Best Time to Visit Zanzibar: Month-by-Month Weather Guide (2026/2027)

The best time to visit Zanzibar is June to October, when the island is dry, sunny and at its least humid, with a second good window from late December to February for the hottest weather and the clearest sea. The months to avoid for a beach holiday are April and May, the long rains, when some hotels close altogether.

That is the short version. The longer one matters, because Zanzibar's weather does not split neatly into "good" and "bad". December is wetter than most guides admit, March is already turning, and the wind that decides which coast feels calm switches direction twice a year. This guide goes through every month using long-term climate records, then covers price, events and which coast to book.

Key takeaways

• Driest month: July, at about 31 mm of rain.
• Wettest by a distance: April, with around 408 mm across roughly 17 rainy days.
• February has the fewest rainy days of the year, just under four. It is also the hottest month, with daytime highs around 33°C, so the trade-off in February is heat rather than rain, and an air-conditioned room is worth paying for.
• December is wetter than its reputation.
• The sea is warm enough to swim in every month, from about 26°C in August to 29°C in March.
• The wind decides the coast. From June to October the Kusi blows hard on the east coast, which is great for kitesurfers at Paje and less so if you want flat water. For calm swimming in those months, base yourself on the north or west coast instead.

Zanzibar weather by month at a glance

Air temperature, rainfall and rainy-day figures below are World Meteorological Organization climate normals for Zanzibar City, averaged over 1991 to 2020. Sea temperatures are approximate monthly averages from published sea-surface records, and vary slightly by coast.

Rainy days tell you more than rainfall totals. October's 116 mm falls across only about seven days, so most of the month is still sunny. April's 408 mm is spread across more than half the month.

Zanzibar's four seasons

The long dry season, June to October. Cooler, breezier and the most reliable weather on the calendar. Daytime highs sit around 29 to 31°C and humidity drops. It lines up with peak safari season on the mainland, which is why it is also the busiest and most expensive time to go.

The short rains, November to mid-December. Rain arrives in short, heavy afternoon bursts rather than all-day downpours. Mornings are usually clear. It is a reasonable shoulder season with lower prices, as long as you are relaxed about an afternoon under cover.

The hot dry season, late December to February. The hottest stretch of the year, often above 32°C, with very few rainy days in February. The sea is calm and clear, which makes it the best window for snorkelling and diving.

The long rains, late March to May. April is the wettest month on the island by a wide margin. Rain can be persistent, humidity is heavy, and a number of beach hotels and restaurants close for part of the season. Prices are at their lowest for a reason.

Zanzibar weather month by month

January

Hot and mostly dry, with highs around 32.6°C, about 74 mm of rain on five or six days, and the sea near 28°C. The short rains have usually finished by now. Christmas and New Year crowds thin out after the first week, and prices ease with them.

February

February has the fewest rainy days of the year, about 3.6, along with the hottest weather at around 33.2°C and a sea close to 29°C. The humidity is real, so an air-conditioned room earns its price. Divers and snorkellers get some of the best visibility of the year, and it is a good month to swim with sea turtles in calm water.

March

Rainfall more than triples in March, to about 177 mm across 11 rainy days, as the long rains arrive, though highs stay near 32.5°C. Early March can still feel like February. In 2027 the Sauti za Busara music festival runs in Stone Town from 19 to 21 March, and Ramadan is expected to end around 9 March.

April

The wettest month in Zanzibar, averaging about 408 mm of rain across roughly 17 rainy days, with highs near 30.6°C. Some hotels, restaurants and dive centres close, and east coast beaches can take on seaweed and debris from rough seas. If you must travel in April, choose a resort that stays open year-round and expect indoor days. Our guide to the best Zanzibar resorts notes which properties suit which seasons.

May

Still the long rains, at close to 298 mm across about 14 rainy days, though conditions improve through the month and highs ease to 29.7°C. Late May can be a real bargain for anyone flexible about weather. Humidity stays high until the season changes in June.

June

The dry season starts. Rainfall drops to around 52 mm on five days, highs fall to a comfortable 29.3°C, and the sea cools to about 27°C. The Kusi wind picks up on the east coast. In 2027 the Zanzibar International Film Festival is scheduled for 23 to 27 June in Stone Town, and June is quieter and cheaper than July and August.

July

The driest month of the year, averaging about 31 mm of rain on four days, and the coolest, with highs close to 29°C and the sea around 26°C. This is peak season. Beach hotels fill with European summer holidaymakers and safari travellers finishing a migration trip, so book early.

