Gondar weather in December

December in Gondar: warm, dry, with clean air — one of the best months to visit.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Gondar🇪🇹 Ethiopia · Horn of Africa · City95
  1. 93Jan
  2. 91Feb
  3. 89Mar
  4. 85Apr
  5. 80May
  6. 73Jun
  7. 62Jul
  8. 61Aug
  9. 65Sep
  10. 87Oct
  11. 96Nov
  12. 95Dec

#2 of 12 months in Gondar · #4 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 95/100 (tier S)

Days
25°C
Nights
11°C
Wet days
1
Sun
10.6 h
Humidity
44%
Daylight
11 h
Gondar, Ethiopia
Photo: Abenezer Muluken · Pexels

Traveller notes on Gondar in December

Notes from nearby Bahir Dar (112 km away)

Gondar doesn't have its own notes for December yet — these are about Bahir Dar, close enough to share the season.

Forum posters consistently name November and December as among the best months to visit Ethiopia, sitting right after the rains end with green countryside and good visibility for sightseeing. Posters describe Bahir Dar itself, on the southern tip of Lake Tana at around 1,830m elevation, as having a genuinely comfortable climate that's earned it a reputation among domestic tourists as something of an 'Ethiopian Riviera' - a real draw alongside the lake and Blue Nile river views. Posters visiting in early December specifically noted very few mosquitoes in the north this time of year, a practical upside of the dry-season timing. Posters generally rate December as a reliable, comfortable month for exploring Bahir Dar's monasteries and the nearby Blue Nile Falls.
Tripadvisor community · December · 1 month ago · about Bahir Dar · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Other months in Gondar

Ethiopia forum posters note that Gondar's roughly 7,000-foot elevation keeps it noticeably more comfortable in May than the lowland Danakil, which is hitting its hottest stretch at the same time. March through May brings the unpredictable 'little rains,' but multiple posters described the pattern as mostly sunny with occasional short showers rather than a proper wet season, which lines up with the real humidity here staying low. Air conditioning isn't something you'll need at this altitude even with daytime highs in the upper 20s C - a light jacket for the cooler evenings is more useful than anything for the heat.
EthiopianHighlandsTraveler · May · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Forum posters consistently name November as one of the best weather months in Ethiopia, with posters specifically noting there's no rain to speak of at this point and the countryside is still lushly green from the tail end of the wet season - a real bonus for sightseeing around Gondar's castles and churches without either mud underfoot or dust in the air. Posters generally rate November and December together as Ethiopia's best season overall, positioning a November visit to the historic north (Gondar commonly paired with Bahir Dar, the Simien Mountains and Axum) as a favorable time weather-wise compared to earlier in the year. Posters consistently recommend this window specifically for good visibility and comfortable sightseeing conditions across the northern circuit.
Tripadvisor community · November · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Add your own note from Gondar's card on the map.

Gondar climate normals — December

Daytime high25°C / 77°F🌤 warm
Nighttime low11°C / 51°F
Feels like (high)24°C / 75°F
Rainfall3 mm / 0.1 in☀️ dry
Rainy days1 days
Humidity44%🍃 comfortable
Dew point4°C / 40°F
Sunshine10.6 h/day
Daylight11.4 h
Wind11 km/h / 7 mph
Air quality (US AQI)44🍃 good

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Gondar in December

How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.

Busyschool holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather(estimated)

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Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Gondar's weather

Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).

Best weatherGondar's weather peaks November–January.

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Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Gondar in December

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Season

    Simien trekking season

    1 Oct – 31 Mar · usuallyTrail season

    The Simien Mountains, a few hours north via Debark, are best trekked after the rains: October and November are green with big gelada troops on the escarpment, and December to February is the busy peak. Source ↗

What's on around the world in December →

Where is Gondar?

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Gondar in December — FAQ

Is December a good time to visit Gondar?
December in Gondar: warm, dry, with clean air — one of the best months to visit. It ranks #2 of 12 months for Gondar on SeasonMap's comfort score (95/100).
What is the weather like in Gondar in December?
In December, Gondar averages a daily high of 24.8°C and a low of 10.8°C, with about 2.7 mm of rain over roughly 0.6 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Gondar in December?
Gondar has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 44 in December.