Best time to visit Zanzibar: dry and rainy season

Zanzibar, the island off the coast of Tanzania, is warm all year: by day it is rarely below 27 °C, and the Indian Ocean is warm enough to swim in every month. The seasons are set by the rain. Tanzania has two rainy seasons – according to the UK travel advice, they generally run from the end of March to May and from October to mid-December. In between lie two drier periods: a long one from June to October and a shorter, hotter one in January and February. We analysed the weather from 2015 to 2024 for Stone Town on the west coast and Paje on the east coast.

The short answer

• Best time: June to October. Pleasantly warm at 27 to 30 °C by day, little rain, slightly cooler nights.
• Second dry season: January and February. Hot at 31 to 32 °C in Stone Town, humid, but fairly dry.
• Avoid: April and May, the long rains. April brings 368 mm to Stone Town and 446 mm to Paje.
• Short rains: November and early December – showers rather than days of rain, still a possible travel time.

Zanzibar's climate: all 12 months

Temperature and rain: monthly averages 2015–2024 from the ERA5 reanalysis (via Open-Meteo), rounded. A grid cell is about 25 km wide and includes a lot of sea around the island, so treat the numbers as a rough guide. Individual rainy seasons can differ a great deal from the average: some years the long rains start early or are much weaker.

The temperature range is narrow: Stone Town is warmest in February at 32.1 °C and coolest in July at 27.3 °C. The nights are coolest from July to September at around 23 °C.

The rain chart shows the two rainy seasons clearly: a sharp peak in April and May and a smaller hump from October to December.

Zanzibar month by month

June to October: the main season

The cooler, dry season. From June to September Stone Town averages only 40 to 55 mm of rain a month, and the days are a pleasant 27 to 29 °C. The south-east trade winds blow steadily, which kitesurfers on the east coast around Paje appreciate. July and August are the busiest months, partly because many travellers combine Zanzibar with a safari on the mainland.

November and December: short rains

Rain returns in short showers, often in the afternoon. With 99 to 147 mm a month it is much wetter than in summer but far from the long rains. The Christmas holidays are popular nonetheless.

January to March: hot and humid

January and February are the hottest months at 31 to 32 °C in Stone Town and relatively dry, with 40 to 61 mm. The sea is often calm. In March it becomes more humid and the first heavier showers announce the long rains.

April and May: long rains

The wettest time of year: in April Stone Town averages 368 mm and Paje 446 mm. Downpours can last for hours, and according to the UK travel advice, heavy rain can cause flooding and make roads on the mainland impassable. Some beach hotels close for a few weeks. If you travel now, you get low prices and green landscapes, but should expect many rainy days.

West coast or east coast?

On the west coast, Stone Town is the historic centre and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with narrow lanes, carved doors and the old fort. In the north around Nungwi the tides are less pronounced, so swimming is possible for most of the day. The east coast around Paje and Jambiani has long white beaches and a very wide tidal range: at low tide the sea withdraws far out, which shapes the day for swimmers. Between Stone Town and the east coast lies the Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park with its red colobus monkeys.

Zanzibar after a safari

Many travellers fly to Zanzibar after a safari in northern Tanzania or Kenya. The dry season on the mainland and on the island overlap from June to October, which makes these months the classic choice for a combined trip. In Kenya's Maasai Mara the wildebeest migration is usually from July to October – more in our best time to visit Kenya. For the drive from the airport to the east coast, an airport transfer^* booked in advance saves negotiating on arrival.

Zanzibar is predominantly Muslim. During Ramadan, whose dates move about 11 days earlier each year, many restaurants outside the hotels are closed during the day; respectful clothing in Stone Town is expected all year.

How YesTrip helps with this trip

In YesTrip you plan Stone Town, the spice tours, Jozani and your days on the beach on one map, so you can see how far the east coast is from town. The forecast for your travel days warns of heavy rain, which is useful in the shoulder months, and the packing list suggests sun protection, light long clothing for Stone Town and a plug adapter. If you combine the island with a safari, you keep both parts in one trip and share it with your travel companions, including shared expenses.

Before you go

• Entry: Check the current visa and entry rules for British citizens on gov.uk before you travel.
• Time: Zanzibar is 3 hours ahead of the UK in winter and 2 hours in summer.
• Power: 230 volts; UK-style three-pin sockets (type G) are common.
• Mobile data: a travel eSIM^* for Tanzania is usually much cheaper than roaming; our eSIM price index compares the prices per gigabyte.

More destinations by month: Best time to visit: where to go when.

* Ad – Partner link: if you book there, we earn a commission. Your price stays the same.