Things to Do in Ethiopia in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Ethiopia
Is December Right for You?
Advantages
- Peak dry season with near-zero rain - December typically sees only 15 mm (0.6 inches) across maybe two days, meaning you can plan outdoor activities without weather backup plans. The skies stay reliably clear for photography and mountain trekking.
- Genna (Ethiopian Christmas) on January 7th falls right after December, but the entire month has this anticipatory festive energy. You'll see preparations everywhere, markets overflow with holiday foods, and locals are in genuinely good spirits. The cultural immersion is authentic, not staged for tourists.
- Comfortable hiking temperatures in the Simien and Bale Mountains - daytime temps around 18-23°C (64-73°F) at altitude mean you can trek without overheating, while mornings at 6°C (43°F) are crisp but manageable. The dry trails and clear skies make this the absolute best month for Ethiopia's signature highland treks.
- Lalibela's rock-hewn churches are accessible without mud - the dry conditions mean you can navigate between the 11 churches without slipping on wet rocks or dealing with flooding in the underground passages. The low humidity also makes the physical effort of climbing between sites much more pleasant.
Considerations
- High season pricing kicks in hard - accommodation costs can jump 40-60% compared to rainy season months, and you'll need to book hotels in Lalibela, Gondar, and Simien Mountains at least 6-8 weeks ahead or face slim pickings. Domestic flight prices to regional airports also peak.
- Tourist crowds at major sites, particularly Lalibela and Gondar castles - you'll be sharing viewpoints with tour groups, and the churches can feel congested during peak visiting hours (9am-11am and 2pm-4pm). That said, Ethiopia still sees far fewer tourists than Southeast Asian or European destinations, so this is relative.
- Significant temperature swings require layered packing - that 6°C (43°F) morning in Lalibela feels genuinely cold, especially in stone churches, but by 2pm you're at 23°C (73°F) and sweating in the sun. You'll constantly be adding and removing layers, which gets annoying on long travel days.
Best Activities in December
Simien Mountains trekking and wildlife watching
December is objectively the best month for multi-day treks in the Simiens. The trails are bone-dry after months without rain, visibility extends for dozens of kilometers across the escarpments, and temperatures sit in that perfect 18-23°C (64-73°F) range during hiking hours. You'll spot Gelada baboon troops without the fog that obscures them in other months, and the endemic Walia ibex are more active in the cooler weather. The main routes from Sankaber to Chenek are fully accessible, and you can camp without worrying about nighttime rain. Mornings start cold at 6°C (43°F), so you'll want that early start anyway to catch sunrise over the escarpment before the day warms up.
Lalibela rock-hewn churches exploration
The dry December weather makes navigating Lalibela's 11 medieval churches actually pleasant rather than a muddy ordeal. The underground tunnels connecting the churches stay dry, the rock surfaces aren't slippery, and you can sit in the carved courtyards without worrying about wet stone. The morning light between 7am-9am creates dramatic shadows in the carved facades before tour groups arrive. December also means you'll see preparations for Genna (Ethiopian Christmas on January 7th), with priests conducting special services and locals bringing offerings. The churches are active religious sites, not museums, so you're witnessing living traditions. Just know you'll share the space with more tourists than other months.
Danakil Depression and Erta Ale volcano tours
December is one of the few months you can reasonably visit the Danakil without risking heatstroke - temperatures still hit 35-40°C (95-104°F) during the day, but that's actually cooler than the 45-50°C (113-122°F) you'd face in May through September. The dry season means the salt flats are fully accessible, the sulfur springs at Dallol are at their most colorful (yellows, greens, oranges against white salt), and the roads to Erta Ale volcano are passable. You'll typically do this as a 3-4 day expedition from Mekele, camping under stars that are absurdly bright in the desert. The Erta Ale lava lake is one of only five permanent lava lakes on Earth, and December's clear skies mean you get unobstructed views of the glowing crater at night.
Bale Mountains and Ethiopian wolf tracking
The Bale Mountains in December offer something you can't get anywhere else on Earth - a realistic chance to see Ethiopian wolves, the world's rarest canid with only 500 individuals remaining. December's dry weather means the Sanetti Plateau (at 4,000 m / 13,123 ft elevation) is accessible by vehicle, and the wolves are actively hunting giant molerats in the short Afroalpine grasslands. Early morning (6am-8am) gives you the best sighting odds when wolves are most active. The landscape is otherworldly - think high-altitude moorland with giant lobelias and heather, more like the moon than typical African savanna. You'll also spot mountain nyala (endemic antelope) in the Harenna Forest on the southern slopes.
Historic Route cultural circuit (Gondar, Axum, Tigray churches)
December's dry conditions make the northern Historic Route fully accessible, including the rock-hewn churches of Tigray that require scrambling up cliff faces - you definitely don't want to attempt those on wet rock. Gondar's castles and Fasilides Bath are at their most photogenic under clear blue skies, and the Tigray churches (Abuna Yemata Guh, Maryam Korkor) offer that combination of physical adventure and historical significance you can't get elsewhere. Axum's ancient stelae and the (claimed) Ark of the Covenant church are less weather-dependent, but December's comfortable temperatures make walking between sites pleasant. The entire region has this high-altitude clarity in December - the light is sharp, the air is crisp, and you can see for kilometers.
Addis Ababa coffee ceremony experiences and cultural dining
December in Addis Ababa means you can actually enjoy walking between neighborhoods without rain interruptions - the city sits at 2,400 m (7,874 ft), so December temperatures are mild (15-23°C / 59-73°F) and perfect for exploring on foot. The traditional coffee ceremony is Ethiopia's signature cultural experience - green beans roasted over charcoal, hand-ground with a mortar and pestle, brewed in a jebena clay pot, and served in three rounds. You'll find this happening in homes, restaurants, and even on street corners. December also brings doro wat (spicy chicken stew) season as families prepare for upcoming holidays - the berbere spice blend is at its freshest after the recent harvest. The Merkato market, one of Africa's largest open-air markets, is navigable in December's dry weather without trudging through mud.
December Events & Festivals
Genna (Ethiopian Christmas) preparations
While Genna itself falls on January 7th (Ethiopia uses the Julian calendar, which is 7-8 years behind the Gregorian calendar), the entire month of December pulses with preparation energy. Markets overflow with white cotton fabric for traditional dresses, frankincense and myrrh for church ceremonies, and ingredients for doro wat and kitfo. Churches hold special evening services with haunting chants that echo through stone walls. You'll see priests in elaborate robes conducting blessings, and families gathering to prepare holiday foods. It's not a tourist event - it's daily life ramping up toward a major religious celebration, which makes it feel authentic rather than performative.