Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Where to Go on an
African Safari in December

December is a good month to go on safari in Botswana. The pans in the desert areas attract a lot of wildlife in the Wet season. If you don’t mind a bit of rain, this Green season is a lovely time for a safari in Tanzania’s Northern circuit and Kenya. Low-season rates might be an added bonus. South Africa is a good choice for a December holiday too.

Best Time per Country

Zimbabwe
Zambia
South Africa
Uganda
Tanzania
Rwanda
Namibia
Kenya
Botswana

Flag of ZimbabweZimbabwe in December

  • Spectacular green landscapes
  • Most rain comes in afternoon thunderstorms, there are plenty of sunny days
  • Great birding with migrant species present
  • Animals disperse, wildlife viewing is better in the Dry season
  • It’s very hot in low-lying areas

Flag of ZambiaZambia in December

  • Some camps in South Luangwa NP stay open for the Wet season and offer low rates
  • Stunning lush landscapes and excellent birding
  • Many roads become impassable
  • Wildlife viewing is more difficult in the Wet season
  • Many camps are closed for the off season

Flag of South AfricaSouth Africa in December

  • It is summer with lovely warm weather
  • Landscapes are lush and beautiful
  • It never rains a lot, afternoon thunderstorms are the norm
  • Wildlife viewing is generally better in the Dry season

Flag of UgandaUganda in December

  • It’s relatively dry, which makes gorilla trekking easier
  • There are lots of sunny days
  • There are many newborn animals in the savannah parks
  • Forest paths are less slippery than in the Wet season months
  • Gorilla permits need to be booked long in advance

Flag of TanzaniaTanzania in December

  • Wildlife viewing is always good in the Northern circuit parks
  • Beautiful scenery
  • Rain doesn’t often interfere with activities
  • Excellent birding with migrants present
  • Tarangire, Nyerere (Selous), Ruaha and Katavi National Parks are better visited in the Dry season

Flag of RwandaRwanda in December

  • Gorilla trekking is good throughout the year
  • There are many newborn animals in Akagera NP
  • Wildlife viewing in Akagera National Park is better in the Dry season
  • Chimp trekking is easier in the Dry season
  • Hiking is challenging in the Wet season

Flag of NamibiaNamibia in December

  • Although it is the Wet season, it doesn’t rain much
  • It is low season and parks are not busy
  • There are many newborn animals
  • It can get very hot
  • Animals are dispersed in Etosha National Park

Flag of KenyaKenya in December

  • Although best in the Dry season, wildlife viewing is good
  • It is mostly sunny and rain rarely interferes with activities
  • Fresh green scenery
  • Migratory birds are present
  • Wildlife viewing is best in the Dry season

Flag of BotswanaBotswana in December

  • The scenery is lovely and green
  • Rain seldom interferes with activities
  • Although wildlife viewing is best in the Dry season, it is good all year round
  • It is low season, meaning few visitors and lower rates
  • Wildlife viewing is better in the Dry season

Visiting month

Flag of Botswana Botswana Good
Flag of Kenya Kenya Good
Flag of Namibia Namibia Fair
Flag of Rwanda Rwanda Good
Flag of South Africa South Africa Fair
Flag of Tanzania Tanzania Good
Flag of Uganda Uganda Good
Flag of Zambia Zambia Fair
Flag of Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Fair

Best Safari Parks to visit in December

See below for an overview of the best parks to visit in Africa by country. Please note that the listings focus on the most popular parks only and are not comprehensive.

Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Flag of Botswana Botswana

Best Parks & Reserves in December

Nxai Pan NP

Nxai Pan NP Excellent

Chobe NP

Chobe NP Good

356 Botswana Safaris
Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Flag of Kenya Kenya

Best Parks & Reserves in December

Lake Nakuru NP

Lake Nakuru NP Excellent

Samburu NR

Samburu NR Good

2601 Kenya Safaris
Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Flag of Namibia Namibia

Best Parks & Reserves in December

Skeleton Coast NP

Skeleton Coast NP Excellent

150 Namibia Safaris
Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Flag of Rwanda Rwanda

Best Parks & Reserves in December

Akagera NP

Akagera NP Good

392 Rwanda Safaris
Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Flag of South Africa South Africa

No Best Parks & Reserves in December

South Africa does not have parks that are best visited in December.

When to visit South Africa?

Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Flag of Tanzania Tanzania

Best Parks & Reserves in December

Ngorongoro Crater

Ngorongoro Crater Excellent

5252 Tanzania Safaris
Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Flag of Uganda Uganda

Best Parks & Reserves in December

Murchison Falls NP

Murchison Falls NP Excellent

Bwindi NP

Bwindi NP Good

Kibale NP

Kibale NP Good

1534 Uganda Safaris
Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Flag of Zambia Zambia

No Best Parks & Reserves in December

Zambia does not have parks that are best visited in December.

When to visit Zambia?

Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Flag of Zimbabwe Zimbabwe

No Best Parks & Reserves in December

Zimbabwe does not have parks that are best visited in December.

When to visit Zimbabwe?

SafariBookings.com Okavango Delta

All Parks & Reserves

Safari Highlights in December

Unpredictability is what makes a safari exciting. You never know what you’ll see and every day is different. However, life in the bush is seasonal and some careful planning is recommended. Read on for a few tips on where to go on safari in December.

Springbok Gather Around the Pans in Central Kalahari, Botswana

SafariBookings.com Okavango Delta

By December the pans in the Deception Valley area of Central Kalahari GR have filled up sufficiently to attract big herds of impala, wildebeest, buffalo and zebra. Most impressive are the huge herds of springbok, which have come here to drop their young. These unsteady little newborns are a favorite prey for cheetahs prowling around on the fringes. Lions enjoy the easy pickings too, and seeing a fully grown male with its black mane, a typical feature of the Kalahari lions, is a special treat.

Central Kalahari Tours

Zebra Migration at Nxai Pan, Botswana

SafariBookings.com Okavango Delta

The summer rains in December trigger the Chobe–Nxai zebra migration, the longest mammal movement in Africa. Every year, more than 30,000 plains zebra undertake the 1,000km/620mi return journey through remote desert areas. While the pan transforms from a barren wasteland to a green oasis, big herds of zebra, accompanied by smaller groups of wildebeest, spread out over the grassy plains. They stay until March before they return to the Chobe floodplains with its permanent water.

Nxai Pan Tours

Flamingos Hatch at Lake Natron, Tanzania

SafariBookings.com Okavango Delta

Lake Natron in northern Tanzania is the most important breeding site for lesser flamingos in the world. Around September to October, the birds lay their eggs in dome-like mud constructions sticking out above the water surface. Most of the eggs hatch around December. Watching big numbers of pink flamingos strutting up and down the shallow waters, as if part of an elaborately choreographed dance, is a mesmerizing experience. Unsurprisingly it has been called the greatest ornithological spectacle on earth.

Lake Natron Tours

Best Time for a South African Safari Holiday

SafariBookings.com Okavango Delta

December is a fantastic time for a holiday in South Africa. It’s mid-summer, a perfect time to enjoy outdoor activities in Cape Town and the Garden Route. This region experiences a very mild climate, but December is sufficiently warm for swimming, spending time on the beaches, alfresco dining, hiking, sightseeing and just enjoying that feeling of summer holidays. Combine this with a safari in one of the excellent Big Five private reserves, such as Shamwari, Sabi Sand or Madikwe Game Reserves, and you have the perfect safari-holiday combo.

Cape Town Tours