Kenya safari in December trips are a very good idea if you like warm, green landscapes and can live with the odd afternoon shower. The Masai Mara, Amboseli, Samburu and Tsavo all offer strong game viewing, many animals have young, and migrant birds return. The honest trade-offs are that the Great Migration herds are in Tanzania, and prices and crowds jump from about 20 December.
Sense of Adventure is a licensed safari operator based in Nairobi (TRA licence TRA1/47/C01/77087). As we write, on 28 October 2026, December is about five weeks away. This month guide covers the weather and short rains, wildlife by park, road conditions, crowds, prices, who December suits and what to book. For Christmas and New Year specifics, read our Christmas safari Kenya guide, and for the weeks that follow, our Kenya safari in January guide.
Table of Contents
✅ Kenya safari in December: The Quick Answer
- Is it a good time? Yes. Days are warm, the land is green, young animals are common and birds are plentiful. The trade-offs are showers, festive prices and crowds from about 20 December.
- Weather: warm days, cool mornings and short afternoon showers as the short rains ease. The coast is hot and humid, and Samburu is hot and dry.
- Migration: not in Kenya. The herds are usually in the southern Serengeti in Tanzania, but the Mara keeps its resident lions, cheetahs, elephants and giraffes.
- Best places: the Masai Mara for big cats, Amboseli for elephants, Samburu for rare northern species, Tsavo for space and the coast for a beach finish.
- Prices: early December is usually better value, and peak festive rates apply from roughly 20 December. The Mara reserve fee is USD 200 per adult per day until 31 December 2026.
- Booking: choice is still fair for early December, and tight for the festive weeks. Decide this week if you can.
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Is a Kenya safari in December a Good Idea?
Yes, a Kenya safari in December is a good idea for most travellers, as long as you choose your dates with care, because the first half of the month and the festive weeks feel like two different seasons.
The upsides are real. You get sunshine while the northern hemisphere is cold, green scenery, calves and foals, returning migrant birds and good light for photography. Early in the month the reserves are usually quieter and better value, and school holidays line up for families later on. The downsides are just as real. Showers can interrupt a drive, grass can hide smaller animals, and from about 20 December demand, prices and vehicle numbers climb.
Our honest view: choose December for green landscapes, young animals and birds, not for river crossings. If you want the lowest prices of the year, our guide to the cheapest time for a Kenya safari explains when to go instead.
Kenya Weather in December: Short Rains and Afternoon Showers
December weather in Kenya is warm with short rains easing, so the usual pattern is bright mornings and a brief shower in the afternoon rather than all-day rain.
Figures differ by source and by place, so treat them as a guide. Rough Guides gives daytime highs of about 22 to 29°C in the Mara and Rift Valley, with cooler nights of 11 to 16°C, and 24 to 28°C by day around Nairobi (source: Rough Guides, Kenya in December). One Mara camp describes mornings around 18°C, middays around 30°C and scattered short afternoon showers that usually clear quickly (source: Governors’ Camp, Masai Mara in December). Published rainfall averages vary widely, from roughly 30 mm to about 90 mm for the month, so we cannot promise how wet your week will be.
- Nairobi and the highlands: warm days, cooler evenings, and a light jacket for nights.
- Masai Mara: pleasant days, cool mornings and short afternoon showers.
- Amboseli: hot days, with a shower possible; cloud tends to build later, so early drives give the best chance of Kilimanjaro.
- Samburu: hot and dry, with daytime highs of about 31 to 35°C according to Rough Guides.
- Coast (Diani, Mombasa): hot and humid, with daytime highs of about 29 to 33°C and warm sea.
The timing of the short rains shifts from year to year. Some operators say they ease by mid-month, but your dates may differ, so pack a light rain jacket and keep your plans flexible. Our best time for safari in Africa calendar shows how December fits the wider year.
Wildlife on a Kenya safari in December: Young Animals, Cats and Birds
Wildlife on a Kenya safari in December is excellent, because the Mara’s resident lions, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, buffalo and zebra live there all year and the green season brings young animals and migrant birds.
One Mara camp reports that most impala, gazelles, topi and warthogs have already given birth by December, that leopards are frequently seen in riverine forest, and that cheetah sightings increase as the month goes on (source: Governors’ Camp, linked above). Elephants gather in family groups, and the same source notes returning storks and herons in the marshes. Lush grass is good for grazers, but it can hide smaller animals, so a good driver-guide matters more than usual.
Where Is the Great Migration in December?
The Great Migration is not in Kenya in December. The wildebeest herds are usually arriving on the southern plains of the Serengeti in Tanzania, with most calves born around late January and February. Our month-by-month guide to the Masai Mara or Serengeti by month explains the pattern. Some guides mention the tail end of the herds lingering in the Mara early in the month, but plan on the Serengeti if the herds are your priority, and be wary of anyone selling a December river crossing in Kenya.
