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Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge
Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge
Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge

Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge


33°5’29.8"S 26°34’33.0"E

About Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge

Kwandwe Private Game Reserve is a relatively game-rich area of South Africa’s Eastern Cape.

There are four small, very comfortable lodges here and of these, the Great Fish River Lodge has perhaps the most spectacular setting: on the sides of a gorge overlooking the river. Great Fish River has been designed in a fairly ‘classic’, slightly historical, African style, and is best suited for adults, or families with older teenagers.

Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge provides the same fairly luxurious facilities, excellent food, great guiding and generally high quality experience as Ecca Lodge. However, it is of a more classical, less contemporary design; it’s slightly larger; and it only accommodates older children: no under 12s here. In short, it’s one of the Cape’s highest quality game lodges.

Our view

Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge provides the same fairly luxurious facilities, excellent food, great guiding and generally high quality experience as Ecca Lodge. However, it is of a more classical, less contemporary design; it’s slightly larger; and it only accommodates older children: no under 12s here. In short, it’s one of the Cape’s highest quality game lodges.

Chris McIntyre

Chris McIntyre

South Africa expert

Accommodation

9 suites

Children

Best for aged 16+

Open

All year

Activities

4WD Safari

4WD Safari

Birdwatching

Birdwatching

Fishing

Fishing

Guided walking safari

Guided walking safari

Night drive

Night drive

Private activities

Private activities

Traveller reviews of Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge

32 real, un-edited reviews from Expert Africa's travellers.


99%
32 reviews since August 2007
Excellent
30
Good
2
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
RichardfromDorset

Arrived 25 Apr 2025, 3 nights

"Kwandwe"

"...outstanding scenery... We will certainly return. …" Read Richard’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

Mr and Mrs EfromBeoley

Arrived 28 Nov 2024, 4 nights

"Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge review"

"The safari lodge met all our expectations and more. …" Read Mr and Mrs E’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

Mr and Mrs WfromGLOS

Arrived 27 Oct 2024, 2 nights

"Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge review"

"Amazing experience..our guide was particularly brilliant. Excellent game viewing …" Read Mr and Mrs W’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

Mrs H fromLondon

Arrived 30 Dec 2023, 1 nights

"Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge review"

"...we watched a group of giraffe as we ate breakfast! …" Read Mrs H ’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Good

Mr and Mrs GfromBucks

Arrived 2 Jan 2024, 4 nights

"Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge review"

"Kwandwe is heaven on earth ...all simply outstanding. …" Read Mr and Mrs G’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

Dr & Mrs LfromLyndhurst

Arrived 6 Oct 2022, 3 nights

"Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge review"

"Very nice accommodation with lovely views. Excellent ranger and tracker... …" Read Dr & Mrs L’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

Mr & Mrs GfromBucks

Arrived 6 Feb 2020, 3 nights

"Safari at Kwandwe"

"Unfortunately overall the weather was either damp or very wet. That said …" Read Mr & Mrs G’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

Mr&Mrs HfromWinchester

Arrived 21 Jan 2020, 4 nights

"Incredible safari experience"

"We had the most amazing 4 days at Great Fish River Lodge …" Read Mr&Mrs H’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

Mr&Mrs LSfromOxfordshire

Arrived 14 Jan 2020, 3 nights

"Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge"

"completely overwhelmed by the vastness and beauty of this private game reserve …" Read Mr&Mrs LS’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

Ms M fromIsleworth

Arrived 1 Nov 2019, 3 nights

"Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge review"

"I really can't describe how wonderful this reserve is...Worth every penny!! …" Read Ms M ’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

See all Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge reviews

Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge: Our full report

Kwandwe Private Game Reserve is a relatively game-rich area of South Africa’s Eastern Cape.

There are four small, very comfortable lodges here and of these, the Great Fish River Lodge has perhaps the most spectacular setting: on the sides of a gorge overlooking the river. Great Fish River has been designed in a fairly ‘classic’, slightly historical, African style, and is best suited for adults, or families with older teenagers.

