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Where to go in Africa in December: weather, holiday crowds and festivals
In December, dry sunshine is in Senegal, on the coast of Togo and Benin, and in Djibouti. Morocco and Tunisia are mild by day but cold at night, and the Indian Ocean enters its rainy season. Christmas and New Year make December the peak season: book early.
Wondering where to go in Africa in December? The safest bet is Senegal: it barely rains, and Dakar averages about 28°C by day. The coast of Togo and Benin is hot and nearly dry, and Djibouti enters its most pleasant season. Morocco and Tunisia offer mild sunshine, but cold nights.
December has one more twist: with Christmas and New Year, it is the busiest month of the winter. Flights and hotels in the most popular places fill up fast. Below is the December weather country by country, based on climate normals, followed by our picks, the month's festivals and our booking tips.
December weather in Africa, country by country
For December, the table gives the average daytime high, the average nighttime low and the month's total rainfall. These are climate normals, mostly for 1991-2020. They come from national weather services, the US agency NOAA, the German weather service (DWD) or the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Each place links to its station's table.
| Country | Place (station) | Day / night in December | December rain | In short |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senegal | Dakar | 27.9 / 21.0°C | 0.4 mm | Dry and sunny |
| Senegal | Ziguinchor (Casamance) | 33.7 / 18.7°C | 0.1 mm | Hot and dry |
| Togo | Lomé | 33.2 / 24.4°C | 7.6 mm | Hot, nearly dry |
| Benin | Cotonou | 31.9 / 24.9°C | 12.1 mm | Hot, nearly dry |
| Côte d'Ivoire | Abidjan | 31.3 / 23.8°C | 57.5 mm | End of the rains, humid |
| Djibouti | Djibouti City | 29.7 / 22.2°C | 15.2 mm | Cool season |
| Morocco | Agadir | 22.1 / 10.1°C | 49 mm | Mild, some rain |
| Morocco | Marrakesh | 20.1 / 7.3°C | 24 mm | Sunny, cool evenings |
| Morocco | Ouarzazate | 17.7 / 3.2°C | 9.5 mm | Freezing nights |
| Tunisia | Djerba (1981-2010) | 17.8 / 11.0°C | 41 mm | Mild, not hot |
| Mauritania | Nouakchott | 30.0 / 15.8°C | 1 mm | Dry, check safety |
| Mauritius | Médine, west coast | 30.0 / 21.6°C | 116 mm | Hot, showers |
| Madagascar | Toamasina (east coast) | 30.2 / 22.3°C | 251 mm | Rainy season |
| Comoros | Moroni | 30.8 / 22.6°C | 219 mm | Rainy season |
| Seychelles | Mahé (airport) | 30.5 / 24.6°C | 298 mm | Hot and wet |
How December differs from January
December is not just another winter month. In Senegal, it is a little warmer than January: 27.9°C by day in Dakar, against 25.9°C. In Abidjan, 57.5 mm of rain still falls, more than double the January figure: Côte d'Ivoire is just coming out of its short rainy season.
In the Indian Ocean, December is the start of the wet season, not its peak. Mahé gets 298 mm, against 427 mm in January. Toamasina gets 251 mm, against 412 mm. That is still very wet, but less so than after the holidays.
Christmas and New Year: peak season, and how to plan for it
Asking where to go in Africa in December usually means looking for a year-end holiday destination. The places closest to Europe and the big festivals draw the most visitors at that time.
Marrakesh is the best example. According to the news site Bladi.net, in November 2025, three weeks before the holidays, the city's rated hotels were already reporting record occupancy.
The city traditionally posts its best figures between December 24 and January 2.
Same story in Benin: our festival calendar notes that Ouidah is very busy during the Vodun Days in early January, and advises booking your accommodation early.
Our booking tips
- Flights first: dates around December 24 and December 31 go first. If you can, shift your departure a few days earlier or later.
- Then accommodation: for New Year's Eve in Marrakesh, Saly or Ouidah, book as soon as your flights are set, with free cancellation if possible.
- The New Year's Eve dinner: many hotels sell a separate gala dinner. Ask whether it is included or mandatory before you pay.
- Excursions: desert camp, boat trip, private guide. Over the holidays, book them before you leave rather than on arrival.
Our advice
If you need a visa, apply one to two weeks before departure, and not during Christmas week. Whether you need one depends on your nationality: check your case on our entry requirements page.
