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Zanzibar weather in December

Zanzibar in December is hot and humid, with highs of about 30 °C in Stone Town, nights around 25 °C and the sea at its warmest, about 30 °C. The short rains are easing, so showers are usually brief, and the second half of the month is the start of the island's peak season.

Averages for Stone Town (ERA5 reanalysis 2015–2024). The long rains fall in April and May, the short rains in November.
MonthDayNightSeaRain
January 31 °C26 °C29 °C60 mm
February 32 °C26 °C30 °C40 mm
March 31 °C26 °C30 °C110 mm
April 29 °C25 °C29 °C370 mm
May 28 °C25 °C28 °C205 mm
June 28 °C24 °C28 °C55 mm
July 27 °C23 °C27 °C45 mm
August 28 °C23 °C26 °C40 mm
September 28 °C23 °C27 °C45 mm
October 29 °C24 °C27 °C90 mm
November 30 °C24 °C28 °C125 mm
December 30 °C25 °C30 °C100 mm

Weather in Zanzibar in December

These are averages for Stone Town: temperatures and rain from the ERA5 climate reanalysis for 2015–2024, sea temperatures from 2022–2025 data. December is one of the warmest months, with highs of about 30 °C, lows of about 25 °C and high humidity, so it often feels hotter than the thermometer says. The month averages about 100 mm of rain, less than November (about 125 mm) and more than January (about 60 mm).

Most of that rain falls in short, heavy tropical showers, after which the sun comes back, rather than in whole grey days. The northerly kaskazi monsoon usually sets in from about mid-December, bringing hot weather and steady breezes to the east coast. For the forecast, check the Tanzania Meteorological Authority at meteo.go.tz; the Zanzibar weather by month page has the full table.

What to do in Zanzibar in December

A sea at about 30 °C makes December a good month for swimming and snorkelling. In the north, at Nungwi and Kendwa, the sea stays deep enough to swim at almost any tide, while the east-coast lagoons of Paje and Jambiani empty at low tide; the kaskazi also brings the second kitesurf season there, lighter and less consistent than the kusi of June to September.

One Ocean, one of the island's long-established dive centres, names December and January among its windiest months, when some boat trips can be rough or cancelled. For Mnemba and dolphin trips or a Safari Blue day, a morning departure is usually calmer. In Stone Town, plan walks for the morning or late afternoon to avoid the midday heat.

Christmas, New Year and public holidays in December

Zanzibar is mostly Muslim, but Christmas Day and Boxing Day are public holidays across Tanzania, as is 9 December, Independence Day. The fortnight from Christmas to early January is the busiest and most expensive of the year: many resorts add a compulsory gala dinner on 24 and/or 31 December, and the liveliest New Year's Eve parties are on the beaches of Kendwa and Nungwi. All the details are in our guide to Christmas and New Year in Zanzibar.

In 2026 the full moon falls on 24 December, so the tides are at their strongest over Christmas. If you want December weather without the crowds, the first half of the month is quieter and better value; for the holidays, book flights, rooms and popular boat trips several months ahead. See also the best time to visit Zanzibar.

Frequently asked questions

Is December a good time to visit Zanzibar?

Yes, for heat and a warm sea: highs are about 30 °C and the water about 30 °C, with rain mostly in short showers. The second half of the month is peak season, so book early or travel in the first half.

Does it rain in Zanzibar in December?

Yes, about 100 mm on average in Stone Town, as the short rains ease, but it usually falls in heavy showers that clear quickly rather than all day.

How warm is the sea in Zanzibar in December?

About 30 °C, among the warmest of the year, so no wetsuit is needed for swimming or snorkelling.

Is Zanzibar busy at Christmas?

Yes. Christmas to early January is the island's busiest and most expensive fortnight, with full hotels and boat trips and compulsory gala dinners at many resorts.

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