Best time to visit Zanzibar
The best time to visit Zanzibar for a beach holiday is between June and September, when the island is bathed in clear sunny days and an average high temperature of 29°C (84°F).
Zanzibar weather
Zanzibar has a hot and humid tropical climate characterised by two dry seasons and two wet seasons.
The long, dry season lasts from June to October, with clear sunny skies and an average temperature of 29°C (84°F); and a short, but very hot, dry season that lasts from January through February, when you can expect average highs of 32°C (89°F).
The 'long rains' last from March to May, with prolonged and heavy monsoonal rains that may last for days at a time. April is the wettest month. November to December sees the 'short rains', with sunny days interspersed with brief but heavy rain showers.
You can expect short thunderstorms throughout the year.
What is the best month to visit Zanzibar?
June, July, August and September are the best months to visit Zanzibar – the weather is perfect with hot, sunny weather, mainly clear blue skies and little or no rainfall.
Which is the hottest month in Zanzibar?
The hottest month in Zanzibar is usually February, with an average high temperature of 33°C (91°F), with intense heat and a low of 24°C (75°F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35°C (95°F)
The hot season in Zanzibar lasts from early-January through to mid-March, with an average daily high temperature above 32°C (89°F).
What is the humidity in Zanzibar?
Zanzibar experiences little seasonal variation in perceived humidity, with approximate average relative humidity calculated at between 75% – 84% over the course of the year.
Typically, it's humid all year round – almost every day feels muggy or worse.
We derive the humidity comfort level from the dew point temperature, which measures moisture content in the air. A higher dew point feels muggy and uncomfortable.
The month with the fewest number of muggy days is August, with around 28 days that are muggy.
Which is the coldest month in Zanzibar?
August is the coldest month in Zanzibar, with an average high temperature of 29°C (84°F) and a low of 21°C (69°F).
The cool season lasts from late-May to early-September, with an average daily high temperature below 29°C (84°F).
Which is the sunniest month in Zanzibar?
The sunniest month of the year in Zanzibar is usually October with bright sunshine on average for 68% of daylight hours; that's eight hours of sunshine per day.
When is the sea warmest in Zanzibar?
The sea in Zanzibar is always warm enough for swimming, with an average of 27°C (80°F) annually.
The sea is usually at its warmest in Zanzibar in April when the water temperature reaches 29°C (84°F), which is very pleasant for swimming.
Which month has the most rain in Zanzibar?
The month with the most rainfall in Zanzibar is April, with 385mm (15in) of rainfall on average, distributed across 18 days.
The wetter season lasts from mid-November to late-May, with a greater than 34% chance of a given day being a wet day.
The drier season lasts from late-May to mid-November. The month with the fewest wet days in Zanzibar is July, with 50mm (2in) of rainfall on average, distributed across 8 days.
What is the windiest month in Zanzibar?
The windiest month of the year in Zanzibar is July, with an average hourly wind speed of 22 kilometres per hour (14 mph; 12 knots).
The windy part of the year lasts from late-April to mid-October, with average wind speeds of more than 18 kilometres per hour (11 mph; 10 knots).
The less-windy time of year lasts from mid-October to late-April . The calmest month of the year in Zanzibar is March, with an average hourly wind speed of 13 kilometres per hour (8 mph; 7 knots).
The predominant average hourly wind direction varies throughout the year in Zanzibar.
Zanzibar Weather Averages
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Average high temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 33 | 33 | 33 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 32 |
| Average low temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 24 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| Average daily sunshine (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Average daily daylight (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
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| Average relative humidity (%) | |||||||||||
| 75 | 75 | 79 | 84 | 82 | 78 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 78 | 82 | 80 |
| UV Index (max) | |||||||||||
| 11+ | 11+ | 11+ | 11+ | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11+ | 11+ | 11+ | 11+ |
| Average days of rainfall (≥1mm) | |||||||||||
| 10 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 13 |
| Average monthly rainfall (mm) | |||||||||||
| 85 | 55 | 150 | 385 | 255 | 70 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 95 | 215 | 185 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | |||||||||||
| 19 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 16 |
| Average sea temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 29 |
| Stone Town, Zanzibar | |||||||||||
Holiday seasons
High season: January and February
Low season: June to September
Off season: March to May.
Source: Meteorological data for Zanzibar is based on weather statistics gathered for the 30-year period 1991 to 2020 by the Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA) from the closest weather station: Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ), formerly known as Zanzibar International Airport, located 5km (3mi) south of Zanzibar City.
Advice on the best time to visit a particular destination is based on average local weather statistics, when the weather conditions are generally better than at other times of the year. We consider high and low temperatures, risk of rain (and thunderstorms, etc.), amount of sunshine and sea temperature. For general outdoor activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 18°C (64°F) and 27°C (80°F); and for hot-weather activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 24°C (75°F) and 32°C (89°F). Often, the best times to visit correspond to high season and therefore involve higher prices.
Latest update: Best time to visit Zanzibar : 12 May, 2024
Disclaimer: The information on this site is provided as is, without any assurances as to its accuracy or suitability for any purpose. Weather data and conditions at any given location and time are unpredictable and variable. We assume no responsibility and can not be held legally responsible for any decisions made on the basis of the information presented on this site.
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