Durban or Cape Town in February?
On climate data, Cape Town comes out ahead overall in February. See the per-criterion details below.
DurbanPhoto: Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE · CC BY-SA 2.0
Cape TownPhoto: Dietmar Rabich · CC BY-SA 4.0Key figures in February
| Criterion | Durban | Cape Town |
|---|---|---|
| Average daily high | 26 °C | 22 °C |
| Average daily low | 24 °C | 19 °C |
| Sea | 26 °C ★ | 17 °C |
| Rainy days | 14 rainy days (est.) | 2 rainy days (est.) ★ |
| Sun | 7 h/day | 9 h/day ★ |
| Humidity | 81 % | 79 % |
Winner by travel type
Trade-offs
- Durban is about 4 °C warmer by day.
- Cape Town is drier, with about 12 fewer rainy days.
- The sea at Durban is about 8 °C warmer.
Durban or Cape Town in February: the short answer
In February, Cape Town comes out ahead on the overall climate score (Durban 75/100 vs Cape Town 80/100). That is a snapshot of one month, though — which one truly fits depends on what you want from the trip, so the breakdown below goes criterion by criterion.
This comparison focuses on February as a representative month for the pair; for any other month, use each destination's month-by-month pages. Across the whole year Durban averages a climate score of 78/100, Cape Town 63/100. Both profiles below are historical monthly averages, not a forecast.
Weather in February, side by side
The average daily high is about 26 °C in Durban and 22 °C in Cape Town — warmer in Durban. Average daily lows are around 24 °C versus 19 °C.
On rain, Durban sees about 14 rainy days in February and Cape Town about 2 — drier in Cape Town. Cape Town gets more sunshine (7 vs 9 hours a day).
Sea temperature and swimming
In February the water is about 26 °C at Durban and 17 °C at Cape Town — warmer for swimming at Durban. Over the year, Durban is comfortable for swimming (from ~21 °C) in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December, Cape Town in no month. Peak sea warmth is February for Durban and January for Cape Town.
Rain and sun across the year
Over a full year Durban records roughly 134 rainy days and Cape Town about 80 — the drier of the two overall is Cape Town. At their sunniest, Durban reaches about 8 hours of sun a day (January) and Cape Town about 11 (January). If dependable dry, sunny weather is your top priority, weigh these annual totals alongside the single month above.
Best time to visit each
Climatically, Durban is at its best in April, May, June and July, while Cape Town peaks in January, February, March and December. If your dates are fixed, pick the destination whose strong season overlaps them; if you are flexible, plan around these windows.
Which suits which kind of trip
Based on the February scores for each travel style:
Beach & swimming: Durban scores higher in February (Durban 84 vs Cape Town 69).
City breaks: Cape Town scores higher in February (Durban 74 vs Cape Town 98).
Active & hiking: Cape Town scores higher in February (Durban 57 vs Cape Town 92).
Family: Durban scores higher in February (Durban 79 vs Cape Town 70).
Verdict: which should you pick?
There is no single winner — it depends on your month and your priority. For February specifically, use the head-to-head above; over the year, Durban carries the slightly higher overall climate score. Choose Durban if its strong months and profile match your plan, Cape Town if its do. The month-by-month pages for each destination give you the full picture before you book.