Kenya safari in December by Park: Mara, Amboseli, Samburu, Tsavo and the Coast
For a first Kenya safari in December, the Masai Mara is the best all-round choice, and each other region adds something different.
| Place | What you get in December | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masai Mara | Resident lions, cheetahs, elephants and giraffes; green plains; migrant birds | First-timers, big cats, families | Showers, tall grass, festive crowds late in the month |
| Amboseli | Large elephant herds, open views, Kilimanjaro on clear mornings | Elephants, photography, short trips | Cloud often hides the mountain by midday; reserve fee USD 90 per adult per day |
| Samburu | Hot dry northern landscape, Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe | Repeat visitors, variety | Very hot; far from Nairobi, so a long drive or a flight |
| Tsavo | Vast wild space and red elephants | Big landscapes, coast combinations | Thicker vegetation can spread animals out |
| Kenya coast (Diani) | Warm sea and beach weather | A beach finish after safari | Hot, humid and very busy over New Year |
For most guests we suggest the Mara as the main event, with Amboseli as a gentler add-on and a few beach nights at the end. Our Kenya safari packages page shows more routes.
Park Conditions on a Kenya safari in December: Mud and Tall Grass
Park conditions on a Kenya safari in December are generally good but softer than in the dry season, so expect some slick tracks after heavy showers and longer, greener grass.
We have not found a published road report for every park, so we will not promise details. In general, dirt tracks can turn slippery after a downpour, which can slow a transfer, and a good guide in a well-maintained 4×4 copes with most of it. If your priority is a smooth schedule, ask us about flying into the Mara, because a short flight avoids the longest road section. For a gentler start with children, a night at Lake Naivasha before the Mara can help.
Kenya safari in December Costs: Early December Value vs Festive Peak
A Kenya safari in December costs noticeably less in the first half of the month than in the festive weeks, because many camps move to peak rates from about 20 December.
Operator guides describe roughly 20 December to early January as busy with premium rates, and early December as quieter and better value (source: Imara Africa Safaris, Kenya safaris in December). Exact dates and supplements differ by camp, and we have not found one rule that applies everywhere, so your quote should itemise them. We cover the festive angle in our Christmas safari Kenya guide.
The Masai Mara National Reserve is run by Narok County, and Kenyan media report that non-resident adults pay USD 200 per day from July to December 2026, up from USD 100 earlier in the year (source: K24 report on the new Mara fees). We could not confirm the schedule for January 2027 onwards, so ask us. In national parks, the Kenya Wildlife Service lists USD 90 per non-resident adult per day in Amboseli, and fees can change. Private conservancies set their own fees, which camps often include in their rates. For wider budgeting, see how much an African safari costs.
Crowds on a Kenya safari in December
Crowds on a Kenya safari in December depend almost entirely on the date, with a quiet first half and a busy final third.
One guide calls the first half of December low season in the Mara and the Christmas and New Year period high season (source: Global Highlights). Early December often means calmer sightings and more camp choice. The festive weeks bring more vehicles at popular sightings, so ask your guide to use quieter tracks, or consider a private conservancy where numbers are limited. The coast is also at its busiest around New Year.
Who Is a Kenya safari in December Best For?
A Kenya safari in December suits travellers who want green scenery, young animals, birds and flexible dates, and it is a poor fit for anyone set on seeing a river crossing.
- First-timers: strong resident wildlife and an easy route from Nairobi make it a sound first safari.
- Families with school-holiday children: calves and foals delight kids, and school holidays in many countries fall in late December. See our Kenya family safari packages, and check malaria advice in our Kenya safari malaria guide.
- Photographers and birders: dramatic skies, soft light and returning migrants reward patience.
- Beach and safari combiners: the coast is hot, humid and busy at New Year, so book early.
- Not ideal for: river-crossing seekers (go July to October) and anyone who needs guaranteed dry afternoons.
Sample Trips for a Kenya safari in December
These real Sense of Adventure trips are good starting points for a Kenya safari in December, and each can usually be adapted to your dates, subject to availability.
| Trip | Length | Route | Listed from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas & New Year Safari | 6 days | Lake Naivasha and Masai Mara | USD 1,890 |
| Kenya Group Safari | 6 days | Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Naivasha | USD 1,390 |
| Kenya Family Safari | 5 days | Nairobi, Lake Naivasha and Masai Mara | USD 1,290 |
| Kenya Safari and Beach Holiday | 10 days | Masai Mara, Amboseli and Diani | USD 2,450 |
| 15 Day Kenya Safari and Beach | 15 days | Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Nakuru, Mara, Amboseli and Diani | USD 3,950 |
For an early-December trip, the 6 day Kenya safari is our classic value route, and the Kenya Family Safari keeps drives short for children. If you want a beach finish, the Kenya Safari and Beach Holiday pairs the Mara and Amboseli with Diani. Travellers with two weeks can combine Samburu, the Mara, Amboseli and the coast on the 15 day Kenya safari. For dates after 20 December, the Christmas & New Year Safari is built around the holidays.
