5 Days Tanzania Christmas Holiday Safari to Tarangire,Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara

The festive season is the peak travel period in East Africa, so it is best to book your trip at least six to nine months ahead. Lodges in popular areas like the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater fill up very quickly during late December. Planning early also helps you secure the best rates and your preferred accommodations for your holiday arrival.

December falls during the short rainy season, which usually brings brief afternoon showers that leave the landscape lush and green. The temperatures are generally warm and pleasant for wildlife viewing in parks like Tarangire and Lake Manyara. You will enjoy vibrant scenery that is perfect for holiday photography under the African sun.

Many lodges and tented camps organize festive dinners and small celebrations to mark the holiday for their guests. You might enjoy a special bush breakfast or a themed sundowner overlooking the vast plains of the Serengeti. It is a unique way to celebrate the holiday season surrounded by nature and wild animals.

Your chances are exceptionally high because this route covers the most wildlife-rich areas in the country. The Ngorongoro Crater is a reliable spot for the rare black rhino, while Tarangire is famous for its massive elephant herds. Our expert guides will do their absolute best to help you check every major animal off your list during your festive break.

Yes, we can easily add a visit to a traditional Maasai boma as you travel between the different national parks. This allows you to learn about local traditions and perhaps even see how the community marks the end of the year. It adds a wonderful human element to your wildlife adventure during the Christmas period.

You should bring light clothing for the warm days and a waterproof jacket for the occasional holiday rain showers. A warm fleece is also necessary for the chilly mornings on the Ngorongoro Crater rim where temperatures drop significantly at night. Comfortable walking shoes and high-quality binoculars will also enhance your viewing experience throughout the trip.

You can expect comfortable beds, private bathrooms, and delicious multi-course meals at the selected accommodations. Many lodges also offer festive decorations and special holiday menus to make your stay feel more celebratory. Some locations even have swimming pools where you can relax after a dusty game drive in the sun.

A sunrise balloon flight over the Serengeti is a popular extra activity that offers a bird's eye view of the plains. This is a truly magical way to celebrate the festive season and can be followed by a champagne breakfast in the bush. We recommend booking this in advance as spots are very limited during the December peak period.

This itinerary is very family friendly because the driving distances between parks like Manyara and Ngorongoro are relatively short. Children often find the variety of animals and the adventure of staying in the wild very exciting during their school break. We can also arrange for larger family tents or interconnected rooms at many of the lodges to keep everyone together.

Since this is a popular time for global travelers, the parks like Serengeti and Ngorongoro will have more vehicles than during the low season. However, our experienced guides know many quiet tracks and hidden spots to ensure you still have an intimate wildlife experience. The festive atmosphere in the camps makes up for the extra activity in the more famous areas.