December falls in the midst of the short rains so except some rain and wet weather. Tourist numbers are low for the first half of the month, but for two weeks over Christmas and New Year everything is choc-a-block, so it’s best to avoid the last-minute rush and book well in advance.
December is a great time for bird watchers as many migratory birds arrive. This is particularly good in southern parks such as Selous and Tarangire National Park in the north is a birdwatchers’ paradise. Look out for red-necked spurfowl, purple grenadier and cinnamon-breasted buntings to name just a few.
By now the migrant birds have arrived in full force, which makes for some superb birding opportunities. The wildebeest have returned to the short grass plains of the southern Serengeti to calve. With their more limited infrastructure, the wild parks of the southern safari circuit become more challenging during December and for the duration of the wet season.