August

Dry and breezy, with about 38 mm of rain, highs around 29.4°C and the sea at its coolest, near 26°C. The Kusi wind is at its strongest, which suits kitesurfers at Paje and makes the east coast feel lively rather than still. It is as busy as July.

September

One of the best months to go, with about 37 mm of rain on five days and highs around 30.4°C. The weather matches July and August, but European school holidays have ended, so beaches and hotels are noticeably quieter. The wind begins to ease toward the end of the month.

October

Largely dry but less reliable. About 116 mm of rain falls on only seven or so days, and highs climb to 31.2°C. Showers tend to be brief and in the afternoon, so this is a good month for value if you can live with the odd one.

November

The short rains arrive, bringing about 201 mm of rain across nearly 14 rainy days, with highs around 31°C. Showers are usually short and heavy, often in the afternoon, followed by sunshine. Prices drop and crowds thin. Pack a light rain jacket and plan outdoor trips for the morning.

December

Wetter than its reputation, at about 168 mm of rain across 12 rainy days, with highs of 31.8°C. Most of that rain falls in the first half of the month as the short rains taper off. The second half, running into Christmas and New Year, is usually drier and very busy, with the highest prices of the year. Book early for festive dates.

When is the rainy season in Zanzibar?

Zanzibar has two rainy seasons. The long rains run from late March to May and peak in April, the wettest month of the year. The short rains run from November into mid-December and are much less disruptive, usually arriving as heavy afternoon showers that clear quickly.

Rain on Zanzibar is rarely an all-day event outside April and May. Even in November, most mornings are dry.

One practical point on health. Zanzibar has far lower malaria risk than the mainland, but it is not malaria-free, and both the CDC and the NHS still advise precautions. Mosquito numbers rise in the rainy months. Our Tanzania vaccinations and malaria guide covers what to take.

Is Zanzibar cheap or expensive?

Zanzibar can be either, and timing is the biggest single factor. Late December, early January, July and August are the most expensive periods, while April and May are the cheapest months of the year. The same room can cost dramatically less in May than in August.

The value sweet spots are June, September and October, which give you dry-season weather without peak-season pricing. If you are still deciding whether the island suits you at all, our Zanzibar beach holiday guide makes the case. For a sense of where the money goes on the island, our Zanzibar activities guide lists what the main excursions cost.

Wind decides which coast you book

Zanzibar has two seasonal winds, and they matter more than most people expect.

The Kusi blows from the south-east from roughly June to September, occasionally into October. It is the stronger of the two, averaging 15 to 20 knots and strongest in July and August. On the east coast at Paje and Jambiani it makes for excellent kitesurfing and breezy, lively beaches.

The Kaskazi blows from the north-east from mid-December to March. It is gentler, typically 12 to 20 knots, which suits beginner kitesurfers and makes for calmer, warmer days.

The practical upshot: if you want flat, sheltered water in July or August, look at the north and west coasts. If you want wind and space, the east coast is where you want to be. Tides matter too, especially on the east coast, and our guide to the best beaches in Zanzibar explains how they change which beach suits you.

Events that change the island

Ramadan is expected to run from around 8 February to 9 March in 2027, with Eid al-Fitr around 10 March. Exact dates depend on the moon sighting. Zanzibar is overwhelmingly Muslim, so in Stone Town many restaurants close during daylight and modest dress matters more than usual. Beach resorts carry on as normal. Eid itself is a lively, festive time to be on the island.

Sauti za Busara, one of East Africa's best-known music festivals, runs from 19 to 21 March 2027 in Stone Town, later than its usual February slot.

The Zanzibar International Film Festival is scheduled for 23 to 27 June 2027, also in Stone Town.

These are the dates published as of September 2026. Festival dates occasionally shift, so confirm them close to your trip.

Pairing Zanzibar with a safari

Most people visit Zanzibar at the end of a Tanzanian safari, which means the island's weather has to line up with the mainland's. June to October works for both. So does January to February, which pairs calving season in the southern Serengeti with Zanzibar's hottest, calmest sea.

Our bush and beach guide covers timing the two halves together in detail, and the best time to visit Tanzania guide covers the mainland side month by month.

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Frequently asked questions

Planning your dates

If you have flexibility, aim for September. You get the weather of the peak months without the peak crowds or prices. If your dates are fixed by school holidays, July and August are excellent but need booking well ahead. And if you want heat and flat, clear water, February is hard to beat.

When you are ready to put the island together with a safari, our safari and Zanzibar trips are built around exactly these seasons.