Top New Year's Eve celebrations and holiday spots in Africa
Top New Year's Eve celebrations and holiday spots in Africa
A New Year's countdown in Africa can look completely different depending on where you land, from a beach bonfire under a warm sky to a safari camp where midnight arrives around a campfire instead of a stage.
Southern Africa has some of the continent's biggest organized celebrations, with Cape Town's harbor putting on a fireworks display that draws huge crowds each year. Coastal towns elsewhere lean toward a quieter scene, with beach parties and open air music replacing anything more formal. Inland and in safari regions, lodges often mark the new year with a smaller, more personal gathering under the stars, sometimes with a local guide sharing traditions passed down for generations. Warm weather makes an outdoor countdown the norm almost everywhere on the continent.
The New Year's Eve destinations on our list for Africa reflect that same range, from big organized celebrations to smaller, more personal ways of marking the night.
Lists by region
City in Egypt
Cairo
Where ancient history meets bustling life
Cool evenings and light breezes come off the Nile in late December. Cairo has no single citywide New Year programme. Celebrations happen at hotel galas, Nile dinner cruises and rooftop restaurants with river views. Past fireworks have appeared around the Nile but are not guaranteed. The Giza pyramids suit a daytime visit.
City in South Africa
Johannesburg
Vibrant city life meets rich history
Rooftop parties in Sandton, Maboneng and Rosebank are popular for skyline views and large fireworks displays. Made in Jozi, a Sandton festival, has played amapiano, Afro house, hip hop and deep house. Braamfontein and Rosebank are known for nightlife. The city stands at 1,753 metres on the Highveld plateau. Jozi is a local nickname.
City in Morocco
Marrakech
A vibrant maze of colors and spices
Jemaa el-Fnaa is lit up for year-end celebrations with street performers, storytellers, musicians and food stalls. UNESCO added the square to its intangible heritage list in 2008. Hotels such as La Mamounia and the Royal Mansour host New Year's Eve events. Atlas Mountain snow is visible from most medina rooftops.
City in South Africa
Cape Town
Mountains, Beaches and a Vibrant Culture
The V&A Waterfront stage faces Table Mountain for a free New Year's Eve party. Live music and midnight fireworks fill the harbour. Tweede Nuwe Jaar, called Second New Year, follows on 2 January. Minstrel troupes called klopse parade with ghoema drums, banjos and colourful umbrellas. The tradition dates to the mid 19th century.
City in Kenya
Nairobi
Where urban life meets wild adventures
The Kenyatta International Conference Centre opened in September 1973. Its 28 storey tower was designed by Karl Henrik Nøstvik and David Mutiso. Nairobi is the only capital in the world with a national park inside its boundaries. Kenyans have marked the new year with prayers and fireworks in recent years.
City in Ethiopia
Addis Ababa
Vibrant capital where history meets modernity
Ethiopia keeps its own calendar with 13 months, about eight years behind the Gregorian one. Enkutatash, the Ethiopian New Year, falls on 11 September. Genna, called Ethiopian Christmas, comes on 7 January after a night long vigil. Timkat follows on 19 January. Jan Meda in Addis Ababa is a notable place to see it.
City in Morocco
Casablanca
Modern Vibes and Rich Traditions
New Year's Eve brings shows and fireworks to the Ain Diab corniche beside the Atlantic. Sky 28, in the Kenzi Tower, offers rooftop views of the illuminated city and ocean. Gauthier has bars and lounges for a midnight toast. The Hassan II Mosque has a 210 metre minaret, the second tallest in the world.
City in Nigeria
Lagos
Buzzing Metropolis with Coastal Charm
Recording studios here launched stars such as Wizkid, Tems, Davido and Asake. Nightclubs are concentrated on Victoria Island. Past December events include Flytime Fest at the Eko Convention Centre and the Lagos Food Festival. The Experience, a gospel concert, is held on the first Friday of December at Tafawa Balewa Square.
City in Ghana
Accra
Vibrant Culture and Coastal Charm
El Wak Stadium hosts AfroFuture, formerly called Afrochella, in late December. The festival mixes music, fashion shows and diaspora homecoming events. Detty December rose to prominence alongside Ghana's 2019 Year of Return. Most Ghanaians spend December at church services and family events. The season is dry, which suits outdoor events.
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