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85 / 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 85 / 100
72%
22%
Ideal 72% Comfortable 22% Acceptable 6%
Best spot: Limpopo — 90
Typical conditions: 83
Cities: 126 Regions: 9 Updated: 16 Jul, 03:12 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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Barberton
Mpumalanga
92
Louis Trichardt
Limpopo
91
Mbombela
Mpumalanga
91
Mondlo
KwaZulu-Natal
91
Mokopane
Limpopo
91
Pietermaritzburg
KwaZulu-Natal
91
KwaDukuza
KwaZulu-Natal
91
Polokwane
Limpopo
91
Vryheid
KwaZulu-Natal
91
Bela Bela
Limpopo
90
Butterworth
Eastern Cape
90
Durban
KwaZulu-Natal
89
East London
Eastern Cape
89
Mdantsane
Eastern Cape
89
Musina
Limpopo
89

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 Kwaggafontein 84
  2. 2 Louis Trichardt 91
  3. 3 Modimolle 88
  4. 4 Somaroboro 83
  5. 5 Centurion 85

Difficult conditions

  1. 1 Botshabelo 50
  2. 2 Vryburg 82
  3. 3 Virginia 50
  4. 4 Upington 50
  5. 5 Bethlehem 50

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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🇿🇦 South Africa — fuel prices

Updated: 11.07.2026

Unleaded 93

$1.59 /l

ZAR25.94 · €1.39/l

15 of 17

pricier than 82% of countries

Unleaded 95

$1.60 /l

ZAR26.10 · €1.40/l

83 of 133

pricier than 62% of countries

Diesel 500ppm

$1.52 /l

ZAR24.78 · €1.33/l

74 of 134

pricier than 54% of countries

Diesel 50ppm

$1.54 /l

ZAR25.16 · €1.35/l

11 of 41

cheaper than 76% of countries

All countries Prices: South Africa

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