Tanzania in December: Short Rain, Safari and Weather Tips
Tanzania safari in December marks the beginning of the green season in Tanzania. The Serengeti plains are a beautiful shade of green, dust levels are minimal and most wildlife species are easy to spot. The weather is ideal for wildlife viewing and the famous wildebeest migration is concentrated in massive numbers on the Southern and Eastern Serengeti plains, which in turn attracts large numbers of predators. December is the time of plenty and many animals time the birth of their families to coincide with the green season.
Occasional showers can be expected in December. The rains from early November to late March are usually sporadic and typically do not last for more then a few hours. There is a chance of heavier rain during this period but during most years the heavier rains fall in April. These expected sporadic showers do not usually pose much of an inconvenience while game driving. If it does rain, it will usually clear in 1-2 hours and more then likely the rain will be localized. It is rare that rain clouds will settle over a large area for an extended period of time.
Northern Tanzania: The northern highlands along the Kenyan border are generally cooler than the south. You will have comfortable weather for sightseeing treks and safaris since it is generally only warm. You could enjoy outdoor activities and safaris by going when rain isn’t forecasted. Zanzibar’s weather is hotter, rainier, and less predictable.
Southern Tanzania: There is less rainfall in the south, so safaris, hiking and other activities are not affected as much as in the north. The big southern national parks, Nyerere and Ruaha, are hotter than the northern ones, and there is moderate to low rainfall, so the weather is usually fine for safaris, hiking, boating, and balloon rides.
Tanzania Weather in December
Rain falls in different amounts over various locations throughout Northern Tanzania. The Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire and Lake Manyara receive higher rainfall then many parts of the Serengeti. There is a steep rainfall gradient in the Serengeti from the dry southeast to the wet northwest. The winds that bring rain blow from the east. The Ngorongoro Highlands block much of the rain from reaching the eastern and southern plains of the Serengeti. However, the western and northern parts of the Serengeti receive a much greater amount (2-3 times more) of participation as compared to the southern and eastern Serengeti. The wetter western and northern Serengeti areas are affected by Lake Victoria. This means that in the southern Serengeti where you should ideally focus your December safari, the rains should not be an issue and it will rain substantially less then the other areas of the Serengeti and Tanzania.
Temperatures are pleasant with an average high of 83 degrees and an average low of 60 degrees. However, the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater can get quite cold at night and in the early morning. Visitor numbers will be low in early December and very high in late December with the New Year’s crowd. The good news is that the vast majority of people are on package tours staying at the main lodges and zipping around the main roads in only a few popular areas. With careful planning we can customize your safari so you will encounter more lions than people in even late December.
Best Places to Visit in Tanzania in December
Top things to do in December include hiking and spending time in the wildernesses, seeing wildlife, and going to the beaches. You could also tour urban tourist places. Consider touring in the huge, wild, and drier southern parks.
Dar Es Salaam — Tour the Highlights
The capital, Dar Es Salaam, has both natural and urban attractions to enjoy during your visit. Some tourists use its airport to fly to Zanzibar, and many use it to access the central and southern wilderness preserves. In December, the weather is hot and sunny with moderate rainfall.
You could visit DES’s urban attractions when it rains, such as the National Museum, to learn about Tanzania’s culture and history. You could also visit street market areas such as Kariakoo to buy some souvenirs, products, fruit and food. The street markets offer a variety of locally-produced and imported goods.
When it is not raining you could go to the beaches, such as South Beach that is crowded and has hotels along it or Bongoyo Island offshore — a protected marine preserve with fine beaches.
Wilderness preserves that are within driving distance of Dar Es Salaam: Pugu Hills Forest Reserve is an hour’s drive, and Mikumi National Park is about a 4½ hours’ drive away. Nyerere National Park is about 5 to 6 hours away over rough roads.
Ngorongoro Crater — Safaris, Hikes, and Lodge Stays
The weather for a safari is good in December at the Ngorongoro crater because if it rains, the rains are short, and the floor has a sheltered drier microclimate. The world’s largest unfilled volcanic caldera is a scenic highlight in itself.
Besides fantastic high-altitude scenery, you can ride up close to numerous animals who live in a diverse habitats such as lake, savannah, and woodlands in the huge bowl measuring 260 square kilometers (100 square miles). The floor of the crater is at 1,700 meters (5,577 feet) and the daily highs are about 25°C (76°F).
The rim, at an elevation of 2,300 meters (8,530 feet), is much colder, but it is a tourist highlight in itself because it has posh hotels with fantastic views and good hiking routes. It is cold at night when it sometimes freezes. Ngorongoro is about a 3-hour drive from Arusha.
The Southeastern Serengeti — Follow the Great Migration
The most popular national park in Tanzania is the Serengeti because nowhere else on earth do two million herd animals of several kinds congregate together on such a big plain. They wander seemingly in unison in a large circuit, and in December, they are usually in the southern Serengeti and wandering close to the Ngorongoro volcano region.
The short rainy season is when they give birth to their calves and raise them. That is an amazing sight to see. The predators also abound in December. December is a good time to see the migration since the short rains do not usually hamper a safari. You could safari and tour while the crowds and costs are more moderate. Expect warm or hot weather.
The southeast region of the Serengeti is more easily accessible because it is closer to Arusha at about a 7½-hour drive away. It is about 4½ hours away when driving from Ngorongoro. There are direct flights from Arusha airport and other airports.
Arusha — Resting, Fine Dining, Shopping and Excursions
Arusha is the ‘Safari Capital’ for people going on wilderness excursions. It is a good city to use as a base for touring since it has luxurious hotels, backpacker lodges, spas, interesting places to go, and a domestic airport. In December, the weather is warm and the rainfall is moderate.
When it is rainy, you could visit the Natural History Museum, learn about a unique precious gemstone and shop at the Tanzanite Museum, or go to the Sparke Park. Tanzanite is a beautiful, recently discovered colorful gemstone that changes colors based on viewpoint. It is only mined near Kilimanjaro.
Transport: Arusha NP is about an hour away, Ngorongoro 3 hours away, Nairobi 5 hours, Kilimanjaro International Airport an hour.
Lake Manyara National Park — Safari and Watch the Birds
Another beautiful national park conveniently close to Arusha for a day excursion is Lake Manyara. Driving from Arusha on the good road only takes 1½ hours by car, and if you are visiting from the Ngorongoro crater, the driving time is only about two hours. So you could have a good day trip and get back to rest and dine at your accommodations.
The park is green and lush, and bird watching is better at this time. Manyara has good wildlife viewing throughout the year. The short rains will usually not affect your trip.
Recommended Tours for Tanzania Safari in December
The first half of the month is a moderate tourism season, but when the Christmas and New Year’s holidays arrive, there is a peak travel and tourism period.
The Christmas season is also usually when the weather transitions to a short dry season, so tourists flock in to enjoy the drier weather and festive activities, but you could enjoy lush green scenery with more moderate prices in the first half of December.
Hotels and lodges around the wilderness preserves are often fully booked in December, so book your tours and reservations early. Consider safari and hiking in the big southern preserves for better weather conditions. Zanzibar’s hotels are heavily booked during the holidays. We offer both group tours and private tours, as well as customized tours to Tanzania safari itinerary.
