Best places to visit in Africa in December

In December, Africa's best-scoring destinations are Sharm El Sheikh (93), Marsa Alam (92) and Cape Town (91): 5 of its 50 well-known places are at their seasonal best, mostly in Cape & Garden Route; Zambia, Zimbabwe & Malawi averages 65/100.

Each place is scored at its seasonal best — beaches on beach weather, cities on walking weather, ski towns in snow season. Tap any place for the full December breakdown.

Classics at their best in Africa in December

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The places you already know, in the month the climate agrees with them. 5 of Africa's 50 well-known places are in one of their own top-three months.

  1. 1Sharm El Sheikh 🇪🇬 Egyptnice, dry · best April93
  2. 2Marsa Alam 🇪🇬 Egyptnice, dry · best April92
  3. 3Cape Town 🇿🇦 South Africawarm, dry · best November91
  4. 4Hurghada 🇪🇬 Egyptnice, dry · best November91
  5. 5Luxor 🇪🇬 Egyptnice, dry · best February91
  6. 6Merzouga 🇲🇦 Moroccocool, dry, clean air · best February91
  7. 7Nairobi 🇰🇪 Kenyawarm, a little rain, clean air · best August91
  8. 8Cairo 🇪🇬 Egyptnice, dry · best March90
  9. 9Dahab 🇪🇬 Egyptnice, dry, clean air · best April90
  10. 10Lamu 🇰🇪 Kenyasweltering, a little rain, clean air · best January90
  11. 11El Gouna 🇪🇬 Egyptnice, dry · best October89
  12. 12Stellenbosch 🇿🇦 South Africahot, dry, clean air · best October89
  13. 13Alexandria 🇪🇬 Egyptnice, dry · best April88
  14. 14Grand Baie 🇲🇺 Mauritiushot, a little rain, clean air · best September88
  15. 15Hermanus 🇿🇦 South Africawarm, dry, clean air · best December88

Under the radar in Africa in December

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Less-visited places whose December weather outscores the classics above — the data's own suggestions.

  1. 16Bahir Dar 🇪🇹 Ethiopiawarm, dry, clean air · best December97
  2. 17Simien Mountains National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopianice, dry, clean air · best December96
  3. 18Gondar 🇪🇹 Ethiopiawarm, dry, clean air · best November95
  4. 19Lalibela 🇪🇹 Ethiopianice, dry · best October93
  5. 20Praia 🇨🇻 Cabo Verdewarm, dry · best June93
  6. 21Addis Ababa 🇪🇹 Ethiopianice, dry · best January92
  7. 22Boa Vista 🇨🇻 Cabo Verdewarm, dry · best June92
  8. 23Aswan 🇪🇬 Egyptnice, dry · best January91
  9. 24Jamestown Saint Helenanice, dry, clean air · best January91
  10. 25Kololi 🇬🇲 Gambiahot, dry, poor air quality · best April91
  11. 26Laayoune Western Saharanice, dry, poor air quality · best March91
  12. 27Mindelo 🇨🇻 Cabo Verdewarm, dry · best April91

Every region of Africa in December

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The best-known place in each part of Africa this month, even where the month is only fair.