Last checked: October 2026

Zanzibar weather by month and the best time to visit

Small fishing boats on calm water off the coast at Bububu, north of Stone Town

Dry seasons and rains

When to go

The dry season from June to October² is the most reliable window for beach weather, and July has the least rain¹ of any month. A shorter, hotter dry spell runs from January into February².

July has the least rain¹

Zanzibar's dry and rainy months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Drier beach months
Short rains or drying out
Long rains, lodges shut

Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania, sits near the equator, so it’s warm all year round¹. It has a tropical monsoon climate¹, so your choice of month comes down to rain, wind and crowds rather than temperature.

What is the rainy season in Zanzibar?

Zanzibar’s rain comes in a long season and a short one. The long rains peak in March, April and May, with a smaller peak in November and December¹. April is the wettest month of the year².

Vuli (the short rains) begins in November and can still be heavy². The months between the rainy seasons are drier¹.

Rain clouds over the sea and a moored dhow off Nungwi beach

Average temperature in Zanzibar by month

Monthly averages in Zanzibar City, on the island of Unguja¹, sit between 25.1 and 28.8 °C⁴. The city’s historic centre is Stone Town¹, so these are the figures you’ll feel there.

February is the hottest month², though strong sea breezes often cool the summer heat¹.
In May temperatures begin to drop a little².
In August, expect lows and highs of about 20–30°C².

Best months for your trip

The right month depends on what you’re coming for:

Beach and sunshine: the tour company Expert Africa calls July and the dry months after it Zanzibar’s best few months², and September has the fewest days with rain³.
Diving: the dive centre One Ocean names March and October–November⁵ as its best months, when the wind has dropped and the rain hasn’t started. October has calm seas and warm water³.
Kitesurfing for beginners: Kite Centre Zanzibar suggests mid-June to mid-October and late December to mid-March⁶.
Kitesurfing for experts: mid-June to mid-September and late December to the end of February⁶. Wind at Paje’s kite beach averages about 16 knots⁶.

Low-tide beach with a red boat, kites in the sky and two women walking on the sand

What is the cheapest month to go to Zanzibar?

February is the cheapest month for hotels: it’s low season for hotel rates³. September brings fewer families and more deals on properties, and November has much lower visitor numbers³.

Low season is also a good time to bargain⁷ at markets and stalls. The dearest month is December, when hotel prices are at their highest³.

Months to avoid

April and May are the months most travellers skip. The booking agent The Africa Specialists rates them among the least desirable months to visit³.

April and May: heavy rain and shut lodges (see below), though diving conditions are normally still good⁵.
August: the island is at its busiest³, and boat trips may be cancelled in the wind⁵.
December: one of the busiest months³ and the priciest for hotels.

Still deciding on an island? The Zanzibar versus Mauritius holiday guide compares them.

Weather, crowds and events

Month by month

This table puts each month’s weather, crowds, prices, events and sea conditions side by side. A blank cell means the sources say nothing for that month.

July is peak season³

Zanzibar month by month
Month	Weather	Crowds and prices	Events	Sea and wind
January	Gets drier through the month; short dry season starts	–	–	One of the windiest months (One Ocean)
February	Hottest month, fairly dry	Low season for hotel rates	Ramadan starts 8 February 2027	Kite season for beginners and experts
March	Long rains start; many beach lodges close	–	Ramadan ends 8 March 2027; Sauti za Busara 19–21 March 2027	One of One Ocean's best dive months
April	Wettest month; most beach lodges closed	Among the least desirable months; some properties shut for refurbishment	–	Diving normally still good
May	Rain continues; slightly cooler	Among the least desirable months; some properties shut for refurbishment	–	Diving normally still good
June	Long rains end; beach lodges reopen	–	ZIFF ran 24–28 June 2026	South-east Kusi wind; boat trips can be choppy
July	Least rain of the year; dry season in full swing	Peak season, high prices, many visitors	Mwaka Kogwa in Makunduchi (July or August)	Kusi trade winds at their strongest
August	About 20–30°C	Busiest month for tourists	Mwaka Kogwa in Makunduchi (July or August)	One of One Ocean's windiest months; trips may be cancelled
September	Dry and pleasant; fewest rainy days	Fewer families, more deals	–	Boat trips can still be choppy
October	Generally dry; hotter, with rain building late in the month	–	–	Calm seas and warm water; a top dive month
November	Short rains begin and can be heavy	Much lower visitor numbers	–	One of One Ocean's best dive months
December	Second month of the short rains; temperatures rise	One of the busiest months; highest hotel prices	–	North-east Kaskasi wind; kite season from late December

Expert Africa (tour company), The Africa Specialists (booking agent), One Ocean (dive centre), Kite Centre Zanzibar (operator), Wikipedia, Wikivoyage, Busara Music (operator), ZIFF (operator)

Zanzibar’s festivals and events by month:

Sauti za Busara: the music festival runs 19–21 March 2027⁸ (checked October 2026).
Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF): an annual festival; the last programme ran from 24 June 2026 to 28 June⁹.
Mwaka Kogwa: the New Year festival in Makunduchi falls in July or August, with a ritual battle and then a hut burning¹⁰.
Full Moon Party: Kendwa’s Full Moon Party beach holds one on the Saturday just before or after a full moon⁷.

Empty white-sand beach and blue sea under a clear sky

Check before you book

Closures

Zanzibar’s beach lodges start shutting in March, when the long rains begin, and most are shut in April². They reopen in June, as the long rains end².

Most beach lodges shut in April²

Other things to plan around:

Stone Town budget hotels: several stay closed in low season because there aren’t enough guests⁷.
Restaurants during Ramadan: most stay closed until the fast breaks at dusk⁷. Ramadan runs 8 February to 8 March 2027¹¹ (checked October 2026).
Boat trips: from June to September, wind and waves can make boat trips choppy⁵.

Photos: Wikimedia Commons and Pexels. Authors and licences: image credits