Safari in December

The month of December represents the transition from spring to summer on the Antarctic Peninsula, when the region properly emerges from the freezing winter conditions. Of course, this is Antarctica and conditions are likely to remain relatively harsh, but the weather usually becomes noticeably more reliable as the month progresses.

The landscapes are likely to still be largely snow-covered, which really does emphasise the impression of a pristine wilderness. Sea-ice should be widespread and impressive. Skies are often clear, with lots of sunshine.

Average temperatures in this part of the world tend not to vary enormously throughout the year, with December being around 0C (32F). Precipitation is around 15% higher than the summer low in January, at around 50 mm (2”) per month. Perhaps most importantly, the day length is peaking, at around 19 hours.

The improving weather means that landing sites tend to be more accessible and itineraries are less likely to have to shift around to accommodate the conditions. A ship with a higher ice-class rating tends to be less important as the month wears on, unless you are intending to access the Weddell Sea to the east or head southwest towards the Antarctic Circle.

In terms of wildlife, the penguin colonies should be in full swing, with eggs being incubated on the nests and the first hatchings taking place towards the end of the month.

Weddell seals, crabeater seals and leopard seals are often spotted hauled up onto the ice floes and pack ice, increasingly in groups.

Birds including wandering albatrosses, marine fulmars, petrels and blue-eyed shags should have largely arrived into the area from the north and are on their nests, with chicks beginning to hatch through the month.

Humpback whales, minke whales and killer whales are now returning in larger numbers and sightings should be more reliable along the western side of the peninsula.

When it comes to activities, time of year is increasingly good for kayaking amongst the breaking ice sheets. Camping can also be really good, but walking on sea-ice, snow-shoeing and skiing all tend to become less of an option as the month wears on.

For booking trips, we are now in the main season for this part of the world, so there should be plenty of choice of ships and itineraries, but availability can be increasingly difficult and, as always, booking 1-2 years ahead is recommended. Some operators consider the first part of December to be shoulder season, with lower prices. This tends to equalise the demand throughout the month, as the smart travellers book up those precious two weeks before the high season prices kick in.

From the start of December, it becomes possible to undertake air-cruises, since the airstrip on King George Island in South Shetland typically opens on the first day of the month.

December is early summer and is generally considered to be a very good month for visiting Argentina, especially in areas further south.

Down in the south, this is a great time of year to visit Patagonia. Although the weather here is always unpredictable, conditions are relatively mild and good for outdoor activities like touring, motorboating, kayaking, hiking, horse-riding and puma tracking. Temperatures are up around 18C (64F) and rainfall down at 15mm (0.5”) for the month.

In central areas such as Bariloche, conditions are much improved for summer activities like touring, hiking, kayaking and motorboating. Temperatures are up around 22C (75F) and rainfall down at 25mm (1”) for the month.

Out on the coast, Península Valdés is good at this time, with lots of migratory marine animals around. December is the third and final month of the first orca hunting season, when they target baby elephant seals. Temperatures are up around 22C (72F) and rainfall down at 5mm (0.25”) for the month.

In the northwest of the country, private-guided overland expeditions into the high Andes are excellent at this time. Conditions in the dramatic high altitude areas are mild. There can be considerable rain at lower altitudes, but this tends to be less of a concern. Temperatures in Salta are up around 30C (86F) and rainfall right up at 150mm (6”) for the month, but the higher temperatures are a blessing up top, where there is rarely any rain.

Up in the north of the country, the Iguazú Falls area is very hot and rainy. The water volumes on the falls at this time are starting to get high, which can be very impressive in terms of sheer power, but the views can be obstructed by spray and some of the most important trails can be closed for safety reasons. Temperatures are up around 33C (91F) and rainfall up at 200mm (8”) for the month.

Visitor traffic in the early part of December is relatively low, but after around the 20th of the month can get very busy everywhere, making it necessary to book early and deploy traffic avoidance techniques.

The Nov-Dec period marks the late dry season in Namibia, the transition from the preceding cool dry season and the subsequent warm green season, with savanna safari conditions more likely to deteriorate slightly as the weeks pass.

The weather throughout this period should be warm and sunny, but with increasing chances of rain.

The concerns are not so much about the weather, but more about the effects of the arrival of the rains on the animal populations and wildlife viewing.

If the rains do not arrive early, then the favourable conditions of the preceding dry season will continue and wildlife viewing will remain superb.

But if the rains do arrive early, then a high proportion of the animals will move away from the permanent water sources in Etosha and go in search of better grazing in the hinterlands beyond. This can have a very negative effect on wildlife viewing inside the reserve, since these animals become very widely dispersed and move into areas which are not accessible to vehicles. It is possible to spend a whole day inside Etosha and not see a single elephant. The eastern side of the reserve is usually a better bet at this time, since the animals tend to head that way first.

These wildlife dispersal effects are also applicable to areas such as Damaraland North and Twyfelfontein, where the animals often move away from the riverbeds if there is sufficient rain to cover the surrounding hills with grass.

Obviously the later you visit during December, the greater the chances of rain. In our experience conditions usually remain pretty good until the middle of the month, but by Christmas there is a good chance things will be changing.

