Wondering where to go for a Christmas safari in 2025-2026? The festive season is a great time to enjoy warm weather and unforgettable safari experiences in Africa. In Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, December falls in the middle of the green season. Wildlife tends to disperse, but it’s the best time for seeing birds and baby animals.
South Africa’s northern regions also experience a green season, but the south is much drier, and there are ample reserves with high concentrations of wildlife. From roadtripping the Garden Route to exploring Tanzania’s Northern Circuit, here are some of the best Christmas safari experiences in Africa, complete with suggested itineraries and standout wildlife moments.
1. South Africa’s Eastern & Western Capes
Go at Christmas for:
- Big 5 viewings in Shamwari
- Luxury tented camp stays
- Beach-hopping and vineyards
Pair a secluded nature hideaway with South Africa’s festive capital at Christmas with a multi-stop trip to the country’s Eastern and Western Capes. December is summer in South Africa, and the southern coastal areas enjoy mild temperatures of around 25℃.
Start your safari in Shamwari Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape. Known for its ecological diversity, it’s a top location for spectacular Big 5 sightings. For couples, Sindile is a luxury tented camp raised above the bush, while Riverdene is best for families as it has four bedrooms and enough space for everyone to be together. Both have a prime vantage point overlooking the Bushman’s River and the surrounding plains.
After a thrilling time in the wilderness, finish your 2025/2026 Christmas safari holiday with a stay in Cape Town. The mild December weather is perfect for beach-hopping and touring local vineyards. We recommend a stay at One&Only Cape Town, which has a private marina, a kids’ club and a spa.
2. Eastern Serengeti & Zanzibar
Go at Christmas for:
- Spotting big cats in the Serengeti
- The Great Wildebeest Migration
- Beach break in Zanzibar
December falls within Tanzania’s green season, and the Serengeti National Park comes alive with lush plant life. Asilia Namiri Plains in the Eastern Serengeti is one of Africa’s top locations for spotting big cats.
Lion, cheetah and leopard all make the grasslands their home, alongside migratory bird species. The last few wildebeest stragglers of the Great Migration can still be seen at the beginning of December. By the end of the month, they’re in the Ndutu area in the south.
After a trip to the Serengeti, finish your 2025/2026 Christmas safari on the white sand beaches of Zanzibar. Temperatures reach highs of 31℃. At Zanzibar White Sand Luxury Villas & Spa, spend the mornings doing watersports at the beach and afternoons at the spa if the clouds roll in.
3. Kenya Safari & Beach
Go at Christmas for:
- Rescued giraffes and elephants
- Game drives and bush walks
- Private beach lodges
If you’re looking for a varied safari to keep teenagers engaged over Christmas, Kenya is a great choice. Start with bucket list experiences at Hemingways Eden Residence in Nairobi, where you can feed rescued giraffes at the Giraffe Centre and visit orphaned elephants at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
Head into the wild with a stay at Elewana Loisaba Tented Camp in Loisaba Conservancy. This protected part of Laikipia County is ideal for game drives, bush walks, horse riding and even more unusual experiences like camel treks. You can also join a patrol with an anti-poaching unit and sleep in the open air in a star bed.
The next part of your itinerary is at Elephant Pepper Camp in the Maasai Mara’s North Conservancy. It’s popular for big game sightings, including lions and elephants. It’s also a prime spot for birders, with over 450 species here. Why not do a Christmas birding safari?
Finish off with a trip to the Kenyan coast. Kinondo Kwetu is a boutique lodge on a private stretch of white sand beach lapped by the Indian Ocean. Lie on a sunbed, take a dip in the pool and languish over three-course lunches.
4. Kenya & Zanzibar
Go at Christmas for:
- Romantic tented camps
- Breakfast with giraffes
- Beach time in Zanzibar
For Christmas 2025/2026, why not pair a safari in Kenya with an island escape in Zanzibar? Mara Bushtops Luxury Camp is a romantic hideaway in the Maasai Mara that’s ideal for couples.
It comprises elevated tented suites with private wooden decking, complete with a hot tub and dining table. When you’re not soaking up the view of the private reserve together, you can indulge in a couple’s massage and go swimming by starlight at the award-winning spa.
