December is a good month to go on safari in Botswana. The pans in the desert areas attract a lot of wildlife in the Wet season. If you don’t mind a bit of rain, this Green season is a lovely time for a safari in Tanzania’s Northern circuit and Kenya. Low-season rates might be an added bonus. South Africa is a good choice for a December holiday too.
See below for an overview of the best parks to visit in Africa by country. Please note that the listings focus on the most popular parks only and are not comprehensive.
Unpredictability is what makes a safari exciting. You never know what you’ll see and every day is different. However, life in the bush is seasonal and some careful planning is recommended. Read on for a few tips on where to go on safari in December.
Springbok Gather Around the Pans in Central Kalahari, Botswana
By December the pans in the Deception Valley area of Central Kalahari GR have filled up sufficiently to attract big herds of impala, wildebeest, buffalo and zebra. Most impressive are the huge herds of springbok, which have come here to drop their young. These unsteady little newborns are a favorite prey for cheetahs prowling around on the fringes. Lions enjoy the easy pickings too, and seeing a fully grown male with its black mane, a typical feature of the Kalahari lions, is a special treat.
The summer rains in December trigger the Chobe–Nxai zebra migration, the longest mammal movement in Africa. Every year, more than 30,000 plains zebra undertake the 1,000km/620mi return journey through remote desert areas. While the pan transforms from a barren wasteland to a green oasis, big herds of zebra, accompanied by smaller groups of wildebeest, spread out over the grassy plains. They stay until March before they return to the Chobe floodplains with its permanent water.
Lake Natron in northern Tanzania is the most important breeding site for lesser flamingos in the world. Around September to October, the birds lay their eggs in dome-like mud constructions sticking out above the water surface. Most of the eggs hatch around December. Watching big numbers of pink flamingos strutting up and down the shallow waters, as if part of an elaborately choreographed dance, is a mesmerizing experience. Unsurprisingly it has been called the greatest ornithological spectacle on earth.
December is a fantastic time for a holiday in South Africa. It’s mid-summer, a perfect time to enjoy outdoor activities in Cape Town and the Garden Route. This region experiences a very mild climate, but December is sufficiently warm for swimming, spending time on the beaches, alfresco dining, hiking, sightseeing and just enjoying that feeling of summer holidays. Combine this with a safari in one of the excellent Big Five private reserves, such as Shamwari, Sabi Sand or Madikwe Game Reserves, and you have the perfect safari-holiday combo.
