Pam,
Everything I've been reading says our summers (their winters) are too cool and rainy and our winters (their summers) are too hot. Fodors and Frommers books both recommend shoulder seasons and Spring as a good time as the hotel/air fares don't go back up again until around March 31st.

Actually, it doesn't matter to me...I guess we'll have to let the cruise schedules dictate.

Remember, we're talking South Africa....each country has different "good months"...the Southern part is the most consistent and is really OK all times of year.

Editing to add the following:

Because the weather in Africa is often upredictable - the rains can sometimes be heavy one season, sometimes they can fail altogether - this information is a rough guideline only. You can find more detailed weather information on a particular country under Country Information.

Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe - summer rainfall from late October to early April; cool to warm dry sunny winter days from May to early October

Lesotho - summer from November to January and winter from May to July, with predominantly summer rainfall from September to April

Kenya - summer from December to March and winter from July to September, with long rains from March to May and short rains between November and December

Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia - summer from around December to March and winter in Malawi from June to July; in Tanzania from March to May; and in Zambia from April to August. All three countries have long rains from November to April

Moçambique - summer from October to March and winter from April to September, with high summer humidity and showers between September and April

South Africa - summer from September to April and winter from May to August, with summer rainfall in the north and winter rainfall in the south

Swaziland - summer from September to April and winter from May to August, with predominantly summer rainfall