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When to go · Tanzania

Tanzania in December

Mixed month. Green and showery; herds return to the south; Christmas rates on Zanzibar.

Key facts

Verdict
Mixed
Crowds
High
Tanzania
Prices
High
Tanzania

Verdict

MixedVoykit month rating for Tanzania

Green and showery; herds return to the south; Christmas rates on Zanzibar.

Is another month better than December?

December is rated mixed. These months rate higher:

Weather in December

  • Northern circuit · Arusha, Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengetifine

    Short rains Nov–Dec are light; long rains Apr–May close some camps. Migration position changes month to month.

  • Kilimanjaro · Moshi, Marangu, the mountainfine

    Summit nights below −10 °C (14 °F) all year; best climbing Jan–Mar and Jun–Oct.

  • Zanzibar and the coast · Stone Town, Nungwi, Paje, Dar es Salaam, Pembafine

    Humid; the masika rains Apr–May are heavy and several resorts close.

  • Southern parks · Nyerere (Selous), Ruaha, Mikumirainy

    One long wet season Nov–Apr; many camps open only June–October.

  • Western lakes · Mahale, Gombe, Katavi, Lake Tanganyikarainy

    Chimp trekking is easiest in the dry season when chimps come down the slopes.

  • Central Tanzania: Central plateau (Dodoma, Singida) · Interior plateau, 1,000–1,500 mrainy

    Hot days, cool nights year-round because of the elevation; the dry months May–October are the comfortable window.

  • Central Tanzania: Morogoro and the southern parks · Eastern edge of the plateau toward the coastrainy

    Wetter than Dodoma; Mikumi and Udzungwa are green and humid in the rains, dry and clearer from June.

  • Northeast Tanzania: Arusha, Moshi, Karatu · Northern highlands, 1,000–1,500 mfine

    Long rains March–May; short rains in November. Days are mild year-round, nights cool.

  • Northeast Tanzania: Usambara Mountains (Lushoto) · Eastern Arc range, 1,200–1,800 mfine

    Wettest March–May; mist and mud on trails. Cool enough for a jacket most evenings.

  • Northeast Tanzania: Tanga coast · Indian Ocean striphot

    Hot and humid most of the year; the long rains bring heavy afternoon downpours.

  • Northwest Tanzania: Lake Victoria shore (Mwanza, Bukoba) · Northern lakeshore and Kagera hillsrainy

    Two wet seasons: long rains roughly March–May, short rains November–December. Drier, cooler months June–September are the easiest for lake trips.

  • Northwest Tanzania: Lake Tanganyika shore (Kigoma, Mahale) · Western lakeshorerainy

    Dry season roughly May–October is best for Mahale chimp tracking; the wet months make forest trails harder.

  • Pembwe and the Southeast: Dar es Salaam and the coast · Indian Ocean coastlinehot

    Hot and humid year-round; long rains March–May, short rains November–December. Diving visibility is best in the drier months.

  • Southern Highlands: Iringa and Njombe plateau · 1,500–2,000 m highlandsrainy

    Cool nights year-round; June–October is dry and clear, November–April brings afternoon rain.

  • Southern Highlands: Ruaha and the low south-west · Park and rift floor, 700–1,000 mrainy

    Hotter and drier than the plateau; game concentrates near the Great Ruaha River in the dry season.

  • Zanzibar: Zanzibar island · whole islandhot

    Long rains March–May (the three wet months); short rains in November (the single wet month). June–October is drier and cooler; December–February is hot and humid. The east coast is windier and better for kite surfing June–September.

  • Arusha26 °C (79 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 8 rain days
  • Bagamoyo31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 8 rain days
  • Biharamulo27 °C (81 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 12 rain days
  • Bukoba26 °C (79 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 15 rain days
  • Chake Chake30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days
  • Dar es Salaam32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 9 rain days
  • Dodoma31 °C (88 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 12 rain days
  • Iringa26 °C (79 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 14 rain days
  • Jambiani29 °C (84 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 6 rain days
  • Karatu29 °C (84 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 5 rain days
  • Katesh28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 10 rain days
  • Kendwa30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 5 rain days
  • Kigoma29 °C (84 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 6 rain days
  • Kilwa30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 8 rain days
  • Kondoa30 °C (86 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 3 rain days
  • Lagosa27 °C (81 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 17 rain days
  • Lindi32 °C (90 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 13 rain days
  • Lushoto27 °C (81 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 10 rain days
  • Mafia Island30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 10 rain days
  • Makambako26 °C (79 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 16 rain days
  • Masasi32 °C (90 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 11 rain days
  • Matemwe32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 7 rain days
  • Mbeya25 °C (77 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 18 rain days
  • Mikindani30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 6 rain days
  • Morogoro29 °C (84 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 16 rain days
  • Moshi27 °C (81 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 8 rain days
  • Mpanda30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 12 rain days
  • Mpwapwa30 °C (86 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 9 rain days
  • Mto Wa Mbu28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 9 rain days
  • Mtwara31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 11 rain days
  • Mwanza28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 14 rain days
  • Njombe24 °C (75 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 18 rain days
  • Nungwi32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 9 rain days
  • Paje32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 12 rain days
  • Singida29 °C (84 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 12 rain days
  • Sirari30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 12 rain days
  • Songea28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 14 rain days
  • Stone Town32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 10 rain days
  • Sumbawanga28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 5 rain days
  • Tabora30 °C (86 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 5 rain days
  • Tanga30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 5 rain days
  • Tukuyu27 °C (81 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 13 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.

  • Independence Day

    9 Dec

    Public holiday.

  • Christmas big impact

    25–26 Dec

    Zanzibar and lodges fully booked.

  • Holiday safari season begins

    Mid-December · Arusha

    Holiday-period demand pushes up hotel and vehicle prices alongside the dry-season peak.

  • Peak safari season start

    December–February · Arusha

    Southern Serengeti calving season draws safari traffic through Arusha; book lodges and vehicles early.

Crowds and prices

Crowds · Tanzania
High
Prices · Tanzania
High

High-price month: see what to book ahead.

Compare two months

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Tanzania, side by side.

  • Verdict

    Dec: Mixed

    Jan: Great (better)

  • Crowds

    Dec: High

    Jan: Medium

  • Prices

    Dec: High

    Jan: Medium

  • Festivals listed

    Dec: 4

    Jan: 4

December: Green and showery; herds return to the south; Christmas rates on Zanzibar.

January: Herds gather on the southern Serengeti plains around Ndutu; calving starts late in the month.

Tanzania: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.

What to pack

  • A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Where to go in December

Rated best or good this month

  • Bagamoyo

    Best months: Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb

  • Chake Chake

    Best months: Oct–Mar (dry season, cooler sea breezes)

  • Iringa

    Best months: Jun–Oct (dry, cool nights); also Dec–Feb

  • Jambiani

    Best months: Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb

  • Karatu

    Best months: Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb

  • Kendwa

    Best months: Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb

  • Mafia Island

    Best months: Jun–Oct (dry, calm) and Dec–Feb (hot, clear water)

  • Matemwe

    Best months: Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb

  • Mbeya

    Best months: Jun–Oct (dry, clear); Oct–Apr for Kitulo flowers

  • Nungwi

    Best months: Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb

  • Paje

    Best months: Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb

  • Stone Town

    Best months: Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb