At our top safari destinations across Africa, camps and lodges celebrate the vacation season in style. Take a look at our selection of camps and expertly planned trips that still have availability for the festive season this year, and get ready to start planning your vacation in the wild.
Festive Season Safaris
The vacations are a time to make memories with loved ones, and what better way to connect and celebrate the end of the year than on an unforgettable safari?
Top Destinations for a Festive Safari
Tanzania & Kenya
If a classic safari is on your wish list, head to the Serengeti in Tanzania and the Maasai Mara in Kenya. The Serengeti and Maasai Mara are great year-round wildlife-viewing destinations – you’ll track big game with expert guides and explore the bush on immersive nature walks. It’s the Green Season in East Africa, making for lush landscapes and green vegetation. The herds of the Great Migration arrive on the Serengeti’s southern plains at this time of year, making this a popular safari region. This is also an excellent time of year for birding!
Unique African twists to festive celebrations include décor crafted using local natural materials and a Christmas lunch or dinner in the bush. At our top properties, the hospitality and excellent levels of service will make it a safari Christmas to remember.
South Africa
December is a popular time to visit South Africa, especially the Kruger and Cape Town. First-choice lodges often book out months in advance, but our specialists know where to find last-minute availability. South Africa is ideal for festive family travel, with the country’s malaria-free reserves and family-friendly lodges. This is Emerald Season in the Kruger, meaning the weather is hot and the bush is lush and green. Stand-out private concessions such as Sabi Sands offer fantastic sightings year-round, and in general, the wildlife viewing is still excellent and the birding is outstanding thanks to migratory species arriving in the region.
In South Africa, the 5-star lodges pull out all the stops for the vacation season, with special festive activities and an inclusive, celebratory atmosphere. You can expect to swap the traditional Christmas lunch for a delicious bush dinner under the night sky, and you’ll spend Christmas day on exciting game drives with expert safari guides. It’s a popular time of year to travel, so it is a good idea to book as early as possible.
Related Trips
Additional Last-Minute Trip Ideas for 2025
Festive Adventure in Tanzania: Lake Natron Camp & Wayo Serengeti Green
This Northern Tanzania safari combines Lake Natron Camp’s dramatic scenery with the southern Serengeti’s wildlife. Stay at Wayo’s low-impact camp for walking safaris, migration herds, and big game – perfect for a wild, sustainable festive escape!
Prices from £4,810 per person for travel over the festive period 2025
East Africa Gorillas & Safari: Wilderness Usawa & Bisate
Split your festive season between Tanzania’s Serengeti at Wilderness Usawa and Rwanda’s rainforest at Bisate. Enjoy epic wildlife viewing, luxury stays, and once-in-a-lifetime treks to see rare mountain gorillas.
Prices from £18,689 per person for travel over the festive period 2025
Botswana’s Premier Camps
Botswana is Africa’s most exclusive safari destination and the ultimate gift to yourself! This is where to go to completely indulge. Enjoy stellar service and attention to detail during stays at some of Africa’s most luxurious safari camps and lodges. Out in the wilderness in secluded private concessions in the Okavango Delta, the Linyanti, and the Makgadikgadi Pans, the exclusive feel continues. Explore Botswana’s incredible landscapes, where yours could be the only safari vehicle for miles. The weather in December is hot, but as this is the green season, rain showers can bring relief from the heat!
Festive Safari Activities
Game Drives
Festive Meals
Culture & Community
New Year’s Eve Celebrations
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During the festive season, days have the same structure as any other day on safari. Morning and evening game drives will get you out into the wild at cooler times of the day, when the animals are more active. The main difference is that your guides and tracker may embrace the festive feel with cheery Santa hats to mark the occasion!
Forget the traditional stuffy Christmas lunch or dinner. During a safari Christmas, it’ll be bush lunches and al fresco dinners under the stars! Many lodges enjoy celebrating the sense of community and inclusion that comes with the vacation season, so you may find yourself enjoying meals with other safari-goers and sharing stories from your day’s adventures.
Community focus is a big part of this time of year, particularly in South Africa. Many camps and lodges have options to engage in cultural experiences and community outreach during your stay, such as supporting local initiatives and arranging gifts and meals for local children.
Why not extend the adventure and ring in the new year surrounded by the sights and sounds of the bush too, on a New Year safari? Expect candlelit dinners in the bush, surprise celebrations, and toasting midnight with the sounds of the wild all around. It also means you can kick off the first day of the new year with a game drive!
01.Is a safari a good idea at Christmas?
Yes! A safari is a great way to spend quality time with family and friends at Christmas. It’s also a different way to celebrate Christmas, as you’ll swap snow and chilly weather for sunshine and incredible wildlife. Safari Africa’s top lodges make an effort to celebrate the festive season with special activities, meals, and decorations.
02.Which country is best for a festive season safari?
Tanzania, Kenya, and South Africa are the best for a Christmas safari as they are year-round wildlife-viewing destinations. Botswana is a top destination for a safari at Christmas without the crowds.
03.Is the festive season a busy time of year for a safari?
December is a popular time of year for safaris in Tanzania and Kenya, so accommodation can book up early and the national parks can get busy. In South Africa it’s also busy in Cape Town, along the Garden Route, and in the country’s malaria-free reserves as this is a popular time for families to travel. While booking early is highly recommended, our safari specialists can help you find pockets of availability and advise on the quieter private reserves and concessions to help you avoid the crowds.
For a quiet, relaxed safari in December, Botswana’s higher-end camps are one of the best options, as you’ll enjoy an exclusive safari away from the crowds.
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