After a romantic start to your holiday in the Maasai Mara, spend a night at Giraffe Manor in Nairobi and have breakfast with curious Rothschild’s giraffes. Complete your Christmas trip with seven nights at White Sand Luxury Villas & Spa in Zanzibar.
Families with children aged five and older will love Asilia Naboisho Camp in the Mara. It has family suites with stunning views of elephants and buffalo wandering the Naboisho Plains. Swap this secluded luxury camp for Zuri Zanzibar, a beach resort with suites and villas, plus a dedicated kids’ program.
5. Northern Tanzania Circuit
Go at Christmas for:
- Elephant herds in Tarangire
- Lions in the Ngorongoro Crater
- The Great Wildebeest Migration
The Northern Circuit hits some of Africa’s most phenomenal safari destinations and is one of our favourite reasons to visit Tanzania. The itinerary covers the vast grassy plains of the Serengeti National Park, home of the Great Wildebeest Migration. You’ll see big game at the Ngorongoro Crater, an extinct volcano and the world’s largest intact caldera.
You’ll start by arriving in Arusha, a city in Eastern Tanzania at the foot of Mount Meru. After some time to relax, you’ll head to your first national park: Tarangire. It has Tanzania’s largest concentration of African elephants, and you can see herds of up to 300 strong.
Next on your route is Ngorongoro Crater, famous for having more lions per capita than anywhere on earth, as well as the Big 5. This remarkable place is also home to a collection of preserved hominid footprints dating back 3.6 million years.
Your last stop is the Serengeti. The wildebeest and zebra tend to be between the eastern side of the Southern Plains and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area this time of year. As it’s calving season, it’s a lovely time to spot baby animals frolicking about in the grass.
To finish, fly back to Arusha to catch your flight home or celebrate the end of your holiday (and the festive season) with a few more extra nights in Zanzibar.
6. South Africa Garden Route
Go at Christmas for:
- Stay at a historic Dutch farm
- Whale watching in Hermanus
- Game drives and spa treatments
If you love the freedom of the open road, South Africa’s Garden Route could be the holiday you’re looking for. This self-drive itinerary follows 190 miles of coastline from Mossel Bay to Storms River, but you can extend it by starting in Cape Town and ending in Port Elizabeth.
Begin at One&Only Cape Town, then spend two nights at Babylonstoren in Franschhoek, one of the oldest Cape Dutch farms, known for its outstanding food and wine. Continue to Hermanus for whale watching, staying at the coastal Birkenhead House.
Next is Morukuru Beach Lodge in De Hoop Nature Reserve, where you can go on guided walks, sandboard down dunes and sunbathe on the beach. Then head to Knysna and immerse yourself in an indigenous forest canopy at Tsala Treetop Lodge.
Your last top is Shamwari Eagles Crag in the Eastern Cape. This nature-inspired retreat is an exceptional end to your road trip. Enjoy soul-soothing spa treatments and head out on game drives in Shamwari Private Game Reserve.
7. Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda
Go at Christmas for:
- Gorilla spotting and rainforest walks
- Luxury treehouse stays
- To learn about conservation
Why not spend Christmas 2025/2026 with a different family this year? The rainforested Volcanoes National Park in northwestern Rwanda is home to 23 groups of endangered mountain gorillas. 12 of them are habituated for responsible gorilla trekking experiences.
Stay in wild luxury at One&Only Gorilla’s Nest, where freestanding treehouses and suites are cocooned in a forest of towering eucalyptus trees. You’ll be able to meet these majestic primates with a seasoned guide.
You’ll learn about each gorilla’s personality and the vital conservation work being carried out to protect this unique subspecies in what is guaranteed to be an unforgettable Christmas safari. Return to your treehouse and unwind with a spa treatment grounded in African healing traditions.
Christmas is a fantastic time for a bucket list safari adventure. Go gorilla trekking in Rwanda, explore Tanzania’s Northern Circuit, combine the Maasai Mara with a beach break, or discover South Africa’s wild coastline. The possibilities are endless.
Call us today to plan the perfect 2025/2026 Christmas safari. It might just be the best present you give yourself!
