ZanzibarPhoto: Morten Idriss Nygaar… · CC BY-SA 3.0Tanzania · Africa
Best time to visit Zanzibar
Zanzibar lies just south of the equator and is warm and humid year-round. It is driest from about June to October and in January/February; the long rains fall from March to May. The sea stays warm throughout.
Climate decision
Best travel months for Zanzibar
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Historical monthly averages, not a weather forecast. Individual days and years can differ substantially.
Latest 5-year values 2021–2025
Average of the five most recent complete years compared with the 1991–2025 climate average.
January · Wet days
16.6 days/month
1991–2025: 12.2 days/month
+4.4 days/month · higher
January · Monthly precipitation
112 mm/month
1991–2025: 64.8 mm/month
+47.2 mm/month · higher
March · Sea temperature
29.4 °C
1991–2025: 29.3 °C
+0.1 °C · similar
March: 97/155 days at or above 30 °C; highest single value 31.7 °C.
Five-year historical sample, not a weather forecast or long-term climate trend. Individual hot days can be far above the monthly mean.
Annual profile · Rainfall rhythm
Zanzibar: rainfall separates the travel months
The driest and wettest months are 22.6 rainy days apart. Average daily highs vary by 3 °C, so both signals matter when choosing a month.
What matters
A warmer month is not automatically the most reliable. Read the drier windows alongside sunshine, sea temperature and the activity you have in mind.
Fewest rainy days
August · 3.6
Most rainy days
April · 26.2
Most sunshine
February · 8.2 h
Warmest sea
March · 29.3 °C
Month by month
Overall suitability per month. Tap a month for details.
All climate figures compared
The table is the complete accessible data view; the charts below highlight selected patterns.
| Month | Avg high °C | Avg low °C | Rainy days (est.) | Rain mm | Sun h/day (est.) | Humidity % | Wind m/s | Sea °C | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29 | 27 | 12 | 65 | 7.9 | 77 | 5.1 | 28 | 69 |
| February | 30 | 27 | 9 | 48 | 8.2 | 76 | 4.5 | 29 | 73 |
| March | 30 | 28 | 20 | 115 | 7.8 | 76 | 3.5 | 29 | 56 |
| April | 29 | 27 | 26 | 252 | 6.3 | 79 | 4.4 | 29 | 55 |
| May | 28 | 26 | 20 | 177 | 5.8 | 79 | 5.6 | 28 | 61 |
| June | 27 | 25 | 8 | 37 | 5.9 | 76 | 6.1 | 27 | 84 |
| July | 27 | 24 | 5 | 21 | 6.1 | 74 | 6.2 | 26 | 90 |
| August | 27 | 24 | 4 | 14 | 6.9 | 74 | 5.5 | 26 | 92 |
| September | 28 | 24 | 4 | 19 | 7.7 | 74 | 5.0 | 26 | 90 |
| October | 29 | 25 | 10 | 54 | 8.1 | 74 | 4.5 | 27 | 79 |
| November | 29 | 26 | 17 | 99 | 8.0 | 75 | 3.8 | 28 | 64 |
| December | 30 | 27 | 19 | 97 | 8.0 | 76 | 4.3 | 29 | 59 |
Climate through the year
Compare temperature, rainy days, sunshine and, for coastal destinations, sea temperature month by month.
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Where to stay in Zanzibar
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Similar destinations
The number is the overall climate score, not a similarity score.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Zanzibar?
The strongest climate months are June, July, August, September. Values are historical averages, not a forecast.
Which month has the highest average daily maximum temperature in Zanzibar?
Average daily maximum temperatures in Zanzibar are practically tied in February and March at around 30 °C.
When is the sea warmest at Zanzibar?
In March, at around 29 °C.