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Zimbabwe in December

Africa's best authentic tailor-made safaris

December is such a magical month! It’s one of the wettest times of the year, and with all that rain, the landscapes turn a stunning shade of green—perfect for a fun photographic safari!

Mornings tend to be bright and clear, but keep an eye out for some lovely afternoon showers.

While wildlife viewing can be a bit tricky this time of year since there are plenty of water sources, which means animals might not be as active, the experience is still unique!

Zambezi National Park is a fantastic choice if you’re looking for an awesome spot to explore. It’s home to a beautiful, jungle-like riverine forest filled with majestic trees like ebonies and baobabs.

Plus, a safari in December offers a fantastic birding safari experience and breathtaking photo opportunities.

Weather in December

Wildlife viewing is poor in December, but birding is at its prime.

Temperatures often reach a high of 30 degrees, which means thunderstorms are present, but it generally feels warm.

Average Weather in December

Temperature Celsius Fahrenheit Rainfall
Min 18℃64℉151 mm
Max 30℃86℉262 mm

Highlight Park to Visit in December and Why

Lake Kariba National Park

Four Big Five are in Lake Kariba, with just the rhino absent. Hippos are seen around the lake during the day and grazing on land in the evenings.

However, wildlife viewing is much more challenging around this time of year, and a birding safari is much more successful here.

Birds you get to see here are the African fish eagle, malachite kingfisher, lilac-breasted roller, and great white pelican, to name a few.

Activities to do in December

  • Birding
  • Spa treatments
  • Photographic safaris

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Google review

"My trip to Africa to see wildlife and the river crossing met my expectations thanks to the wonderful team behind Discover Africa. The details of my itinerary were arranged by Susan and eventually handed over to Chrizaan, both were very helpful and anticipat..."

Kate Butcon, United States•20 Sep 2026•

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Safari Bookings review

"We are based in Sydney and had our initial conversation with Cayleigh Brown by video. She came back to us with a proposed itinerary and was very accommodating of one of our guests who uses a wheelchair. The iitinerary was fantastic and built so that each..."

Liz, Australia•22 Aug 2026•

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Trustpilot review

"My husband and I started planning our Safari in Sept to go in May. Vihann at Discover Africa was wonderful!! He setup a video call on our timeline to ask what we wanted and actually listened. He came up with a plan that we agreed to and the rest was easy. A..."

April Wilson, United States•16 Jun 2026•

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Google review

"Amazing and truly unique experience! Susan was absolutely wonderful from start to finish. She was incredibly friendly, professional, and always available to help with every detail. Her knowledge, organization, and passion made the entire safari unforgett..."

Chloé, United States•12 Jun 2026•

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"Was just awesome, would recommend anytime...saw all big 5, all small 5, live kill by lions...was just divine"

Priyum Koonjul, Canada•21 Nov 2025•

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"Discover Africa and their trip advisor Megan Warrington did a fantastic job arranging our trip to Cape Town, Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe), and the Chobe River and Kwara Camp in Botswana. We originally planned this trip a few years ago, but had to cancel. Megan..."

Roger Pennifill, United States•12 Nov 2025•

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