If you're planning to be in Africa in December there are plenty of exciting festivals and events going on. Christmas is of course celebrated throughout the continent by Christians (a little later in Ethiopia which follows the Coptic calendar) and New Years Eve is also much cause for celebration. Here are some events that stand out:

• Cairo International Film Festival: In its 29th year, the Cairo Film Festival will showcase hundreds of movies from all over the world including Woody Allen's latest, as well as 25 movies from China and the best Arabic films from the past year.

  Where: Cairo, Egypt
  When: 29 November - 5 December (2005)

• Ncwala Festival: Also known as the "Festival of the First Fruits," Ncwala is Swaziland's biggest festival and one of Africa's most interesting. Ancestors are remembered, the first harvest is celebrated and above all, the King is honored. The two main celebrations are Little Ncwala and Big Ncwala. The exact timing of the festival is up to the king's astrologers but it starts in December.

  Where: Swaziland
  When: December

• Cape Town Minstrel Carnival: It's summer in Cape Town and the New Year is celebrated in great raucous style in the form of a carnival. The parades are huge flamboyant affairs with grand costumes, wonderful marching bands, singing, dancing and more. Needless to say, few Capetonians make it to work on the 2nd of January.

  Where: Cape Town, South Africa
  When: 31 December - 2 January (2005/6)

• Paris - Dakar Rally: This extreme race through the Sahara desert is becoming increasingly popular and this year over 500 teams are joining in the sand and fun. The departure city this year is Lisbon (not Paris) and drivers will be racing through Spain, Morocco, Mauritania, Mali, Guinea and finally Senegal.

  Where: From Lisbon (Portugal) to Dakar (Senegal)
  When: 31 December - 15 January (2005/6)