The South Africa time difference is +2 hours from London and +7 hours from New York in winter, and +1 hour and +6 hours in summer (UK and US daylight saving seasons; South Africa does not change its clocks).
In practice, when it is noon in London it is 14:00 in Cape Town during UK winter time (GMT) and 13:00 during British Summer Time. When it is noon in New York, it is 19:00 in Cape Town during Eastern Standard Time and 18:00 during Eastern Daylight Time.
Our travel deals for Time difference
Affiliate links: we earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
FlightsKiwi.comCompare flights and airline combinations to Time difference.Compare flights- eSIMAiraloData plan to install before you leave (eSIM-compatible phone).See plans
Live local time
Calculated by your browser from the IANA time zone database.
Time in South Africa: key facts
- Time zone: UTC+2, IANA identifier
Africa/Johannesburg - Difference with London: +2 h in UK winter (GMT), +1 h during British Summer Time
- Difference with New York: +7 h during Eastern Standard Time, +6 h during Eastern Daylight Time
- Daylight saving in South Africa: no, local time stays the same all year
- Next clock changes: UK on Sunday 25 October 2026 (BST to GMT) and Sunday 28 March 2027; US on Sunday 1 November 2026 (EDT to EST) and Sunday 14 March 2027
Time difference between London, New York and South Africa
| Time in London | In Cape Town (UK winter, GMT) | In Cape Town (UK summer, BST) |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 | 10:00 | 09:00 |
| 12:00 | 14:00 | 13:00 |
| 18:00 | 20:00 | 19:00 |
| 22:00 | 00:00 (next day) | 23:00 |
| Time in New York | In Cape Town (US winter, EST) | In Cape Town (US summer, EDT) |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 (8 am) | 15:00 | 14:00 |
| 12:00 (noon) | 19:00 | 18:00 |
| 18:00 (6 pm) | 01:00 (next day) | 00:00 (next day) |
| 22:00 (10 pm) | 05:00 (next day) | 04:00 (next day) |
The difference of one hour between winter and summer comes from daylight saving time in the UK and the US; local time in South Africa does not change.
Clock changes 2026–2027
South Africa does not observe daylight saving time: local time stays at UTC+2 all year round. Only clock changes in your home country alter the gap.
Clocks change on the following dates (local time):
- UK, Sunday 25 October 2026: BST (UTC+1) to GMT (UTC+0)
- US, Sunday 1 November 2026: EDT (UTC−4) to EST (UTC−5) in New York
- US, Sunday 14 March 2027: EST (UTC−5) to EDT (UTC−4)
- UK, Sunday 28 March 2027: GMT (UTC+0) to BST (UTC+1)
- UK, Sunday 31 October 2027: BST (UTC+1) to GMT (UTC+0)
- US, Sunday 7 November 2027: EDT (UTC−4) to EST (UTC−5)
When to call South Africa from the UK or the US
To reach someone between 09:00 and 20:00 Cape Town time, call between 07:00 and 18:00 London time in UK winter, and between 08:00 and 19:00 during British Summer Time. From New York, call between 02:00 and 13:00 during EST, and between 03:00 and 14:00 during EDT.
On 15 January 2027, office hours (09:00–17:00) overlap for 6 hours with London and for 1 hour with New York. Always state the time zone in your meeting invitations.
Time difference and jet lag: practical tips
Flying to South Africa from the UK means travelling east: your day is shortened and you need to go to bed earlier than usual. From North America you also travel east, with a bigger gap. A few simple rules help you adjust to local time:
- Set your watch and phone to local time as soon as you board.
- Align meals and bedtime with local time from the first day.
- Plan a light first day, with no important meetings or long drives.
- Get out in daylight when you arrive and avoid long naps.
- If you take medication at fixed times, ask your doctor how to adapt the schedule to the time difference.
South Africa time zone: IANA identifier and history
| Zone | IANA identifier | Standard time on 15 January 2027 | On 15 July 2027 | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Town, Johannesburg | Africa/Johannesburg | UTC+2 | UTC+2 | SAST |
- Cape Town, Johannesburg (
Africa/Johannesburg): no clock change recorded since 1 January 1970.
