Tanzania
Zanzibar in January: weather, sea & travel advice
This month's data profile
Rain shapes the decision
Zanzibar in January is climatically well suited to beach holidays and family holidays. The average daily high is around 29 °C, and the sea is about 28 °C. With about 12 rainy days it is wet.
Historical monthly averages, not a weather forecast. Individual days and years can differ substantially.
Rank among 12 monthly averages
69/100 · #7
Warmth
#4
Dryness
#7
Sun
#5
Sea warmth
#5
Published best categories: none
Zanzibar · JanuaryPhoto: Morten Idriss Nygaar… · CC BY-SA 3.0Climate facts
- Average high
- 29 °C
- Average low
- 27 °C
- Sea
- 28 °C
- Rainy days (est.)
- 12 rainy days (est.)
- Sun (est.)
- 8 h/day
- Humidity
- 77 %
Climate evidence with direct month comparison
The highlighted row is the selected month. Precipitation total and rainy days are separate monthly averages.
| Month | Avg high °C | Avg low °C | Rainy days (est.) | Precipitation mm | Sun h/day (est.) | Humidity % | Wind m/s | Sea °C | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December | 30 | 27 | 19 | 97 | 8.0 | 76 | 4.3 | 29 | 59 |
| January (selected) | 29 | 27 | 12 | 65 | 7.9 | 77 | 5.1 | 28 | 69 |
| February | 30 | 27 | 9 | 48 | 8.2 | 76 | 4.5 | 29 | 73 |
How do the previous and next months compare?
Baseline: January (69/100)
Positive and negative values show the change from the selected month.
| Score Δ | Average high Δ | Average low Δ | Rainy days Δ | Rain Δ | Sun Δ | Humidity Δ | Wind Δ | Sea Δ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December | -10 | +0.1 °C | +0.1 °C | +6.4 | +32 mm | +0.1 h | -0.7 % | -0.8 m/s | +0.3 °C |
| February | +4 | +0.4 °C | +0.1 °C | -3.1 | -16.4 mm | +0.3 h | -1.4 % | -0.5 m/s | +0.2 °C |
All twelve months in context

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Useful next decisions
Frequently asked questions
How warm is Zanzibar in January?
The average daily high is around 29 °C, with an average daily low of about 27 °C.
Can you swim in Zanzibar in January?
The sea is about 28 °C (very warm).
Does it rain a lot in Zanzibar in January?
The curated estimate is about 12 rainy days per month, not a directly measured long-term average. Total precipitation averages around 65 mm for the month. A rainy day does not mean all-day rain.
When is the best time to visit Zanzibar?
By the climate score, June, July, August and September are the strongest months for Zanzibar. For a beach trip: June, July, August and September. January is not among them.