Pretoria has a highveld climate: warm summers (November–March) with frequent afternoon thunderstorms, and dry, mild winters (June–August) with cold nights but usually sunny days. Summer temperatures reach 30°C but the air is fresh at 1,400 metres elevation. It rarely gets too hot to be comfortable.
The city is famous for its jacaranda trees — over 70,000 of them line the streets. They bloom in October and early November, turning entire avenues purple. This is a genuinely spectacular time to visit; the Union Buildings gardens and Herbert Baker Street are especially photographed. Book accommodation well in advance for Jacaranda season.
Winter (July–August) is the driest and most reliably sunny period, ideal for outdoor sightseeing. Rugby season runs April–October, and catching a Bulls match at Loftus Versfeld is worth timing a trip around.