Seasons in South Africa
Public holidays, school vacations
There are generally speaking three seasons in South Africa with respect to
accommodation rates and tariffs.
- High season (or in-season): is more or less
over the December-January period when it is high summer. This coincides
with the school holidays.
- Mid season: is generally during the overlapping
provincial mid-winter holiday period, about June/July. This coincides with
the school holidays.
- Out of season (low season): The remainder of
the year is regarded as out-of-season and rates are generally lower. This
period is usually during school time.
- Long week-ends that include public holidays
are often regarded as high-season (or in-season).
Although high and mid-high coincide with school holidays, there are always
exceptions to this rule, so it is best to check with the resorts or service
providers.
Here are the South African public holidays and school vacations.
Public holidays
| |
2009 |
|
2010 |
| New Year's Day |
Thursday |
1 January |
|
Friday |
1 January |
| Human Rights Day |
Saturday |
21 March |
|
Sunday |
21 March |
| Public Holiday |
|
|
|
Monday |
22 March |
| Good Friday |
Friday |
9 April |
|
Friday |
2 April |
| Family Day |
Monday |
13 April |
|
Monday |
5 April |
| School Holiday |
|
|
|
Monday |
26 April |
| Freedom Day |
Monday |
27 April |
|
Tuesday |
27 April |
| Worker's Day |
Friday |
1 May |
|
Saturday |
1 May |
| School holiday |
Monday |
15 June |
|
|
|
| Youth Day |
Tuesday |
16 June |
|
Wednesday |
16 June |
| National Woman's Day |
Sunday |
9 August |
|
Monday |
9 August |
| School holiday |
Monday |
10 August |
|
|
|
| Heritage Day |
Thursday |
24 September |
|
Friday |
24 September |
| Day of Reconciliation |
Wednesday |
16 December |
|
Thursday |
16 December |
| Public holiday |
Thursday |
17 December |
|
|
|
| Christmas Day |
Friday |
25 December |
|
Saturday |
25 December |
| Day of Goodwill |
Saturday |
26 December |
|
Sunday |
26 December |
| Public holiday |
|
|
|
Monday |
27 December |
School vacations
Based on Government Notice of the Ministry of Education.
Coastal provinces
Eastern Cape
Kwazulu-Natal
Northern Cape
Western Cape
| Vacation |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
| |
- 17 January |
- 21 January |
- 13 January |
| 1 |
30 March - 16 April |
3 April - 15 April |
26 March - 12 April |
| 2 |
29 June - 16 July |
26 June - 20 July |
9 June - 13 July |
| 3 |
21 September - 1 October |
23 September - 5 October |
23 September - 4 October |
| 4 |
30 November - |
11 December - |
10 December |
Inland Provinces
Free State
Gauteng
Mpumalanga
Limpopo Province
North-West
| Vacation |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
| |
- 10 January |
- 14 January |
- 13 January |
| 1 |
23 March - 12 April |
27 March - 15 April |
26 March - 12 April |
| 2 |
22 June - 16 July |
26 June - 20 July |
9 June - 13 July |
| 3 |
21 September - 1 October |
23 September - 5 October |
23 September - 4 October |
| 4 |
30 November - |
11 December - |
10 December |
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