There are nine comfortable thatched suites at Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge, six on the south side and three on the north side, all overlooking the Great Fish River.

Each has a large bedroom with double or twin beds and high quality linen, a comfortable seating area, personal bar and a private balcony with big foldaway glass doors looking out on great views. There’s a sense of elevation to the views here which is really absent from Kwandwe’s other lodges.

Each suite at Kwandwe Great Fist River Lodge has an en suite bathroom which features a traditional roll-top bath, a big indoor and an outdoor shower (both enclosed), separate WC and twin wash basins. All suites are equipped with fans and air-conditioning. Outside there is a plunge pool on each suite’s private covered veranda.

The main areas at Great Fish River Lodge include a very comfortable lounge, with several separate areas, a library with a little TV, a dining room - all three of them featuring a fireplace - and a safari shop, bar and boma for open air dinners.

The lounge is decorated with old leather furniture and African prints. The floors are a combination of polished cement and reclaimed yellowwood floorboards on top of which are laid Persian-style rugs. The walls are made of stone and dominated by a large fireplace – whilst above is a very high, thatched roof. Clothing, books, gifts and African crafts are for sale in a well-stocked safari shop.

In Great Fish River Lodge’s dining room you will find individual wooden tables with comfortable high-backed chairs, old mirrors and black and white photos – many of which stem from local history. Against the wall are antique wooden cabinets stocked with jars of jams and pickles. Large wood and glass folding doors open out onto a vast wooden deck with more seating areas to relax and enjoy the views.

Outside on the river side of the lodge is a wide, wooden deck and from there boardwalks overlooking the river the lead to some of the suites. Paths on the ground are gravelled, and lined by tree trunks. Periodic concealed low-levels lighting shows the way at night. Although most of the lodges and the suites is broadly on one level, this lodge isn’t wheelchair-friendly.

Pole constructions, thatch roofs and the rustic wooden outside areas combine unusually with the elegant décor inside Great Fish River Lodge. Venerable details like candelabras, old yellowwood floors, zebra skin rests, leather chairs, ostrich eggs and old traveling cases add to a fairly exclusive air with a tinge of understated glamour.

Kwandwe Reserve is one of the best destinations for wildlife safaris in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, and especially notable for the high standard of its guiding. This is supported by active guide training programmes and notable in our experience not just for the knowledge of the guides, but also their responsiveness to the needs of their guides.

Activities from Kwandwe Great Fish River concentrate on guided walks and 4WD safaris. The latter are usually for up to six guests and take place during the morning and late afternoon/early evening – going on into night drives. There’s also the option for guided nature walks and picnics whilst for a more relaxed day, you might like to go fishing at the lovely Great Fish River, after which the lodge was named – and perhaps have a boat ride on Galpin Dam.

The Kwandwe Reserve gets relatively little rainfall and partially as the result of this the natural vegetation is mainly fairly slow- and low-growing trees and shrubs. Hence it’s a reserve where any larger animals – like rhino, buffalo, elephant and giraffe – can often be spotted at quite a distance with relative ease. For example, one morning on our most recent visit here, quite close to the Great Fish River Lodge, we spotted three black rhino in a thicket from a distance of 3-400m and were then able to get within 30m-or-so of them before they left us quickly.

Additional activities, which have to be booked separately, include big game walking safaris, rhino darting, rhino monitoring and private safaris with an ‘exclusive-use’ vehicle and private guide.

Geographics

Location
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, South Africa
Ideal length of stay
We’d recommend a minimum stay of three nights here. Four or five nights would be better, allowing you to relax as well as spot game.
Directions
It is an easy self-drive of 30 minutes from Grahamstown, or one and a half to two hours from Port Elizabeth Airport (160km) to Kwandwe. After arriving on the reserve, leave your car at the car park at Heatherton Towers (reception) and you will be driven from there to your lodge in an open-topped safari vehicle.



Alternatively there are daily scheduled flights from Port Elizabeth Airport to Kwandwe airstrip, or you can take a private 20-minute charter flight.


