When to go

Where to go in December

Conditions across all 46 destinations we cover, ranked for December. Wildlife viewing first, then weather, with the quieter option leading where two places are equally good.

Best in December

Murchison Falls National ParkUgandaHigh season
The Nile squeezes through a seven-metre gap — loudest after the rains.
Kidepo Valley National ParkUgandaHigh season
Peak dry season — the best game viewing and the highest prices.
Ngorongoro CraterTanzania
Short rains — brief afternoon storms, green landscapes, fewer visitors.

Good conditions, few people

Strong weather this month without the high-season crowds — usually the best value on the calendar.

Every destination in December

Ratings are out of five. Crowds invert: more bars means busier.

Wildlife, weather, crowd level, rainfall and temperature for each destination in December
Destination	Wildlife	Weather	Crowds	Rainfall	Temperature
Murchison Falls National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	50 mm	18–33 °C
Kidepo Valley National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 5 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	5 mm	17–35 °C
Ngorongoro CraterTanzania	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	90 mm	9–22 °C
Serengeti National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	90 mm	15–28 °C
Volcanoes National ParkRwanda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	110 mm	10–21 °C
Mgahinga Gorilla National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	100 mm	10–22 °C
Kibale National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	100 mm	15–27 °C
Mafia IslandTanzania	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	140 mm	24–32 °C
Bwindi Impenetrable National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 5 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	100 mm	11–23 °C
Samburu National ReserveKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	50 mm	20–34 °C
Akagera National ParkRwanda	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	110 mm	16–28 °C
Laikipia and Ol PejetaKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	50 mm	11–27 °C
Nyungwe Forest National ParkRwanda	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	110 mm	11–22 °C
Watamu and MalindiKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	80 mm	24–32 °C
Diani BeachKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 5 / 5	80 mm	24–32 °C
Pemba IslandTanzania	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	140 mm	24–32 °C
Lake Mburo National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	100 mm	16–28 °C
Amboseli National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	80 mm	15–30 °C
Lake Nakuru National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	80 mm	11–28 °C
Queen Elizabeth National ParkUganda	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	100 mm	17–29 °C
ZanzibarTanzania	Wildlife: 4 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 5 / 5	140 mm	24–32 °C
Lake Manyara National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	90 mm	17–30 °C
Lake Natron and Ol Doinyo LengaiTanzania	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	90 mm	22–38 °C
Tsavo East National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	80 mm	20–34 °C
Tsavo West National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	80 mm	18–31 °C
Lake Naivasha and Hell's GateKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	80 mm	10–27 °C
Maasai MaraKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	80 mm	13–28 °C
Nairobi National ParkKenya	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	80 mm	13–26 °C
Mahale Mountains National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 3 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	160 mm	18–28 °C
Tarangire National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 2 / 5	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	90 mm	16–30 °C
Ruaha National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 2 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 1 / 5	160 mm	17–31 °C
Nyerere National ParkTanzania	Wildlife: 2 / 5	Weather: 2 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	160 mm	19–33 °C
ArushaTanzania	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	90 mm	14–27 °C
KigaliRwanda	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	110 mm	15–27 °C
LamuKenya	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	80 mm	25–33 °C
Mount KilimanjaroTanzania	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	90 mm	8–23 °C
Mount KenyaKenya	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	90 mm	5–20 °C
MombasaKenya	—	Weather: 4 / 5	Crowds: 5 / 5	80 mm	24–32 °C
TangaTanzania	—	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 2 / 5	140 mm	23–32 °C
KampalaUganda	—	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	100 mm	18–28 °C
Jinja and the Source of the NileUganda	—	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	100 mm	17–28 °C
Lake BunyonyiUganda	—	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	100 mm	12–24 °C
Rwenzori Mountains National ParkUganda	—	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	100 mm	6–18 °C
Ssese IslandsUganda	—	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 3 / 5	100 mm	18–28 °C
Dar es SalaamTanzania	—	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	140 mm	24–33 °C
EntebbeUganda	—	Weather: 3 / 5	Crowds: 4 / 5	100 mm	18–27 °C

Climate normals and typical patterns, not a forecast. East African rains have been arriving less predictably than these averages suggest — treat them as a guide to the shape of the year, not a promise about a given week.