December is when Tanzania fills up again, but not because of the weather. It’s the holidays. Christmas and New Year drive a spike in demand, and the safari + Zanzibar combo becomes one of the year’s most sought-after trips. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The weather in Tanzania in December cooperates more than you’d expect: temperatures sit at 16\u201328\u00b0C in the northern parks, the vuli<\/em> (short rains) are lighter than November’s, and the Serengeti receives around 105 mm over 16 days, mostly as afternoon showers that clear by evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the ground, something bigger is building. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The wildebeest herds are pushing south through the Central Serengeti toward the Ndutu plains and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, following the rains to the nutrient-rich grasses where the calving will begin in January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After 14 years of hosting holiday-season guests in Arusha, I can say December delivers a unique mix: green landscapes, active wildlife, whale sharks off the coast, and the anticipation of what’s coming next. For the full climate picture, see our Tanzania Climate guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n