Chauffeur-driven road transfers are possible and can be arranged on request.
Accessible by
Self-drive or Fly-and-Transfer

Food & drink

Usual board basis
Full Board & Activities
Food quality
Quintinn van Rensburg, the current (2013) head chef, has great experience and fuses classic French cuisine with the traditions and flavours of the Karoo. The wine cellar offers a selection of premier South African wines.
With prior notice, the kitchen team will take most special diet requests in their stride – however, if you need kosher food then can be arranged but at an extra cost.
Dining style
Individual Tables
Dining locations
Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Further dining info, including room service
Meals can be served on your private deck, in the dining room or open air in the boma. Travellers who like to enjoy their meals out in nature might make use of the options of bush breakfasts, dinners and sundowners and picnics on the reserve. Poolside butler service is available.
Drinks included
House wines, beers, local spirits, soft drinks and bottled water are included.

Special interests

Honeymoons
Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge is a lovely destination for a honeymoon in South Africa. You’ll enjoy your own plunge pool, veranda and breathtaking views. Kwandwe boasts good game, top guiding and a stunning location, and offers luxury and privacy for a romantic honeymoon.
See ideas for Honeymoons in South Africa
Birdwatching
Kwandwe Game Reserve is well known among birders as it’s home to many endangered species like black stork and of course blue crane, South Africa’s national bird after which the reserve was named: ‘Kwandwe’ means ‘place of the blue crane’ in Xhosa.
See ideas for Birdwatching in South Africa
Wildlife safaris
Great Fish River Lodge is a comfortable, elegant base from where to explore the Kwandwe Reserve, which hosts a good range of large mammals including the famous ‘big five’. Guiding standards are very high in Kwandwe, partly thanks to the reserve’s own training programmes.
See ideas for Wildlife safaris in South Africa
Luxury
Floor-to-ceiling framed glass doors offer unmatched views and sumptuous, but understated, furnishings lend a luxurious feel to Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge. You can expect an elegant and sophisticated ambience and uninterrupted wilderness: perfect for an outstanding luxury safari.
See ideas for Luxury in South Africa

Children

Attitude towards children
Children aged 12 years and older are welcome.
Property’s age restrictions
Minimum age 12 years
Generally recommended for children
Great Fish River is not the right place in Kwandwe for families with young children, who would enjoy Ecca Lodge much more. Great Fish River is really only suitable for families with older teenagers (16 years or older).

Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Great Fish River Lodge

Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge have kindly recorded their wildlife sightings and shared them with us. The results are below. Click an animal to see more, and here to see more on our methodology.

Black Rhino

100% success

Buffalo

100% success

Cheetah

100% success

Eland

100% success

Elephant

100% success

Giraffe

100% success

Hippo

100% success

Lion

100% success

Oryx

100% success

White Rhino

100% success

Zebra

100% success

Wildebeest

78% success

Leopard

71% success

Meerkat

71% success

Brown Hyena

29% success

Aardvark

0% success

Communications

Communications
There is a telephone at Great Fish River Lodge and good WiFi access in all rooms and the main lounge.
TV & radio
There is a little TV in the library.

Health & safety

Malarial protection recommended
No
Medical care
The nearest place for serious medical care is Grahamstown Hospital, which is 40km, about a 40-minute drive, away.
Dangerous animals
High Risk
Security measures
Security staff always escort guests to/from their suites from dusk to dawn, whilst trying to monitor animal activity within the vicinity of the lodge. Since the lodge is not fenced, guests should be vigilant at all times and never walk around the lodge/camp on their own at night! Note also that some of the boardwalks have very steep drops below them and only one guiderail to hold.
Fire safety

Activities

  • 4WD Safari

    4WD Safari

  • Birdwatching

    Birdwatching

  • Fishing

    Fishing

  • Guided walking safari

    Guided walking safari

  • Night drive

    Night drive

  • Private activities

    Private activities

Extras

Disabled access
Not Possible
Laundry facilities
Included
Money
All suites possess digital safes.
Accepted payment on location
United States Dollars, United Kingdom Pounds and South Africa Rand are all accepted as well as Visa, MasterCard, and Amex.

