When to go to Zanzibar?

Zanzibar (Tanzania)
Photo: Greg Tee from Amsterdam, The Netherlands · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

Stone Town's lanes are narrow, shaded and scented with clove and cinnamon, and its carved doorways reward slow walking. A spice tour inland shows where those smells begin, on smallholdings of vanilla, nutmeg and pepper. North, Nungwi and Kendwa lay out fine white sand, while the reefs around Mnemba atoll draw divers into clear, warm water.

Book your activities

Powered by GetYourGuide

The best time to go

For the best weather in Zanzibar, aim for January to March, May to December.

See also: Where to go in January? · Where to go in February? · Where to go in March? · Where to go in May?

Month-by-month weather in Zanzibar

Month☀️ h/day🌧️ mm🌡️ °CScore /100
January 10.7 95 28 75
February 11.2 46 29 80
March 10.6 105 28 74
April 7.5 388 26 39
May 10.5 107 26 74
June 10.4 57 25 78
July 10.5 53 25 78
August 10.9 48 25 81
September 11.3 45 26 84
October 11.4 82 26 80
November 10.6 191 27 67
December 11.6 110 28 77

Estimated from 3 years of data. The score (0–100) combines sunshine, dry weather, clear skies and temperature.

The climate in brief

In Zanzibar, the sunniest month is December, and the driest is September (about 45 mm). Temperatures peak in February (about 29°C). Over the year, an average of 1,327 mm of rain falls, and 11 months in 12 offer ideal weather for a trip.

What to do in Zanzibar?

Practical info

Destinations near Zanzibar

Browse by destination

Got a city in mind? Its own page has the answer: when to go, month-by-month weather and what to do there. See all destinations →