What is the golden hour time in Cape Town in November?

Golden hour in Cape Town in November begins at sunrise (average 05:35) and lasts approximately 30 to 60 minutes, and again begins about 30 to 60 minutes before sunset (average 19:29).

Cape Town Sunrise & Sunset: November 2026

Day-by-day sunrise and sunset times with golden hour data

In Cape Town in November, sunrise averages 05:35 and sunset averages 19:29. Days are getting longer through November at Cape Town's latitude of -33.9°. Golden hour lasts approximately 30 to 60 minutes after sunrise and before sunset. Times are accurate to within 1 minute.

Avg Sunrise

05:35

Avg Sunset

19:29

Avg Daylight

13h 52m

OctoberNovember 2026December

Monthly Sunrise & Sunset Table: Cape Town

Date	Day	Sunrise	Sunset	Daylight	Golden Hour
11/01	Sun	05:47	19:15	13h 28m	06:21 – 18:40
11/02	Mon	05:46	19:15	13h 30m	06:20 – 18:41
11/03	Tue	05:45	19:16	13h 31m	06:19 – 18:42
11/04	Wed	05:44	19:17	13h 33m	06:18 – 18:43
11/05	Thu	05:43	19:18	13h 35m	06:18 – 18:44
11/06	Fri	05:42	19:19	13h 37m	06:17 – 18:45
11/07	Sat	05:41	19:20	13h 39m	06:16 – 18:46
11/08	Sun	05:41	19:21	13h 41m	06:15 – 18:46
11/09	Mon	05:40	19:22	13h 42m	06:15 – 18:47
11/10	Tue	05:39	19:23	13h 44m	06:14 – 18:48
11/11	Wed	05:38	19:24	13h 46m	06:13 – 18:49
11/12	Thu	05:38	19:25	13h 47m	06:13 – 18:50
11/13	Fri	05:37	19:26	13h 49m	06:12 – 18:51
11/14	Sat	05:36	19:27	13h 51m	06:11 – 18:52
11/15	Sun	05:36	19:28	13h 52m	06:11 – 18:53
11/16	Mon	05:35	19:29	13h 54m	06:10 – 18:54
11/17	Tue	05:34	19:30	13h 55m	06:10 – 18:55
11/18	Wed	05:34	19:31	13h 57m	06:09 – 18:55
11/19	Thu	05:33	19:32	13h 58m	06:09 – 18:56
11/20	Fri	05:33	19:33	14h 00m	06:08 – 18:57
11/21	Sat	05:32	19:34	14h 01m	06:08 – 18:58
11/22	Sun	05:32	19:35	14h 03m	06:08 – 18:59
11/23	Mon	05:32	19:36	14h 04m	06:07 – 19:00
11/24	Tue	05:31	19:37	14h 05m	06:07 – 19:01
11/25	Wed	05:31	19:38	14h 07m	06:07 – 19:02
11/26	Thu	05:31	19:38	14h 08m	06:06 – 19:03
11/27	Fri	05:30	19:39	14h 09m	06:06 – 19:03
11/28	Sat	05:30	19:40	14h 10m	06:06 – 19:04
11/29	Sun	05:30	19:41	14h 11m	06:06 – 19:05
11/30	Mon	05:30	19:42	14h 13m	06:06 – 19:06

Daylight Hours Throughout the Year

November Sunrise & Sunset in Cape Town: Complete Monthly Guide

In November 2026, Cape Town has an average of 13h 52m of daylight per day. Sunrise times range from 05:47 at the start of the month to 05:30 at the end, while sunset shifts from 19:15 to 19:42.

November in Cape Town brings lengthening spring days in the southern hemisphere. Average sunrise in November is 05:35 and average sunset is 19:29. The daily table above shows the exact sunrise and sunset time for each day of the month.

Day Length Variation in November

Day length in Cape Town in November changes throughout the month. Near the solstices (June 21 for the northern hemisphere, December 21 for the southern hemisphere), day length changes very slowly, less than 1 minute per day. Near the equinoxes (March 20 and September 22), day length changes rapidly, gaining or losing 2 to 4 minutes per day depending on latitude.

At Cape Town's latitude of -33.9°, the rate of day length change in November is approximately 1 to 2 minutes per day during the weeks furthest from the solstices. This means that sunrise in Cape Town shifts by approximately 20 to 40 minutes over the course of November.

Golden Hour in Cape Town in November

Golden hour in Cape Town in November occurs twice each day: in the morning shortly after sunrise, and in the evening before sunset. The duration depends on the sun's angle of elevation above the horizon, which varies with latitude and month. In Novemberat Cape Town's latitude of -33.9°, golden hour lasts approximately 40 to 65 minutes.