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Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge's location

Look closer at the environment and surroundings of Great Fish River Lodge.


Other lodges in Kwandwe Private Game Reserve

Alternative places to stay in this same area.


Kwandwe Ecca Lodge

Ecca Lodge

Kwandwe Ecca Lodge is a smart, chic lodge and is located in the superb malaria-free Kwandwe Private Reserve.


100% (26 reviews)
Kwandwe Uplands Homestead

Uplands Homestead

Uplands Homestead is a restored farmhouse and is located in a remote and peaceful valley in the Kwandwe Private Reserve.


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Kwandwe Melton Manor

Melton Manor

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Kwandwe Galpin Tented Camp

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When to go to Kwandwe Private Game Reserve

Our month by month guide: What it's like to visit Great Fish River Lodge in Kwandwe Private Game Reserve


Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

South Africa in January

January is considered one of the best months to travel. In Cape Town the weather is hot and generally dry. The Garden Route is also excellent at this time of the year but has a more temperate climate, with slightly lower temperatures and rain can fall at any time of the year. In the Kgalagadi temperatures often top 40°C and short, sharp thunderstorms are also fairly frequent. Wildlife tends to disperse, although birding is excellent.

As this is the high season in the Cape there are numerous events, festivals and outdoor activities to attract visitors. Accommodation books up quickly and it may be necessary to book at least a year in advance. Reservations will often be needed for restaurants and visitor attractions too.

  • Hot, largely dry days with clear skies – except on Garden Route
  • Wildlife disperses in the Kalahari but birding excellent
  • Events, festivals and outdoor activities staged for the high season
  • The high season in the Cape, accommodation can cost up to 50% more
  • Pre-booking of activities & attractions is essential

Our view

Fantastic: the very best time to visit

Weather in January

South Africa in February

In February conditions are largely the same as in January, although temperatures can be slightly higher, especially in the interior. The wind in Cape Town starts to ease off. Although the Garden Route can experience some rain, the days are pleasantly warm and largely dry.

The Kgalagadi remains very hot, but the birding is still excellent. Wildlife viewing can be tricky especially if there has been some rain, as the resulting long grass can obscure the animals.

For visitors it’s still the high season, but with the local school holidays over and residents back at work, it is less busy than December and January. Accommodation costs remain high and it’s still advisable to pre-book certain activities and restaurants.

  • Hot, largely dry days with little cloud
  • Wind starts easing in Cape Town
  • Slightly less busy than December & January
  • Accommodation costs remain high, activities still best pre-booked

Our view

Fantastic: the very best time to visit

Weather in February

South Africa in March

March is still a very good time to visit. Conditions remain dry and very warm in Cape Town, although temperatures start dropping off towards the end of the month. The wind has usually died right down.

The Kalahari remains very hot and in years of good rains vegetation is at its most lush – making wildlife viewing tricky.

Typically, the crowds dwindle, but it can get very busy if Easter falls in March. It is also worth bearing in mind that during major events in March, including the Cape Town Cycle Tour, Cape Epic Mountain Bike Tour, The Cape Town Carnival and the International Jazz Festival, accommodation can get very full.

Attractions remain busy but booking is less essential.

  • Temperatures start falling towards the end of the month
  • Cape Town hosts a number of world class sport and cultural events
  • Wildlife in the Kgalagadi disperses, game viewing more challenging
  • Crowds diminish as the high season comes to an end
  • Accommodation can get busy during major events

Our view

Fantastic: the very best time to visit

Weather in March

South Africa in April

April is South Africa’s “shoulder” season and is often the most pleasant. Not too hot, not too cold, some rain but not masses. In Cape Town and along the Garden Route days are usually sunny, warm, windless and largely dry, although in Cape Town the chance of rain increases from the end of the month.

In the Kgalagadi the rainy season is typically over and migratory birds are starting to make their journey back up North. Vegetation remains lush but wildlife viewing starts picking up towards the end of the month.

