, 15:06 Open-Meteo

A comparison of 126 cities in South Africa by VanSky score — how comfortable it is to travel in each today. We factor in temperature, wind, sun and conditions by the sea. Sort by any metric and pick your next stop. A comparison of 9 regions of South Africa by VanSky score — where it's most comfortable to travel right now. We factor in temperature, wind, sun and conditions by the sea.

The country score (0–100) is computed from all of its cities, not a single point. Cities are grouped into regions, and a region's score is the median of its cities so dense clusters don't outweigh sparse ones. Final score = 0.65 × “best areas” (80th percentile of regions) + 0.35 × “typical conditions” (median of regions), so one warm city can't push the whole country to 100. Each city's score blends warmth (feels-like), sun, rain and wind, adjusted for night temperature and, on the coast, the sea. Data: Open-Meteo, refreshed several times a day.

80–100
Ideal
60–79
Comfortable
40–59
Acceptable
20–39
Challenging
0–19
Extreme

The scale above shows what share of the country's cities falls into each comfort band. “Best spot” is the most comfortable region or city this week; “typical conditions” is the median score across regions.

∅ 7-day average

Top cities in South Africa by VanSky Regions of South Africa

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Alexandra
Gauteng
96
Johannesburg
Gauteng
96
Carletonville
Gauteng
96
Centurion
Gauteng
96
Krugersdorp
Gauteng
96
Midrand
Gauteng
96
Randburg
Gauteng
96
Randfontein
Gauteng
96
Delmas
Mpumalanga
96
Emalahleni
Mpumalanga
96
eMbalenhle
Mpumalanga
96
Etwatwa
Gauteng
96
Roodepoort
Gauteng
96
Trichardt
Mpumalanga
96
Westonaria
Gauteng
96

VanSky Index

A weather comfort index for travel: a 0–100 score. Recalculated daily from live weather data — temperature, rainfall, wind and sun.

80–100 Ideal
60–79 Comfortable
40–59 Acceptable
20–39 Challenging
0–19 Extreme

How it's calculated:

  • Thermal comfort 35% — temperature + humidity
  • Sunshine 25% — panel charge, mood; in heat the sun is no longer a bonus
  • Precipitation 25% — rain → muddy ground
  • Wind 15% — awning, driving, noise
  • Extremes override all: frost, heat, storm, downpour
  • Heat counts by feels-like temperature: at 32°+ the score can’t reach “Comfortable”, muggy nights lower it further
  • A dangerous day drags the week down: a storm or downpour in the forecast keeps the week from being “Comfortable”
  • Bonus: warm sea, high panel output

Data: Open-Meteo · Updated several times a day

Best cities now Best cities this week

  1. 1 Alexandra 96
  2. 2 Johannesburg 96
  3. 3 Soweto 94
  4. 4 Alberton 94
  5. 5 Benoni 94

Difficult conditions

  1. 1 Hermanus 80
  2. 2 Upington 93
  3. 3 Somerset West 81
  4. 4 Kimberley 86
  5. 5 Cape Town 78

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I choose the best city in South Africa for van life?
Sort cities by the VanSky column — the higher the score, the more comfortable today. Also check solar panel output and sea temperature if you plan to stay near the coast.
What does the VanSky score mean for a city?
A score from 0 to 100 reflects a composite weather assessment: thermal comfort, precipitation level, wind strength, and sunshine. 80+ is ideal, 60–79 is comfortable, 40–59 is acceptable, below 40 is challenging.
How often is data updated for South Africa?
Weather data for all cities in South Africa is updated several times a day from the Open-Meteo service based on real observations.

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ZA South Africa — fuel prices

Updated: 30.08.2026

Unleaded 93

$1.57 /l

ZAR25.42 · €1.36/l

15 of 18

pricier than 78% of countries

Unleaded 95

$1.58 /l

ZAR25.58 · €1.37/l

103 of 168

pricier than 61% of countries

Diesel 500ppm

$1.62 /l

ZAR26.17 · €1.40/l

99 of 166

pricier than 59% of countries

Diesel 50ppm

$1.65 /l

ZAR26.72 · €1.43/l

14 of 44

cheaper than 70% of countries

All countries Prices: South Africa

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