Planning your trip
Best Time to Visit Zanzibar: Month-by-Month Guide
When to go to Zanzibar depending on what you want: beaches, diving, kitesurfing or a lower price.
By Luciano Baetz · Updated · 3 min read
The best time to visit Zanzibar is from June to October, the dry season, with clear skies, lower humidity and cooler nights. January and February are also very good for the beach, though hotter. March, April and May bring the long rains. If you are asking when to go to Zanzibar, that is the short answer; here is the month-by-month detail.
Zanzibar sits close to the equator, so it has no summer and winter as the UK does. The year splits into a dry season and rainy seasons, and temperatures barely change: daytime highs are almost always between 28 °C and 33 °C.
Zanzibar weather month by month
| Months | What to expect | For the beach |
|---|---|---|
| January and February | Hot, strong sun and more humidity. Short showers are possible. | Very good |
| March, April and May | The long rains. Cloudy days and heavy showers, and some services close. | Not recommended |
| June to September | Dry, clear skies and cooler nights. The most pleasant period. | Ideal |
| October | Still dry, with the heat returning. | Very good |
| November and December | Short rains, usually in the afternoon, and more heat. | Variable |
What is the best time for a beach holiday?
If you mainly want beaches and blue water, the best time to visit Zanzibar is June to October: skies are clearer, humidity is lower and the evenings are pleasant. January and February bring more heat and direct sun, which suits people who love hot weather but calls for more sun protection and more water.
How warm is the sea?
The water is warm all year and you can swim in any month, usually between 26 °C and 29 °C. What changes is visibility and conditions: in the rainy seasons the sea gets murkier and the wind less predictable.
Tides matter too. On the east coast and in the south-east (Kiwengwa, Paje, Jambiani) low tide pulls the sea back many metres and swimming depends on the time of day. In the north (Nungwi and Kendwa) the effect is smaller. To choose an area, read where Zanzibar is and what the island is like.
When to go to Zanzibar for kitesurfing or diving
- Kitesurfing: the wind is steadiest from June to September and again in January and February, especially in the south-east at Paje and Jambiani.
- Diving and snorkelling: visibility is usually best in the dry season, June to October.
- Excursions and Stone Town: the dry season is more comfortable for walking and sightseeing.
High season and prices
Demand rises over the European summer, July to September, and again at Christmas and New Year, and prices rise with it. For the best balance of good weather and price, look at June and October: both are dry and fall outside the July and August peak.
So, when should you go to Zanzibar?
- Best weather: June to October.
- More heat for beach and diving: January and February.
- Cheaper: outside the July and August peak.
- Avoid: March to May, because of the rains.