Senegal: dry sunshine and the Dakar Biennale
In December, Senegal is the most obvious choice. The rainfall normal in Dakar is 0.4 mm, with 27.9°C by day and 21°C at night. Farther south, in Casamance, Ziguinchor reaches 33.7°C by day, with nights at 18.7°C.
The beaches of the Petite Côte, around Saly and Somone, are the classic base for a year-end stay. Our guide to Saly or Somone will help you choose. In Dakar, the Dak'Art Biennale of Contemporary African Art runs from November 19 to December 19, 2026: an early December trip lets you see it.
Our country guide notes that theft and assaults are rising, including in Saly, Somone and Lac Rose. Casamance is under heightened vigilance: stay on the main roads. Malaria is present twelve months a year. Visas and vaccines: entry requirements for Senegal, and the essentials on our Senegal page.
Togo and Benin: New Year, then the Vodun Days
On the Gulf of Guinea coast, December opens the dry season. Lomé sees 33.2°C by day and 7.6 mm of rain, Cotonou 31.9°C and 12.1 mm. Nights stay warm, around 24 to 25°C. Our Togo guide notes that December to February is the driest and sunniest period in Lomé.
If you spend New Year there, Benin offers a perfect follow-up. The Vodun Days in Ouidah run from January 2 to 9, 2027. January 7 and 8, 2027 are public holidays, the 8th being the National Day of Traditional Religions. To pick a neighborhood, see our guide on where to stay in Cotonou.
Watch out
According to France Diplomatie (the French foreign ministry's travel advice), northern Togo and Benin should be avoided: the Savanes region in Togo, the Pendjari and W parks and part of the Atakora in Benin. In Lomé, stay off the beach and the seafront after sunset. In Benin, swimming is advised against all year.
In both countries, a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required and malaria is active all year. According to the WHO (2016), a single dose of the vaccine protects for life. Our article on malaria in Africa explains how to choose a preventive treatment with your doctor. More on our Togo and Benin pages.
Côte d'Ivoire: the end of the rains and the harmattan
December is a transition month in Abidjan. It is 31.3°C by day and 23.8°C at night, with still 57.5 mm of rain. In the south, the short rainy season runs from October to November. According to the Belgian foreign ministry, the harmattan, a hot, dusty wind from the Sahara, then blows from December to February.
For the holidays, Grand-Bassam and Assinie are Abidjan's beach getaways. France Diplomatie rates the border with Mali and Burkina Faso and Comoé National Park as red. The rest of the country is under heightened vigilance, and the sea is dangerous. See our Côte d'Ivoire page and the entry requirements for Côte d'Ivoire.
Djibouti: the cool season and whale sharks
Djibouti tops 40°C from May to October. In December, the normal drops to 29.7°C by day and 22.2°C at night, with 15.2 mm of rain. It is also the heart of whale shark season: according to Figaro Nautisme, it runs from November to February, in water at 26 to 30°C.
France Diplomatie strongly advises against the areas near the Eritrean border and the road to Somaliland beyond the Décan refuge. The rest of the country is under heightened vigilance. Outside the city, travel with at least two 4x4s and a guide. Malaria and dengue are present all year. Visas and vaccines: entry requirements for Djibouti.
Morocco: New Year's Eve in Marrakesh, cold desert nights
Morocco is the closest year-end destination if you are flying from Europe. In December, Marrakesh averages 20.1°C by day and 7.3°C at night. Agadir is a little milder, at 22.1°C, but December is wetter there than January, with 49 mm.
New Year's Eve in the desert is in high demand. Mind the cold: in Ouarzazate, the December normal is 3.2°C at night. A night at a desert camp calls for a proper sleeping bag. Our guide to a desert night from Marrakesh covers what to ask the agency.
On the health side, no vaccine is required and there is no malaria. France Diplomatie rates the Mauritanian border as red, except for the coastal road. Bag snatching is common in Marrakesh and Casablanca, especially in crowds. See our Morocco page and the entry requirements for Morocco.
Tunisia: Douz and its International Festival of the Sahara
In Djerba, the December normal is 17.8°C by day and 11°C at night, with 41 mm of rain. It is not a beach holiday, but a good month for walking and sightseeing. The south has a real event: the International Festival of the Sahara in Douz, from December 19 to 22, 2026. Expect horse and camel races, Bedouin poetry and music. Nights are cold at that time of year.
