Today's sunrise and sunset times for cities in South Africa
Sunrise in South Africa today ranges from 05:15 in Durban to 06:01 in Cape Town, reflecting the country's geographic spread. Times are accurate to within 1 minute.
Capital: Johannesburg
Sunrise
05:30
Sunset
18:17
| City | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johannesburg | 05:30 | 18:17 | 12h 47m |
| Cape Town | 06:01 | 19:03 | 13h 02m |
| Durban | 05:15 | 18:08 | 12h 54m |
| Pretoria | 05:30 | 18:16 | 12h 46m |
| Soweto | 05:31 | 18:18 | 12h 47m |
| Port Elizabeth | 05:32 | 18:34 | 13h 02m |
| Bloemfontein | 05:35 | 18:27 | 12h 52m |
South Africa spans approximately 30.6°S. South Africa's near-tropical location gives it consistent daylight throughout the year, typically 11 to 13 hours with minimal seasonal swing. Click any city above for complete data including golden hour, blue hour, twilight times, moon phase, and monthly sun tables.
Golden hour photography across South Africa varies by location and season. In the southern hemisphere, South Africa sees golden hour windows of 45 to 90 minutes that are longest during the southern winter months (June to August). Click any city in the table above to see exact golden hour times for that location.
The difference between the longest and shortest day in South Africa depends on latitude. South Africa's near-equatorial position means consistent daylight of 11 to 13 hours year-round, with minimal seasonal variation.
The best time of year to visit South Africa for photography depends on your goals. Long summer days provide more total shooting hours, but winter offers lower sun angles that produce dramatic shadows and warm light throughout more of the day. Spring and autumn equinox periods offer balanced light that works well for most subjects.