Tanzania
Zanzibar in May: weather, sea & travel advice
This month's data profile
Rain shapes the decision
Zanzibar in May is climatically well suited to beach holidays. The average daily high is around 28 °C, and the sea is about 28 °C. With about 20 rainy days it is very wet.
Historical monthly averages, not a weather forecast. Individual days and years can differ substantially.
Rank among 12 monthly averages
61/100 · #9
Warmth
#8
Dryness
#11
Sun
#12
Sea warmth
#6
Published best categories: none
Zanzibar · MayPhoto: Morten Idriss Nygaar… · CC BY-SA 3.0Climate facts
- Average high
- 28 °C
- Average low
- 26 °C
- Sea
- 28 °C
- Rainy days (est.)
- 20 rainy days (est.)
- Sun (est.)
- 6 h/day
- Humidity
- 79 %
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | 29 | 27 | 26 | 252 | 6.3 | 79 | 4.4 | 29 | 55 |
| May (selected) | 28 | 26 | 20 | 177 | 5.8 | 79 | 5.6 | 28 | 61 |
| June | 27 | 25 | 8 | 37 | 5.9 | 76 | 6.1 | 27 | 84 |
How do the previous and next months compare?
Baseline: May (61/100)
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | -6 | +0.9 °C | +1 °C | +6.3 | +74.8 mm | +0.5 h | ±0 % | -1.2 m/s | +0.9 °C |
| June | +23 | -0.8 °C | -1.1 °C | -12 | -139.4 mm | +0.1 h | -3.7 % | +0.4 m/s | -1 °C |
All twelve months in context
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Where to stay in Zanzibar
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Useful next decisions
Frequently asked questions
How warm is Zanzibar in May?
The average daily high is around 28 °C, with an average daily low of about 26 °C.
Can you swim in Zanzibar in May?
The sea is about 28 °C (very warm).
Does it rain a lot in Zanzibar in May?
The curated estimate is about 20 rainy days per month, not a directly measured long-term average. Total precipitation averages around 177 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. May is not among them.