How Far Ahead to Book a Kenya safari in December
The ideal time to book a Kenya safari in December is many months ahead, but with about five weeks to go you can still book well for early December, while the festive weeks need a quick decision.
Our trip pages suggest booking 9 to 12 months ahead for the best choice, and our guide on how far in advance to book a Kenya safari explains the logic. We will not invent dates when particular camps fill, because that varies by camp and year. What we can say honestly is this:
- 1 to 15 December: usually the easiest dates, with more camps and rooms available.
- From about 20 December: the tightest, because popular camps are most likely to be full.
- Family rooms and small camps: these go first, so ask early.
- Flexibility helps: moving your start by a few days, or accepting a different camp style, opens more choice.
- Flights and eTA: lock in flights once dates are firm and apply for your eTA at least two weeks before you fly.
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Packing and Entry Rules for Kenya in December
Pack for a Kenya safari in December with warm days, cool mornings and a possible shower, and check Kenya’s entry rules early, because they changed in 2026 and are enforced before you fly.
- Clothes: light neutral layers, a warm top for early mornings, a light rain jacket, hat and closed shoes with grip.
- Gear: binoculars, a camera with a dust and rain cover, repellent and a soft bag if you are flying on light aircraft.
- Kenya eTA: most visitors need an approved eTA before boarding. Apply only on the official portal at etakenya.go.ke and check the current fee there. The fee is from USD 30, depending on the type of application. Many African nationals are exempt.
- Travel health insurance: reports say mandatory cover for non-Kenyans applies from about 6 October 2026. Check the eTA portal for the current rule, and see our mandatory travel insurance guide, and our Nairobi to Zanzibar layover guide if you connect through Nairobi.
- Health: see a doctor or travel clinic well before you go about malaria tablets and vaccines.
These rules can change, so confirm them on the official sites before you travel.
Travelling from India, Malaysia, the USA, the UK or Australia? See our Kenya safari packages for your country: India, Malaysia, the USA, the UK and Australia.
Kenya Safari in December FAQs
Is December a good time for a safari in Kenya?
Yes. December is warm and green, game viewing is good in the Masai Mara, Amboseli and Tsavo, and many animals have young. Expect short showers and, from about 20 December, higher prices and busier camps. Early December is usually quieter and better value.
Is the Great Migration in Kenya in December?
No. In December the wildebeest herds are usually on the southern plains of the Serengeti in Tanzania, with calving around late January and February. The Masai Mara still has resident lions, cheetahs, elephants and giraffes, but river crossings are a July to October event.
Does it rain in Kenya in December?
Yes, but usually in short showers. The short rains ease through December, and a typical day is warm and bright with a brief afternoon shower. Rainfall varies by year and place, so pack a light rain jacket and keep plans flexible.
How much does a Kenya safari in December cost?
It depends on the camp, length and dates. Early December is usually better value, and many camps charge peak rates from about 20 December. Our 5-day family safari starts from USD 1,290 and our 6-day group safari from USD 1,390. The Mara reserve fee is USD 200 per adult per day until 31 December 2026.
How far ahead should I book a Kenya safari in December?
As early as possible. We suggest 9 to 12 months for the best choice. If you are booking now, early December has more choice, while the festive weeks are tighter. Be flexible on camps and dates and ask us to check availability.
Is December good for a family safari in Kenya?
Yes. A Kenya safari in December suits families, because young animals delight children and school holidays in many countries fall in late December. Start with a gentle route, split long days into two short drives, and book family rooms early.
What is the weather like on the Kenya coast in December?
Hot and humid, with daytime highs of about 29 to 33°C and warm sea. It is very busy around New Year, so book beach rooms early.
What do I need to enter Kenya for a safari in December?
Most visitors need an approved Kenya eTA before boarding and, from about 6 October 2026, reportedly mandatory travel health insurance. Check the official eTA portal for the current rules.
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Related Safari Guides
- ›Christmas Safari Kenya 2026/27
- ›Kenya Safari in January 2027
- ›Cheapest Time for a Kenya Safari
- ›How Far in Advance to Book a Kenya Safari
- ›Kenya Family Safari Packages
Official travel & park resource: Kenya Wildlife Service ↗ · Magical Kenya ↗