Temperatures in Etosha during the day average around 33C/91F at this time of year, dropping at night only to around 18C/64F. If there are only light rain showers the humidities can rise fast, making for uncomfortable conditions. No rain or heavy rain should lead to more comfortable conditions. Choosing a lodge with air-conditioning might be a good idea at this time. Areas further west tend not to become so hot and humid.

Visitor traffic tends to be relatively light at this time, all the way up to the middle of December, when the main holiday season kicks in, when traffic avoidance techniques (like staying on private reserves and visiting more remote areas) should be deployed.

December is generally considered to be a reasonable month to visit Uganda.

In the Bwindi Forest area, the temperatures are stable at around 22C (70F), but rainfall is falling slightly to around 100mm (4”) through the month.
This rainfall is around the annual average, but given the preceding wetter months, gorilla tracking is likely to remain slightly more difficult than usual.

In the savanna safari areas at this time, Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls share similar conditions to the above, but the reduced rainfall is unlikely to yet have a dramatically positive effect on wildlife movements.

Kidepo Valley is in the fourth month of its dry season, with conditions now very good.

Visitor traffic tends to be low up to around the 20th of December, after which it gets busy, so it’s best to book well in advance in order to ensure rooms at the best lodges and permits for the best gorilla families.

December is the second month of the cool dry season and is generally considered to be a good month to visit most parts of India.

In Delhi (which is representative of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and most inland areas), temperatures are down significantly to 23C (73F) and rainfall is down at 10mm (0.5”) for the month. This is a good time for general travel, but tiger sightings remain relatively elusive.

In Goa (which is representative of the tropical coastal areas), temperatures remain up at an uncomfortable 32C (90F), but with rainfall down at 25mm (1”) for the month.

In Ladakh (which is representative of areas up in the Himalayas), temperatures plummet to 2C (36F) and with rainfall down at 10mm (0.5”) for the month. These conditions are now challenging for general travel, but the snow leopard season is now well underway.

Visitor numbers are relatively still quite low up to around the 18th, after which the place fills up, necessitating early booking and traffic avoidance measures.

December is generally considered to be a good time to visit Tanzania.

The weather in Tanzania during December can be quite unpredictable, although it is usually slightly better than November. Usually by the middle of the month the short rains have largely blown through and conditions should be returning.

Daytime temperatures should reach 30-35C/86-95F in most areas.

We have noted that El Nino years can deliver particularly heavy rains, causing chaos over the main holiday season. The last occasion was 2023-24 and they tend to happen on average every 3 years.

Safari in Tanzania in December should be very good to good. The usual course of events seems to be that the short rains in November and early December most often fail to deliver sufficient volumes to fill the seasonal pans out in the hinterland for any prolonged period. So, although the period can see animals moving away from permanent water sources, more often than not they are forced to return, or at least not stray too far. This means that wildlife viewing in December is generally pretty good in most areas, if not to the same remarkable levels of the dry season.

A major highlight is the arrival of the migration onto the southern plains of Serengeti. The timing of this event varies considerably year on year, but late December is probably the median. It all depends upon localised patterns of showers. If the rains are early, then the calving season may get underway before the end of the month.

Conditions on Kilimanjaro range from poor to very good. December is a split month. The first half usually offers up adverse conditions similar to those in November, whilst the second half tends to be much more like January. When this breakpoint will actually fall each year is quite tricky to predict. We tend to fully reopen our operations during the second week, warning trekkers that the first outing of the season can be a little tougher than usual. By the time the main bulk of visitors arrive for the Dec-Jan holiday period, conditions should hopefully be more favourable.

Visitor traffic in December ranges from very low to very high, it’s a very black and white month in this respect. Up to around the 18th, the place is virtually empty. Then, over the space of a few days, the holiday season traffic arrives and numbers jump to a year round peak.

If you can possibly shift your vacation forward by a few days then you will be rewarded by a much quieter and more peaceful visit. If you need to visit over the Christmas and New Year period then core areas such as the Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti Central, Serengeti Southwest and Zanzibar will be busy and strategic planning will be needed to avoid the crowds.

Getting availability in the best lodges can be a real issue and booking at least eight months ahead is advised, especially for groups of four or more guests.

December is generally considered to be a very good time to visit Egypt.

At this time of year, the temperatures are dropping to a comfortable 24C (75F), with rainfall down at 0mm (0”) and sunshine hours up at 9 hours per day, despite the shorter day length.

Temperatures at night can drop as low as 7C (44F).

Visitor numbers are medium through the early part of the month, then very high from around the 20th of December, creating an urgent need for early booking and traffic avoidance measures.

December is generally considered to be a very good time of year to visit Ethiopia.

Most areas have a similar climate to the capital, Addis Ababa, with temperatures around 23C (74F) and rainfall down at 10mm (0.5”) for the month.

The Tissisat Falls on the Blue Nile at Bahir Dar are at their best during the high water period of Jul-Dec.

The Danakil Depression is the hottest place on earth, so conditions are never easy down there. November is one of the better months, when daytime temperatures usually ceiling around the 40C/104F mark.

The remote Gambela area is accessible at this time, but it is too early for the kob migration.