The region is still relatively busy (especially of its still Easter) but it gets quieter towards the end of the month thus availability improves. Accommodation rates start to decrease, and it becomes less important to book restaurants and attractions in advance.

  • Temperatures still warm and very pleasant, with little wind.
  • Rain starts easing in the Kalahari and migratory birds start to depart
  • Less busy, especially towards the end of the month - busy over Easter
  • Accommodation frees up and prices start to come down

Our view

A very good time to visit

Weather in April

South Africa in May

May marks the start of the dry season in the Kgalagadi. Days are warm and dry with almost zero rainfall. Night-time/early-morning temperatures can drop towards 0°C. Wildlife viewing is at its peak as animals concentrate around the few remaining water sources.

Days can still be warm and sunny in Cape Town and on the Garden Route, but the weather becomes a lot more variable. May heralds the start of the rainy season in Cape Town and the winelands. Night-time temperatures rarely drop below 10 degrees in the coastal areas.

With far fewer tourists, accommodation prices are at their lowest. There is rarely any need to pre-book activities, but reservations are still advisable at some of the top restaurants.

  • Higher chance of rain in Cape Town & the Winelands
  • Day time temperatures drop significantly
  • Wildlife viewing peaks in the Kgalagadi
  • Low season so rarely busy & very few crowds
  • Low season rates at the hotels & lodges

Our view

A good time to visit, with pros & cons

Weather in May

South Africa in June

Winter is now in full swing. Maximum temperatures in Cape Town rarely reach 20°C and the rainy season is well under way. Outdoor activities therefore become limited, but a number of high-quality indoor events are organised.

The Garden Route has, in general milder weather and less rain than Cape Town.

June sees the arrival of the first whales which migrate to the South African coastline to give birth.

In the Kgalagadi, daytime temperatures are warm but nights and early mornings are bitterly cold. Wildlife viewing is excellent as animals are drawn to the few remaining permanent water points.

Overall tourist numbers are at their lowest, as are the costs of flights and accommodation.

  • Cold & wet weather in Cape Town, Kgalagadi warm days but cold at night
  • One of the best months for wildlife viewing in the Kgalagadi
  • Whales start arriving to have their calves
  • Low visitor numbers & no crowds
  • Accommodation & flight prices remain low

Our view

A good time to visit, with pros & cons

Weather in June

South Africa in July

The winter weather continues with very cold nights and early mornings in the Kgalagadi and virtually no rainfall. Vegetation here is really thinning out now and water even more scarce – so wildlife is easy to spot.

Despite the winter and local school holidays, Cape Town remains a great place to visit. On a wet and cold day, the Two Oceans Aquarium, Zeitz Mocca (art museum) and the Cape Town Comedy Club all make for great days out, as does a trip to the wine country or the annual Oyster Festival at Knysna.

By mid-July most of the whales have arrived to give birth. Hermanus is the best place to see them.

At the height of the low season, so accommodation and flight prices remain low.

  • Generally cold & wet in the Cape, but good quality indoor events
  • Very good wildlife viewing in the Kgalagadi
  • Oyster festival in Knysna
  • Local school holidays can make places a little busier than usual
  • Accommodation and flight prices remain low

Our view

A good time to visit, with pros & cons

Weather in July

South Africa in August

While August experiences mostly wintry weather it does mark the very beginning of spring with temperatures starting to rise. Visitors are drawn to the West Coast and Namaqualand to see the wildflowers, which start blooming in late August and can be seen until mid-September. Whales are still in abundance now too.

The Kgalagadi is now very dry and wildlife vieiwng is still good. Temperatures start climbing towards the end of the month.

Despite the weather , visitor numbers can be high as the northern hemisphere schools close for their summer holidays. It may be a good idea to book certain attractions and restaurants in advance.

Simlarly, although accommodation prices are still low, flight prices can be a little higher than in previous months.

