Christmas holiday in Africa

Dream of going away for Christmas?

Escape from the cold, British winter weather and head for the African summer sun.

While it’s cold here, with rain, sleet and snow, sun and summer not to mention a whole host of experiences await you at our African destinations in December.

Which African countries should I visit over Christmas?

In December, it is summer at our African destinations.

Here are our 3 suggestions for perfect destinations to visit at Christmas. 

Tanzania in December

Tanzania is a fantastic safari country all year round, but December is also one of its hottest months.

From mid-December, the “small” rainy season has usually come and gone, and you can expect plenty of sunshine as well as a lush green landscape in Tanzania’s most famous park, Serengeti National Park.

By December, the Great Migration has reached the southern part of the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro crater. This means that there are lots of animals here, and if you’re lucky, dramatic game drives, too, where you can witness the predators hunting for food. Give yourself an extra Christmas present and experience the Serengeti wildlife from the air on a fantastic hot air balloon safari.

December is also one of the best months to see birds in Tanzania. Lots of birds have migrated to Tanzania to overwinter before returning to North Africa and Europe.

Fancy welcoming in the New Year with a drink in your hand at the water’s edge or in the pool? Then round off the safari tour and your Christmas getaway on the white sandy beaches of Zanzibar, off the coast of Tanzania. Spend your days on the beautiful sandy beaches or by the resort’s pool, or go on a day trip into Zanzibar’s old town, Stone Town, where a whole host of experiences await you.

South Africa in December

A visit to South Africa in December is a visit to summer and sun, whether you’re there for a safari, a city break, a beach holiday or the nature.

It might be rainy season in Kruger National Park in December, but that is when the park is at its most picturesque, with stunning, lush, green scenery. The wildlife is there all year round, but from the end of November, you are also in with a chance of seeing baby animals and an exciting selection of overwintering birds.

South Africa is also home to one of the world’s most scenic stretches of coastline, which has become known as the Garden Route. Look forward to experiencing some of the highlights of the stunning, 300-km-long route, which extends from Mossel Bay (Western Cape) to Storms River (Eastern Cape). Look forward to beautiful beaches, exciting towns and dramatic landscapes, which change constantly along the route. Places of interest include Oudtshoorn, which is the world’s ostrich capital. Besides its abundance of ostrich farms, the town also offers impressive dripstone caverns, which are more than 20 million years old.

Round off your Christmas getaway on the bounty island of Mauritius and enjoy a fabulous end to your South Africa adventure. Here, you will find some of the hottest temperatures of the year, plenty of sunshine, as well as experiences for the young and old alike.

Kenya in December

Despite it being low season in Kenya’s Masai Mara, it’s a fantastic December destination.

The short rainy season, which started in November, usually limits itself to brief but intense showers, and therefore rarely gets in the way of your safari. From mid-December, the rainy season leaves beautiful lush, green landscapes in its wake as the dry season approaches. Masai Mara abounds with wildlife, and you can expect to see large herds of elephants, fascinating overwintering birds and lots of animal young.

Spend the last part of your Christmas getaway in the coastal city of Mombasa on the Indian Ocean, where December is one of the hottest months of the year. In Mombasa, you will find beautiful sandy beaches, azure waters and the opportunity to snorkel at the beautiful coral reefs in the area. You can also round off your Christmas getaway in Tanzania on the bounty beaches of Zanzibar.

Dream of Asia or Latin America?

Asia is often synonymous with beautiful beach holiday islands – and December is no exception. Thailand, Sri Lanka and Vietnam are just three options to combine the most wonderful experiences with a fantastic Christmas beach holiday on the beaches of Asia. For more information about travelling to Asia during the Christmas holidays, please click here.

In Latin America, an abundance of lush nature, fascinating culture and unique wildlife, which is somewhat different to the African wildlife, await you. We have something both for those looking for a standard holiday and for those interested in a self-drive holiday. Would you like to visit Latin America in December? Then read on here.

Book as early as possible!

December is a popular month to travel and peak season in many destinations throughout the world.

Our best advice to you is therefore: Book as early as possible!

If you have any questions, please contact our travel consultants who are on hand to help you.

TourCompass – From tourist to traveller