Climate snapshot for alpacas
76/100Alpaca climate comfort score
25°CAverage high, Jan
4°CAverage low, Jul
~1Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~10Frost nights per year
1021 mmAnnual precipitation
9Barber pole worm months
12Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Summer heat — heat-stress precautions needed in Jan, Mar
- Barber pole worm — long warm-wet parasite season (Sep–May)
Advantages
- Practically frost-free winters
- A long grazing season (9 months of grass growth)
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 76/100 — Good on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Subtropical highland (Köppen Cwb).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 25°C | 14°C | 178 mm | 153 · high | worms, grass |
| Feb | 24°C | 14°C | 109 mm | 156 · ok | worms, grass |
| Mar | 24°C | 13°C | 116 mm | 153 · high | worms, grass |
| Apr | 21°C | 10°C | 54 mm | 143 · ok | worms, grass |
| May | 20°C | 9°C | 55 mm | 134 · ok | worms, grass |
| Jun | 17°C | 5°C | 8 mm | 125 · ok | — |
| Jul | 17°C | 4°C | 13 mm | 116 · ok | — |
| Aug | 20°C | 6°C | 8 mm | 120 · ok | — |
| Sep | 21°C | 8°C | 71 mm | 137 · ok | worms, grass |
| Oct | 21°C | 9°C | 120 mm | 142 · ok | worms, grass |
| Nov | 24°C | 12°C | 127 mm | 150 · ok | worms, grass |
| Dec | 24°C | 13°C | 162 mm | 157 · ok | worms, grass |
Heat-stress index = average high (°F) + mean humidity (%). “Worms” marks months that suit barber pole worm transmission; “grass” marks the grazing season; “frost” marks months with average lows below freezing. Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis (2023-2024) at -29.9°, 29.6°, elevation 1342 m.
Alpaca care calendar for South Africa
January 25° / 14°C
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Toenail check and trim.
February 24° / 14°C
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
March 24° / 13°C
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
- Toenail check and trim.
April 21° / 10°C
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
May 20° / 9°C
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Secure winter hay: about 12 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
- Toenail check and trim.
June 17° / 5°C
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
July 17° / 4°C
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Toenail check and trim.
August 20° / 6°C
- Run pre-season fecal egg counts so you know each animal's baseline.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
September 21° / 8°C
- Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
- Toenail check and trim.
October 21° / 9°C
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
November 24° / 12°C
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Toenail check and trim.
December 24° / 13°C
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
Key recommendations
- Shearing: September.
- Best months for crias to be born: Apr–Jul (breed in May–Aug).
- Heat precautions: Jan, Mar.
- Barber pole worm season: Sep–May — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
- Winter: frost is rare.
- Vitamin D: winter sunlight is usually adequate at this latitude; ask your vet about dark-fleeced crias.
- Grazing season: Sep–May (about 9 months); feed hay the rest of the year.
- Meningeal worm: Meningeal worm (P. tenuis) is a North American parasite and is not present here.
- Selenium: Check regional soil selenium with your vet or agricultural advisor — many temperate regions are low.
Tools: heat-stress calculator · winter hay calculator · due-date calculator · parasite control guide.
Alpaca farms & shops nearby
No alpaca farms near South Africa are mapped on OpenStreetMap yet. If you keep alpacas here, consider adding your farm to OpenStreetMap — it will appear on this page after the next update.
Frequently asked questions
Can you raise alpacas in South Africa?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. South Africa scores 76/100 (good) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat and barber pole worm.
When should alpacas be shorn in South Africa?
Plan shearing for September, once nights stay above about 38°F (3°C) but before summer heat builds.
What is the best time for crias to be born in South Africa?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Apr–Jul. For births then, breed females in May–Aug (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in South Africa?
With roughly 3 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 565 lb (256 kg) — around 12 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in South Africa?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jan, Mar. We estimate about 1 days a year above 90°F (32°C).
Coordinates -29.900, 29.600. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to World.