France Diplomatie advises against the desert east and south of the line Bir Rjim Maatoug, Borj Bourguiba, Ben Guerdane, and strongly against the far Saharan south. There is no malaria, but rabies is spreading. Details on our Tunisia page and the entry requirements for Tunisia.
Mauritius: December, before the height of the southern summer
Mauritius is a matter of a few weeks. According to our country guide, the drier period lasts until the end of December, and the heaviest rains come after. The national weather service (MMS) gives 30°C by day and 116 mm of rain in December at Médine, on the west coast. Cyclone season started in November: keep an eye on the forecast. Our guide on where to stay in Mauritius compares the coasts.
There is no malaria in Mauritius. Since October 13, 2026, France Diplomatie has reported protests and occasional road closures in some localities: avoid gatherings.
Where not to go in December
The Sahel, despite ideal weather
Watch out
According to France Diplomatie, all of Burkina Faso is off limits, as are all of Mali and all of Niger. All of Chad is rated orange or red. Their December holidays (December 11 in Burkina Faso, December 18 in Niger) change nothing. Check your own government's travel advice too.
Mauritania is dry in December: 30°C by day and 15.8°C at night in Nouakchott. The Festival of Heritage Cities is usually held in December, in a different town each year. Chinguetti and Ouadane are under heightened vigilance, but Tichitt and Oualata are in areas advised against. Check which town hosts the edition before making any plans.
In Cameroon, the dry season starts in mid-November in Yaoundé and Douala. But France Diplomatie calls for extra vigilance during the year-end holidays. The Far North and the Northwest are rated red.
The Indian Ocean in the rain
- Madagascar: the rainy season starts in mid-November. Toamasina gets 251 mm in December, over 15 days on average. Cyclones come mostly from January to April. See our article on the best time to visit Madagascar.
- Comoros: 219 mm in December in Moroni. The rainy season runs from November to April, with possible tropical storms.
- Seychelles: 298 mm in December on Mahé, but 30.5°C by day. Dengue and chikungunya circulate mostly from December to February.
December festivals in Africa
The dates below come from our festivals calendar.
| Festival | Place | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Dak'Art Biennale | Dakar, Senegal | November 19 to December 19, 2026 |
| International Festival of the Sahara | Douz, Tunisia | December 19 to 22, 2026 |
| Festival of Heritage Cities | Mauritania, a different town each year | Usually December (December 13 to 16, 2024 in Chinguetti) |
| Tadjourah Cultural Festival | Tadjourah, Djibouti | Varies: late December in 2024, February in 2026 |
| Vodun Days | Ouidah, Benin | January 2 to 9, 2027 |
Where to go in Africa in December, by travel style
| What you want | Our pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Beach and dry heat for Christmas | Senegal (Petite Côte, Casamance) | No rain, 28 to 34°C by day |
| New Year, then Vodun culture | Southern Togo and Benin | Dry season, Vodun Days in early January |
| Diving and wide open spaces | Djibouti | Cool season, whale sharks |
| New Year's Eve close to Europe | Marrakesh and southern Morocco | 20°C by day, but peak season |
| Desert and traditions | Douz, Tunisia | Festival from December 19 to 22, 2026 |
| Tropical island before the heavy rains | Mauritius, west coast | Drier than January, cyclones possible |
Frequently asked questions
What is the hottest country in Africa in December?
Among the safe destinations in our table, Togo and Casamance: 33.2°C by day in Lomé and 33.7°C in Ziguinchor.
Where can I spend New Year in the sun in Africa?
In Senegal, on the coast of Togo and Benin, or in Djibouti, all in their dry season. Marrakesh is the closest to Europe, but nights drop to about 7°C and it is the city's busiest time.
How far ahead should I book for Christmas?
Well ahead, especially for Marrakesh, the Petite Côte and Ouidah during the Vodun Days. Book your flights, then your accommodation, as soon as your dates are set. For a visa, allow one to two weeks before departure.
Is the weather good in Madagascar in December?
It is hot, but it is the start of the rainy season: 251 mm in December in Toamasina. The southwest, around Toliara, is the island's driest region, but it rains there in December too.
Can you swim in Morocco in December?
The air is mild by day, 22°C in Agadir, but nights are cool and it is not warm-water beach weather. For warm water, choose Senegal, the Gulf of Guinea or Djibouti.