No daylight saving time in South Africa in 2027
The tz database lists no clock change in 2027 for Africa/Johannesburg: standard time remains UTC+2 all year. Only the UK clock changes (Sunday 28 March and Sunday 31 October 2027) and the US clock changes (Sunday 14 March and Sunday 7 November 2027) alter the gap.
| 2027 period | Cape Town vs London | Cape Town vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January – 13 March | +2 h | +7 h |
| 14 – 27 March | +2 h | +6 h |
| 28 March – 30 October | +1 h | +6 h |
| 31 October – 6 November | +2 h | +6 h |
| 7 November – 31 December | +2 h | +7 h |
Sunrise and sunset in Pretoria in 2027
Local sunrise and sunset times on the 15th of each month in Pretoria (25.70° S, 28.23° E). They help you time your exposure to daylight, the main lever for resetting your body clock on arrival.
| 15th of the month | Sunrise | Solar noon | Sunset | Day length | Sunrise / sunset in London time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 05:29 | 12:16 | 19:03 | 13 h 34 | 03:29 / 17:03 |
| February | 05:53 | 12:21 | 18:50 | 12 h 57 | 03:53 / 16:50 |
| March | 06:08 | 12:16 | 18:24 | 12 h 16 | 04:08 / 16:24 |
| April | 06:22 | 12:07 | 17:52 | 11 h 30 | 05:22 / 16:52 |
| May | 06:37 | 12:03 | 17:30 | 10 h 52 | 05:37 / 16:30 |
| June | 06:51 | 12:08 | 17:24 | 10 h 32 | 05:51 / 16:24 |
| July | 06:53 | 12:13 | 17:33 | 10 h 41 | 05:53 / 16:33 |
| August | 06:36 | 12:12 | 17:48 | 11 h 12 | 05:36 / 16:48 |
| September | 06:05 | 12:02 | 18:00 | 11 h 56 | 05:05 / 17:00 |
| October | 05:33 | 11:53 | 18:13 | 12 h 41 | 04:33 / 17:13 |
| November | 05:11 | 11:52 | 18:33 | 13 h 22 | 03:11 / 16:33 |
| December | 05:10 | 12:02 | 18:54 | 13 h 44 | 03:10 / 16:54 |
The longest day in the table is 15 December (13 h 44 between 05:10 and 18:54), the shortest 15 June (10 h 32).
Jet lag: how flight direction affects you in South Africa
- Outbound from the UK (flying east): you « lose » 2 hours in UK winter and 1 hour in summer; your arrival day is shortened and you need to go to bed earlier than your body clock expects.
- Return to the UK (flying west): the opposite applies. Flying west is generally considered easier to cope with: you just need to stay up a little later.
- From New York (flying east): you « lose » 7 hours in winter (EST) and 6 hours in summer (EDT); your arrival day is shortened and you need to go to bed earlier than your body clock expects.
- Your usual night at home (23:00 – 07:00) corresponds to 01:00 – 09:00 in Cape Town from London in UK winter (00:00 – 08:00 during BST), and to 06:00 – 14:00 in Cape Town from New York during EST (05:00 – 13:00 during EDT): this is when your body will want to sleep for the first few days.
- Daylight on arrival: in Pretoria, the sun rises around 05:29 and sets around 19:03 in mid-January, and around 06:53 and 17:33 in mid-July (table above). After flying east, seek morning light and avoid it late in the day; after flying west, make the most of late-afternoon light to stay awake until the evening. This is the standard advice for shifting your body clock.
Plan your trip to South Africa
- Our complete South Africa travel guide: highlights, itineraries and budget
- Best time to visit South Africa: month-by-month weather and the best season
- Time differences around the world: every country in our guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the time difference between South Africa and the UK or the US?
South Africa is 2 hours ahead of London in UK winter and 1 hour ahead of London during British Summer Time. It is 7 hours ahead of New York during Eastern Standard Time and 6 hours ahead of New York during Eastern Daylight Time.
What time is it in South Africa when it is noon in London or New York?
Noon in London is 14:00 in Cape Town in UK winter and 13:00 in summer. Noon in New York is 19:00 in Cape Town during EST and 18:00 during EDT.
Does South Africa have daylight saving time?
No, local time stays at UTC+2 all year. Only clock changes in the UK or the US alter the gap.
When should I call South Africa from the UK or the US?
To reach someone between 09:00 and 20:00 local time, call between 07:00 and 18:00 London time in UK winter (08:00 to 19:00 during BST), or between 02:00 and 13:00 New York time during EST (03:00 to 14:00 during EDT).
What is the IANA time zone for South Africa?
Cape Town, Johannesburg: Africa/Johannesburg.
What time does the sun rise in Pretoria?
Around 05:29 on 15 January 2027 and around 06:53 on 15 July 2027 (local time); sunset around 19:03 and 17:33. Destination de Voyage calculation (NOAA algorithm).
Our sources
- Sunrise and sunset: algorithm from the NOAA Solar Calculator (Global Monitoring Laboratory), applied to the capital’s coordinates (Natural Earth, Wikidata or Wikipedia): Destination de Voyage calculation.
- IANA Time Zone Database (tz database), version 2026b, consulted on 13 October 2026: time zones, rules and clock-change dates. Future dates may be changed by local authorities.
- UK clock changes: GOV.UK, When do the clocks change? (UK summer time from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October).
- US daylight saving time: NIST, Daylight Saving Time (from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November).
- Live time: calculated by your browser (Intl API), which relies on the same IANA database.
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026.
