When to go · Mozambique
Mozambique in December
Mixed month. Rains start; Christmas crowds and high rates in the south.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Mixed
- Crowds
- High
- Mozambique
- Prices
- High
- Mozambique
Verdict
Rains start; Christmas crowds and high rates in the south.
Is another month better than December?
December is rated mixed. These months rate higher:
Weather in December
- Deep south coast · Maputo, Ponta do Ouro, Maputo National Parkhot
Sub-tropical: warm winters and humid summers; South African holidays crowd December and Easter.
- Inhambane and Bazaruto · Tofo, Barra, Vilankulo, Bazaruto islandsrainy
Humpback whales Jul–Oct; whale sharks and mantas year-round with peaks Oct–Mar; cyclones Jan–Mar.
- Central (Beira, Gorongosa) · Beira, Gorongosa, Chimoiorainy
Gorongosa's roads open about May–Nov; Beira is one of the most cyclone-exposed cities on the coast.
- North coast · Ilha de Moçambique, Nampula, Pembarainy
Hotter and more humid; much of the far north is under travel advisories — climate only is not a reason to go.
- Western interior · Tete, Lake Niassa shorerainy
Tete is one of the hottest towns in Africa Oct–Nov; highland nights are cool in winter.
- Central Mozambique: Central Mozambique · Manica, Sofala, Tete, Zambeziacool
Rainy season Nov–Mar; dry May–Oct is best for wildlife.
- Maputo30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 10 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 10 rain days
- Beira30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 14 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 14 rain days
- Caia33 °C (91 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 10 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 10 rain days
- Chimoio30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 11 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 11 rain days
- Chinde31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 10 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 10 rain days
- Cuamba30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 11 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 11 rain days
- Ibo30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 14 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 14 rain days
- Ilha de Mozambique30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 18 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 18 rain days
- Inhambane30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 11 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 11 rain days
- Inhassoro31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 10 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 10 rain days
- Lichinga29 °C (84 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 18 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 18 rain days
- Mandimba30 °C (86 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 5 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 5 rain days
- Matemo Island30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 11 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 11 rain days
- Medjumbe31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 12 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 12 rain days
- Mocuba30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 16 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 16 rain days
- Morrungulo31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 11 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 11 rain days
- Mutarara34 °C (93 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 11 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 11 rain days
- Nampula33 °C (91 °F) / 22.4 °C (72 °F), 184 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 72 °F (22.4 °C), 184 rain days
- Pemba32 °C (90 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 11 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 11 rain days
- Ponta d'Ouro28 °C (82 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 11 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 11 rain days
- Quelimane30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 12 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 12 rain days
- Santa Carolina31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 10 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 10 rain days
- Songo33 °C (91 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 11 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 11 rain days
- Tete31 °C (88 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 16 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 16 rain days
- Tofo Beach29 °C (84 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 11 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 11 rain days
- Vila Ulongwe28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 13 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 13 rain days
- Vilanculos33 °C (91 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 10 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 10 rain days
- Xai-Xai30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 10 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 10 rain days
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
Family Day big impact
25 Dec
Christmas crowds; South African visitors fill border posts and beaches.
Family Day and Christmas
25 December · Maputo
Public holiday; many families go to the coast.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Mozambique
- High
- Prices · Mozambique
- High
High-price month: see what to book ahead.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Mozambique, side by side.
Verdict
Dec: Mixed
May: Great (better)
Crowds
Dec: High
May: Low
Prices
Dec: High
May: Medium
Festivals listed
Dec: 2
May: 1
December: Rains start; Christmas crowds and high rates in the south.
May: Dry season begins; good diving visibility.
Mozambique: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen
- A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast