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Zanzibar weather in February

February is Zanzibar's hottest and one of its driest months, with highs of about 32 °C in Stone Town, nights around 26 °C, the sea at about 30 °C and only about 40 mm of rain. In 2027 there is one thing to plan around: Ramadan is expected to begin around 8 February.

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 February

February is the hottest month of the year in Stone Town, with average highs of about 32 °C and lows of about 26 °C, and, with August, the driest, at about 40 mm of rain. The sea reaches about 30 °C. These are averages from the ERA5 climate reanalysis for 2015–2024, with sea temperatures from 2022–2025 data.

Heat and humidity are the main thing to plan for: the midday sun is intense, so keep sightseeing for the morning and late afternoon, drink plenty of water and use a high-factor reef-safe sunscreen. The northerly kaskazi usually blows until about the end of the month, keeping the east coast breezier than Stone Town. See the full table on the Zanzibar weather by month page.

What to do in Zanzibar in February

February is a month for the sea: swimming at any tide at Nungwi and Kendwa, the last weeks of the kaskazi kitesurf season in the lagoons of Paje and Jambiani, and boat trips such as Safari Blue or Mnemba and the dolphins. Check the tides before an east-coast beach day, as the lagoons empty for hours at low tide.

On the mainland, February falls in the calving season of the Serengeti wildebeest on the southern plains around Ndutu, one of the best reasons to add a few nights of safari from Zanzibar. The weather is the same in January, which is busier in its first days.

Ramadan 2027 in February

Zanzibar is almost entirely Muslim, and in 2027 Ramadan is expected to start around 8 February, ending with Eid al-Fitr around 9 or 10 March; the exact dates depend on the sighting of the moon. Hotels and resorts work normally, but many restaurants outside the hotels close in daylight, and the fast is broken at sunset, when Stone Town comes alive.

Visitors are not expected to fast, but they are asked not to eat, drink or smoke in public during fasting hours and to dress more conservatively. Our visa, insurance and safety guide explains local customs, and our article on religion and Ramadan in Zanzibar goes into more detail. Sauti za Busara, the music festival usually held in February, has been moved to 19–21 March in 2027 because of Ramadan and Eid: see Zanzibar in March.

Frequently asked questions

Is February a good time to visit Zanzibar?

Yes, if you like heat: it is the hottest month, with highs of about 32 °C, a sea of about 30 °C and only about 40 mm of rain. In 2027, Ramadan is expected to start around 8 February.

What is the weather like in Zanzibar in February?

Hot, humid and mostly dry, with highs of about 32 °C and lows of about 26 °C in Stone Town and about 40 mm of rain in the month.

When is Ramadan in Zanzibar in 2027?

It is expected to begin around 8 February 2027 and end with Eid al-Fitr around 9 or 10 March; the exact dates depend on the sighting of the moon.

Is Sauti za Busara in February?

Usually, but the 2027 edition is scheduled for 19–21 March, moved later by the organisers because of Ramadan and Eid.

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