  • Temperatures start rising – but still potential for cold & wet weather
  • Wildflowers on the West Coast & in Namaqualand
  • Good wildlife viewing in the Kgalagadi
  • Whales continue to attract visitors
  • Can get busy due to northern hemisphere school summer holidays

Our view

A good time to visit, with pros & cons

Weather in August

South Africa in September

Good wildlife viewing in the Kgalagadi continues and daytime temperatures increase quite dramatically. Mornings and evenings are still on the chilly side, but not as cold as they are in June, July and August.

The 1st of September is officially the start of spring in Cape Town. Days become warmer but not quite warm enough to enjoy the city’s beautiful beaches. Venues all over Cape Town play host to various artists during the Cape Town Fringe Festival.
Rainy days are fewer, but night times can still get chilly. Many hotels are still charging low season rates making September great value for money.

Elsewhere, Hermanus hosts the popular annual Whale Festival, and in the West of the Cape, wildflowers continue to bloom until the middle of the month.

  • The start of spring; temperatures start rising
  • Whale festival in Hermanus
  • Cape Town Fringe Ferstival attracts a wide range of artists
  • Wildflowers blooming well until the middle of the month
  • Good wildlife viewing continues in the Kgalagadi

Our view

A very good time to visit

Weather in September

South Africa in October

The weather starts warming up nicely, Cape Town experiences pleasant days, with much less rain, nights can still be quite cool, but not cold. Some days are now warm enough to enjoy the beach. This is one of the best months to visit the Cape Region.

October is one of the hottest months in the Kalahari. Water remains very scarce, so the wildlife viewing is still very good. Towards the end of the month the odd spectacular thunderstorm is possible with much lightning and thunder. Migratory birds start to arrive, and resident species gear up for the breeding season.

The whales are still present with Hermanus and False Bay the best places to see them.

  • Days start warming up; fewer rainy days in Cape Town
  • Very hot in the Kalahari – thunderstorms season starts
  • Migratory birds start arriving & resident birds start breeding
  • Whale watching still excellent in Hermanus and False Bay areas
  • Start of the high season, getting busy and accommodation prices rise

Our view

A very good time to visit

Weather in October

South Africa in November

By November Cape Town is experiencing summer conditions with hot, clear days and warm, pleasant evenings. It’s a great month to enjoy the beaches before the peak holiday season in December. There are no real downsides to visiting in November and you may even get a few accommodation specials before prices go up for the festive season. Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens begins their summer outdoor concerts with local and international artists performing.

The Kgalagadi remains hot but thunderstorms are a bit more regular. With the rains, water sources become more plentiful and wildlife disperses but this is when herbivores such as Springbok start lambing. Photography improves as conditions become less hazy.

This is the last month for regular whale sightings – they tend to migrate back down south by early December.

  • Summer now in full swing, with temperatures often reaching 30°C
  • Rainy days scarce; evenings warm & very pleasant
  • Antelope start lambing in the Kgalagadi; wildlife generally dispersed
  • Last month for regular whale sightings
  • Good time to visit Cape Town before the peak holiday season

Our view

Fantastic: the very best time to visit

Weather in November

South Africa in December

December is usually Cape Town’s hottest month when temperatures frequently breach 30°C. You can expect hot and cloudless days, and almost no rain but December does see the occasional very windy day.

The Kalahari is still hot, but temperatures are not quite as high as previous months. With the rainfall the bush transforms into various shades of green. Wildlife disperses as water become more widely available.

The Garden Route enjoys warm to hot days with rain at any time but usually not over an extended period.

Mid to late December becomes incredibly busy with concerts, festivals and various outdoor activities in Cape Town. Hotel prices rise, tourist attractions and beaches are crowded and most popular sites and restaurants need to be booked in advance.

  • Long, hot sunny days
  • Kgalagadi bursts into life as rainy season kicks in
  • Wildlife viewing a bit trickier as wildlife disperses
  • Cape Town buzzing with concerts, events, festivals etc
  • Peak season: attractions get very busy & accommodation costs rise

Our view

Fantastic: the very best time to visit

Weather in December

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