Best time to visit Zanzibar

When is the best time to visit Zanzibar?

Zanzibar lies about six degrees south of the equator, so it is warm all year: in Stone Town average highs range from 27 °C in July to 32 °C in February, and the sea stays between 26 and 30 °C. What changes through the year is the rain and the wind, both driven by the monsoons of the Indian Ocean, and the Zanzibar seasons are named after them in Swahili.

Masika, the long rains, falls mainly in April (about 370 mm on average) and May (about 205 mm). Vuli, the short rains, peaks in November (about 125 mm). Between them come the cooler, dry months of June to October, under the southerly kusi wind, and the hot, mostly dry spell of January and February, under the northerly kaskazi. All figures are Stone Town averages; the Zanzibar weather by month page has the full climate table.

Zanzibar month by month

January and February are hot, humid and among the driest months, with highs of 31–32 °C, about 40–60 mm of rain and the sea at its warmest, 29–30 °C. It is the European winter high season, with charter flights and busy hotels. See Zanzibar in January and Zanzibar in February.

March is a month of transition: still 31 °C, with rain rising to about 110 mm as the long rains approach. The wind usually drops between the two monsoons, which makes it one of the calmest months at sea. See Zanzibar in March.

April and May are the long rains. April is by far the wettest month, and rain can set in for hours rather than passing in a quick shower; May is easing but still wet. Many beach hotels close for part of this period, roads can flood and prices at the hotels that stay open are the lowest of the year. Read Zanzibar in April before you book.

June to October is the long dry season and the most comfortable time for sightseeing: highs of 27–29 °C, nights around 23–24 °C and only 40–55 mm of rain a month from June to September, rising to about 90 mm in October. July and August are the coolest and busiest months. See Zanzibar in August.

November and December bring the short rains, usually as heavy showers that clear quickly rather than whole grey days, and temperatures climb back to 30 °C. December still averages about 100 mm of rain, so pack for the odd downpour. See Zanzibar in November and Zanzibar in December, and for the festive season our guide to Christmas and New Year in Zanzibar.

Prices, crowds and the rain season in Zanzibar

The two price peaks are the Christmas and New Year fortnight and July and August, when European school holidays fill the beach hotels and boat trips. January and February are also busy. Book months ahead for these dates.

The best value is in the shoulder months, June, September, October and early December, when the weather is usually good and rates are lower. If you travel in the rain season in Zanzibar, check that your hotel is open on your dates, expect some lost beach days and keep your plans flexible; the reward is quiet beaches and the lowest prices. Our guide to Zanzibar prices and budget has typical costs, and the Zanzibar beaches guide explains which coast suits which season.

Wind, kitesurfing and sea conditions

Kitesurfers come for the two monsoon winds. The kusi blows from the south from about June to September, often lasting into October; it is the stronger and more reliable season and tends to pick up after lunch. The kaskazi blows from the north from about mid-December to February, lighter and less consistent but with hotter weather. The east-coast lagoons at Paje and Jambiani are the main spots, and riding depends on the tide: check the Zanzibar tide times as well as the forecast.

The same winds make the sea choppy. One Ocean, one of the island's long-established dive centres, names June to September and December to January as its windiest months, when boat trips can be rough or cancelled, and March and October to November as the best months for diving, when the wind has dropped and the rains have not yet begun. For Mnemba snorkelling and dolphin trips, choose a morning departure in the windy months, when the sea is usually calmer.

Combining Zanzibar with a mainland safari

June to October is also the classic safari season on the mainland, when animals gather near water. Day trips by plane from Zanzibar go to Mikumi or Nyerere National Park; see safari from Zanzibar.

The Great Migration of the Serengeti cannot be seen on a day trip. The herds usually calve on the southern plains around Ndutu from about late January to March, and cross the Mara River in the far north roughly between July and October, with August and September often the busiest months; the timing follows the rains and is never guaranteed. Plan a few nights on safari first and the beach afterwards; our Zanzibar itineraries show how to combine them.

Ramadan and festivals

Zanzibar is almost entirely Muslim, and the date of Ramadan moves about 11 days earlier each year. In 2027 it is expected to start around 8 February, ending with Eid al-Fitr around 9 or 10 March. Hotels work normally, but many local restaurants close by day; our visa, insurance and safety guide explains the customs.

Sauti za Busara, Stone Town's festival of African music, is usually held in February; the 2027 edition is scheduled for 19–21 March, moved later by the organisers because of Ramadan and Eid. The Zanzibar International Film Festival usually takes place in late June or July in Stone Town; the 2025 and 2026 editions were held in the last week of June. Over Christmas and New Year, the island's biggest parties are on the beaches of Kendwa and Nungwi and at the resorts' gala dinners; see Christmas and New Year in Zanzibar.

What to pack by season

All year, pack light cotton or linen, clothes that cover shoulders and knees for Stone Town and the villages, a hat, high-factor reef-safe sunscreen, insect repellent and reef shoes for the east-coast lagoons. Plastic bags are banned, so use fabric pouches.

From June to October, add a light long-sleeved layer for breezy evenings and early boat trips. For April, May and November, bring a compact rain jacket, quick-drying clothes and a dry bag for your phone.