Zanzibar · WinterMonth summary
Zanzibar weather in January
✅ Good
🌡️ Temperature min / max
26°C – 32°C
🌧 Rainy days
42% of days
☀️ Sunshine
11.3h per day on average
🌊 🌊 Season
Winter
⭐ ⭐ Weather score
7.4/10
📅 📅 Best month
July (8.0/10)
Quick decision
Should you visit Zanzibar in January?
✅ Good
✅ Yes if: you want to explore cultural sites and local food.
❌ No if: you need guaranteed sunshine for photos or outdoor activities.
Our take: Zanzibar in January: 32°C and 11.3h of sunshine. Decent, but not the peak.
By trip type
Zanzibar in January by trip type
- 🏙️ 🏙️ City break / culture : ✅ Good
- 🚶 🚶 Outdoor activities : ⚠️ Possible
- 🏖️ Beach / swimming : ⚠️ Possible
- 💰 💰 Budget : ✅ Low season
Local context
What to expect in January
🎯 Water at 29°C and lively beaches — January is peak swimming season in Zanzibar Even in winter, Zanzibar enjoys 32°C. A real asset for escaping the European cold. Expect rain on 42% of days — a light raincoat in the bag is recommended. Not the best window, but acceptable if dates are constrained. July (8.0/10) is significantly better if possible.
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All months for Zanzibar
Annual table
Month-by-month comparison
| Month | Min °C | Max °C | Rain % | Precip mm | Sun h/d | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌤️ January | 26°C | 32°C | 42% | 2.1 | 11.3h | 7.4/10 |
| 🌤️ February | 26°C | 32°C | 41% | 1.4 | 11.3h | 7.5/10 |
| 🌤️ March | 26°C | 32°C | 59% | 3.4 | 11.0h | 7.1/10 |
| 🌦️ April | 25°C | 29°C | 92% | 12.3 | 10.3h | 7.0/10 |
| ⛅ May | 24°C | 28°C | 67% | 6.0 | 10.9h | 7.4/10 |
| 🌤️ June | 23°C | 28°C | 55% | 2.1 | 10.9h | 7.8/10 |
| 🌤️ July | 23°C | 28°C | 51% | 1.4 | 11.0h | 8.0/10 |
| 🌤️ August | 22°C | 28°C | 50% | 1.3 | 11.0h | 8.0/10 |
| 🌤️ September | 22°C | 30°C | 51% | 1.4 | 11.1h | 7.6/10 |
| 🌤️ October | 23°C | 30°C | 59% | 3.1 | 11.5h | 7.4/10 |
| ⛅ November | 24°C | 30°C | 75% | 4.3 | 11.7h | 7.1/10 |
| ⛅ December | 25°C | 31°C | 66% | 3.4 | 11.4h | 7.2/10 |
Ideal
Fair
Challenging climate
◀ Current month · Source Open-Meteo · 10 years
📊 Data source
Data based on 10 years of ERA5 records via Open-Meteo, with ECMWF seasonal adjustment. In January, Zanzibar averages 32°C, 42% rainy days and 11.3h of sunshine per day. Overall weather score: 7.4/10.
See methodology →
Comparison
January vs July (best month)
The best month is July (score 8.0/10). Difference:
- 🌡️ Max temperature : -4°C
- 🌧 Rainy days : +9%
- ☀️ Sunshine : -0.3h/day
FAQ
FAQ — Zanzibar in January
Is January a good time to visit Zanzibar?
January is an acceptable time for Zanzibar (score 7.4/10). Conditions are decent but not optimal — consider July (8.0/10) if possible.
What to do in Zanzibar in January?
With 32°C max and 11.3h of sunshine, focus on cultural sites, museums and local gastronomy.
Accommodation
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