For photographers planning shoots in Cape Town in November: plan to arrive at your location 30 to 40 minutes before the listed sunrise time to capture blue hour before golden hour begins. The transition from blue hour to golden hour creates the most dramatic color sequences. Evening golden hour in November begins about 45 to 60 minutes before sunset and produces warmer, more orange tones than the morning session.

Blue Hour and Twilight in Cape Town in November

Civil twilight in Cape Town in November begins before sunrise and ends after sunset, creating windows of usable natural light even outside the official sunrise-to-sunset window. Civil twilight occurs when the sun is between 0 and 6 degrees below the horizon. Nautical twilight spans 6 to 12 degrees below the horizon. Astronomical twilight spans 12 to 18 degrees below the horizon.

The total twilight window in Cape Town in November extends the usable light day by approximately 45 to 70 minutes beyond the sunrise-to-sunset window. This extended twilight is valuable for photographers who want to shoot in soft, diffused light without harsh shadows.

Photography Tips for November in Cape Town

Shooting in Cape Town in November requires adapting to the season's specific light quality and timing. Camera settings for sunrise photography in November:

Blue hour: ISO 800 to 1,600; aperture f/8; shutter speed 10 to 30 seconds on tripod.
Golden hour: ISO 100 to 400; aperture f/8 to f/16 for landscapes, or f/1.8 to f/2.8 for portraits; shutter speed 1/250 to 1/1,000s handheld.
Post-sunrise (30 minutes after): ISO 100; aperture f/11; shutter speed 1/500 to 1/2,000s.

In November, Cape Town's weather patterns affect photography conditions. Check cloud cover forecasts the evening before a planned shoot: a thin layer of clouds above the horizon creates more dramatic golden and orange tones than a clear sky. Fully overcast conditions produce flat, diffused light that is good for portraits but lacks the dramatic quality of golden hour. Partly cloudy skies create the most dramatic conditions.

About This Monthly Sunrise Data

All sunrise and sunset times in this November table for Cape Town are calculated using Jean Meeus astronomical algorithms, implemented via the SunCalc library. Calculations use the coordinates of Cape Town (-33.9249°, 18.4241°) and the local timezone (Africa/Johannesburg). Times are accurate to within 1 minute and account for atmospheric refraction.

The times shown are for the center of the sun crossing the horizon. Sunrise is defined as the moment when the upper limb of the sun first appears above the mathematical horizon. Sunset is when the upper limb disappears below the horizon. Both definitions account for atmospheric refraction, which lifts the apparent position of the sun by approximately 0.5 to 1 degree near the horizon.

Frequently Asked Questions: November Sunrise & Sunset in Cape Town

What is the average sunrise time in Cape Town in November?

The average sunrise time in Cape Town in November 2026 is approximately 05:35. This is based on the mid-month calculation for Cape Town at latitude -33.92° and longitude 18.42°. Actual daily sunrise times vary from 05:47 on the first of the month to 05:30 on the last day. See the full daily table above for exact times.

How many hours of daylight does Cape Town get in November?

Cape Town receives an average of 13h 52m of daylight per day in November 2026. This is calculated as the difference between sunrise and sunset and does not include twilight periods. Day length varies from 13h 28m on the first of the month to 14h 13m on the last day.

What is the earliest sunrise in Cape Town in November?

The earliest sunrise in Cape Town in November 2026 occurs on 2026-11-27 at 05:30. The latest sunrise in the month occurs on 2026-11-01 at 05:47.

What time is golden hour in Cape Town in November?

Golden hour in Cape Town in November occurs twice daily. Morning golden hour begins at sunrise (05:35 at mid-month) and lasts approximately 40 to 65 minutes. Evening golden hour begins approximately 45 to 60 minutes before sunset (19:29 at mid-month). The precise start of golden hour is when the sun's altitude drops below 6 degrees above the horizon.

Is November a good time to photograph sunrise in Cape Town?

November is spring in Cape Town's southern hemisphere location. Sunrise at 05:35 provides a reasonable start time for photography.

When does civil twilight start in Cape Town in November?

Civil twilight in Cape Town in November begins approximately 20 to 30 minutes before sunrise and ends 20 to 30 minutes after sunset. At Cape Town's latitude of -33.9°, civil twilight in November starts around 05:10 in the morning. Civil twilight provides enough light for outdoor activities without artificial lighting and is considered the beginning of the usable photography window each day.

Back to Cape Town