Plan Your 2025 December holiday: School dates and public holidays revealed

The countdown to the festive season is officially on, and if you haven’t already started planning your year-end break, now’s the time!

With school terms wrapping in early December and more public holidays coming up, there’s a golden opportunity to make your leave days stretch further this summer.

School holidays

For parents planning family getaways or local adventures – or for those planning around school holiday to avoid the busiest times on the road – here’s when the schools close for 2025:

· State Schools: Wednesday, 12 December 2025 to Monday, 12 January 2026
· ISASA Private Schools: Monday, 3 December 2025 to Wednesday, 14 January 2026 (*Note these can differ from school to school)

That’s a solid month of summer fun with plenty of time to hit the coast, visit family, or simply unwind before the new year begins.

Key public holidays to note

The festive stretch is packed with public holidays that fall perfectly for an extended break:

Tuesday, 16 December (Day of Reconciliation)
Thursday, 25 December (Christmas Day)
Friday, 26 December (Day of Goodwill)
Thursday, 1 January (New Year’s Day)

Turn your leave into a LONG break

With just a little planning, you can enjoy an impressive 16-day break this December.

Book 7 days of leave from Monday, 15 to Wednesday, 24 December 2025. Combine this with the weekends and public holidays, and you’ll be off from Saturday, 13 December to Monday, 29 December, which is a total of 16 glorious days to relax, travel, and recharge.

If your workplace only reopens in January, adding a few extra days can easily extend your rest period right through to 12 January 2026.

Plan early to avoid the rush

December is one of our busiest travel periods, and accommodation and transport costs tend to soar the closer we get to Christmas. Book early to avoid unwanted expenses and disappointment.

If you’re not heading out of town, there are lots of summer activities right here in Zululand. Keep an eye on the Zululand Observer for Christmas markets, festivals, and fun activities on the go!

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