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Zanzibar, Tanzania · Equatorial tropical

Zanzibar: best months to visit

July (8.6/10) · April (4.7/10).

📅 Data updated: October 2026 🛰️ ERA5 · 10 years 📍 6.16°S · 39.20°E
⚡ Quick answer
July
Depends on your goals
8.6/10
☀️ Jul
Top score (8.6/10)
🌤️ Jun
Alt. (8.5/10)
Apr
Plus rude (4.7/10)
🌴 Tropical☀️ High UV🌧️ Monsoon season
Photo par Mats Havia via Unsplash
Decide

When to visit Zanzibar?

The decision rests on several criteria. Climate score, tourist crowds and feasible activities.

Verdict: In Zanzibar, July and June clearly stand out. April concentrates the least favorable conditions.
Top & avoid
🏆 July · 8.6 June · 8.5 August · 8.5 September · 5.7 ⚠️ April · 4.7
5.4
Jan
5.5
Feb
5.2
Mar
4.7
Apr
5.6
May
8.5
Jun
8.6
Jul
8.5
Aug
5.7
Sep
5.6
Oct
5.3
Nov
5.4
Dec
Best period · ≥ 7 Decent period · 4 – 7 Tough conditions · < 4

What you grasp in 5 seconds

Zanzibar offers 3 comfortable months, without any month really to avoid. The gap stays moderate: 8.6 in July vs 4.7 in April.

What to check next

Your tolerance for crowds and budget. The best months concentrate tourist saturation and higher prices. Shoulder seasons offer a good compromise.

Next action

Scroll down to the detailed table to compare month by month, then open the page of the month that interests you.

Compare the 12 months By your project

How we calculate the score

The score combines 4 weighted criteria using 10 years of real climate data (ERA5).

Source : ERA5 · Open-Meteo · 10 years (2016–2025) · Full methodology →

Understand

Compare all 12 months

Month-by-month details: temperature, rain, sunshine, score and verdict.

✅ 3 comfortable months (Jun · Jul · Aug)
MonthT° minT° maxRain %mm/daySunScoreVerdict
🌥️ January →79°F90°F17%2.1mm7.7h5.4/10Decent period
🌥️ February →79°F90°F15%1.4mm7.7h5.5/10Decent period
🌥️ March →79°F90°F26%3.4mm6.8h5.2/10Decent period
🌥️ April →77°F84°F62%12.3mm5.2h4.7/10Decent period
🌥️ May →75°F82°F33%6.0mm6.4h5.6/10Decent period
☀️ June →73°F82°F22%2.1mm6.9h8.5/10Best period
☀️ July →73°F82°F18%1.4mm7.1h8.6/10Best period
☀️ August →72°F82°F18%1.3mm7.1h8.5/10Best period
🌥️ September →72°F86°F18%1.4mm7.2h5.7/10Decent period
🌥️ October →73°F86°F25%3.1mm7.1h5.6/10Decent period
🌥️ November →75°F86°F36%4.3mm6.5h5.3/10Decent period
🌥️ December →77°F88°F29%3.4mm6.8h5.4/10Decent period
🌥️ January
5.4/10
T°79°F / 90°F
Rain %17%
Sun7.7h
Decent period
🌥️ February
5.5/10
T°79°F / 90°F
Rain %15%
Sun7.7h
Decent period
🌥️ March
5.2/10
T°79°F / 90°F
Rain %26%
Sun6.8h
Decent period
🌥️ April
4.7/10
T°77°F / 84°F
Rain %62%
Sun5.2h
Decent period
🌥️ May
5.6/10
T°75°F / 82°F
Rain %33%
Sun6.4h
Decent period
☀️ June
8.5/10
T°73°F / 82°F
Rain %22%
Sun6.9h
Best period
☀️ July
8.6/10
T°73°F / 82°F
Rain %18%
Sun7.1h
Best period
☀️ August
8.5/10
T°72°F / 82°F
Rain %18%
Sun7.1h
Best period
🌥️ September
5.7/10
T°72°F / 86°F
Rain %18%
Sun7.2h
Decent period
🌥️ October
5.6/10
T°73°F / 86°F
Rain %25%
Sun7.1h
Decent period
🌥️ November
5.3/10
T°75°F / 86°F
Rain %36%
Sun6.5h
Decent period
🌥️ December
5.4/10
T°77°F / 88°F
Rain %29%
Sun6.8h
Decent period
📊 Quick read
Optimal window
Jun → Aug
Good transition
May · Sep
Tough period
none
🌡️ Detailed conditions (July)
🌡️ Feel
Warm
☀️ UV
7.3 · Moderate-Strong
💧 Humidity feel
68°F · Humid
☔ Rain
18% · 1.4 mm/day
🌅 Sunshine
7.1h/day
Week by week

Zanzibar week by week: your odds of avoiding rain

For each week of the year: in how many years out of 10 it was mostly dry (at most 2 rainy days), 2016 to 2025.

Safest week: Jul 23 to Jul 29, mostly dry in 10 years out of 10 (0.5 rainy day(s) on average).

Most exposed: Apr 9 to Apr 15, mostly dry in 0 years out of 10 (5.1 rainy days on average).

Number = years out of 10 with at most 2 rainy days in the week. Source: ERA5 reanalysis (ECMWF) via Open-Meteo, daily data 2016-2025. Rainy day = at least 1 mm, as everywhere on the site.
JanJan 16/1089°FJan 88/1088°FJan 159/1089°FJan 229/1089°FJan 298/1090°F
FebFeb 59/1090°FFeb 129/1091°FFeb 199/1091°FFeb 267/1091°F
MarMar 58/1091°FMar 126/1091°FMar 197/1088°FMar 264/1087°F
AprApr 23/1085°FApr 90/1084°FApr 162/1083°FApr 232/1083°FApr 303/1082°F
MayMay 73/1082°FMay 148/1083°FMay 217/1082°FMay 287/1083°F
JunJun 47/1082°FJun 119/1083°FJun 188/1082°FJun 258/1081°F
JulJul 26/1081°FJul 98/1081°FJul 168/1081°FJul 2310/1082°FJul 308/1082°F
AugAug 69/1083°FAug 139/1083°FAug 208/1083°FAug 278/1084°F
SepSep 39/1084°FSep 109/1085°FSep 178/1086°FSep 247/1086°F
OctOct 18/1086°FOct 88/1086°FOct 157/1087°FOct 226/1086°FOct 297/1086°F
NovNov 56/1086°FNov 126/1087°FNov 195/1087°FNov 264/1087°F
DecDec 35/1087°FDec 108/1087°FDec 178/1087°FDec 246/1088°F

A specific date? The app computes the same figure day by day.

10-year trend

Annual temperatures — Zanzibar

Min/max temperature curves observed over the past 10 years (ERA5). Shows climate stability and trend.

T° maxT° meanT° min72°75°79°82°86°90°201620172018201920202021202220232024202587°F — decade peak (2022)+0.35°F / decade
Tailor

For your trip

A few angles depending on what kind of trip you are planning.

🌞 Dry season🏖️ Beaches🌊 Surf
Book

Plan your trip

Hotels at their lowest outside peak season, highest on comfortable months. Shoulder seasons offer a good price/climate compromise.

🏨
Stay
Hotels & rentals · Zanzibar
Expedia →
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Activities
Tours, tickets, experiences
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✈️
Flights
Multi-airline comparator
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🎟️ Activities & tours · Zanzibar

GetYourGuide selection · free cancellation

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Affiliate link · GetYourGuide
Practical info

What you need to know before you go

Three angles: the country (language, currency, safety, budget), the year-round climate, and the specifics of a tropical stay.

Country · Tanzania

🗣️LanguageSwahili
💶CurrencyShilling tanzanien (TSh)
🚗DrivingLeft-hand
🛡️Safety ⓘVery safe · 1/5
💰Cost of living ⓘVery cheap · 1/5

🌡️ Climate

🌍Climate typeEquatorial tropical
📈Climate trend ⓘStable
🔥Hottest monthJanuary · 90°F
❄️Coolest monthMay · 82°F
🌧️Rainiest month ⓘApril · 62%

🏝️ Tropical stay

🌞Dry season ⓘMay → Sep
🌧️Wet season ⓘDec → Mar
🌀Cyclones ⓘNone (equator)
Explore

Related destinations & guides

If this destination doesn't fit your dates, here are alternatives and guides.

Similar climate destinations

Stone Town · Tanzania→Dar es Salaam · Tanzania→Jinja · Uganda→Tanzania · Tanzania→

Nearby destinations

Diani Beach · Kenya132 mi →Mombasa · Kenya150 mi →Moshi · Tanzania232 mi →Arusha · Tanzania259 mi →

Guides & rankings

World ranking 2026See →
Best summer destinationsSee →
Winter sunSee →
Where to go in JulySee →
Location

Where is Zanzibar ?

Global position + regional geographic context.

🌍 World
🔍 Geographic context
Equatorial tropical climate with a 8.6 → 4.7 gap between best and worst month. 10 years of ERA5 data to choose by project.
6.16°S · 39.20°E
Questions

Frequently asked questions

What is the best time to visit Zanzibar?
July is the best month with 82°F highs, 73°F lows, 7.1h of sunshine and 18.0% rainy days. The months of July & August offer comparable conditions.
How many hours of sunshine does Zanzibar get in July?
Zanzibar averages 7.1 sunshine hours per day in July. It is the sunniest month with a climate score of 8.2/10.
What is the rainiest month in Zanzibar?
April is the most unfavourable month with April has the lowest climate score of the year and the lowest climate score of the year.
What are the temperatures at night in Zanzibar in July?
In July, overnight lows reach 73°F, while afternoon highs average 82°F.
Is Zanzibar good in winter?
In winter (December-February), Zanzibar scores 5.3/10 on average — Difficult period — prefer the peak season.. The best month overall remains July with a score of 8.2/10.
When should you avoid Zanzibar?
April is the most difficult month to visit Zanzibar, with April has the lowest climate score of the year. Climate conditions are at their lowest of the year during this period.