Best time to visit Zanzibar : The beautiful archipelago of Zanzibar is a world-famous beach destination characterized of pristine beaches, clear ocean waters and historical destinations.
Zanzibar is located 22 miles off the coast of mainland Tanzania, the island is 53-mile-long island worth exploring. As you are planning your visit to Zanzibar, it is best to know the best time to visit this beautiful island.
This article highlights more about the best time to visit Zanzibar Island.
Seasons at Zanzibar
The archipelago of Zanzibar experiences two seasons that is wet and dry season as explained below
The Dry Season
The dry season in Zanzibar has two seasons that is one short season and along dry season, the first dry season is experienced in the period of July to September with temperatures of around 26°C and pleasantly warm days which are prefect for beach safaris and a stroll in the Stone Town.
The second dry season is experienced from December – February and is the best time to visit for a holiday season, this season is a perfect time to visit Zanzibar for family travelers looking forward to spending more time with their family members during the festive season.
This second dry season is characterized of 29°C which is considered to be the summer season.
The wet season
The wet season on Zanzibar Archipelago is characterized with plenty of rains which is why you are advised to carry an umbrella if you are planning to visit the island, the rain season is experienced in two seasons.
The first rain fall season is experienced between March to May with temperatures around 29°C, the down pours are expected in for about 30 minutes to 2hours maximum and clear skies and sunshine follow. Average 150 – 400 millimeters of rain are received in each month of the rain season, this season is a perfect time for scuba diving for an interaction with the marine life and seeing the coral reefs.
The second rainy season in Zanzibar is experienced in November up to the first week of December, what makes this season different from the first one is that it is not as wet as the first one so you can expect good days with sunshine and clear skies.
Zanzibar climate guide
| Month of the year | |||||||||||||
| JAN | FEB | MAR | APRIL | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC | ||
| Chumbe private island | |||||||||||||
| Rainfall | 45 mm | 38mm | 107mm | 346mm | 396mm | 130mm | 89mm | 33 mm | 40 mm | 72mm | 151mm | 134 mm | |
| Temperature | 31°C | 32°C | 32°C | 30°C | 29°C | 29°C | 28°C | 30°C | 31°C | 31°C | 32°C | 33°C | |
| Pemba Island | |||||||||||||
| Rainfall | 45mm | 38
mm |
107 mm | 346 mm | 396 mm | 130 mm | 89mm | 67mm | 56 mm | 108 mm | 157mm | 92mm | |
| Temperature | 31°C | 32°C | 32°C | 30°C | 29°C | 29°C | 28°C | 28°C | 29°C | 30°C | 30°C | 31°C | |
| Zanzibar Island | |||||||||||||
| Rainfall | 66mm | 69 mm | 172 mm | 385
mm |
293
mm |
82
mm |
61
mm |
346mm | 130mm | 67mm | 108mm | 92mm | |
| Temperature | 33°C | 34°C | 34°C | 32°C | 31°C | 30°C | 29°C | 30°C | 29°C | 28°C | 30°C | 31°C | |
January – February
January – February is a hot and sunny season in Zanzibar, in this period the sea is at its clearest thus making it a great time to visit the island for water activities such as diving and snorkeling.
January – February is the most recommendable time to visit Zanzibar Archipelago.
March
In this month, the weather turns from sunny to rainy and in Zanzibar Archipelago. This period is known as the long rains with more frequent rain showers. In the middle of the month on wards, it becomes very wet in Zanzibar Archipelago which is why in the period of March travelers are not recommended to traveler to the island for a beach holiday.
April – May
April – May is the continuation of the long rains and frequent showers are received, because of the frequently rains the archipelago as well as the long coast of Indian Ocean becomes hot and very wet.
The conditions in these months are not suitable for travelers which why it is not recommended to visit Zanzibar Archipelago.
June – September
By June, the rain on the archipelago has finished however some light showers are possible. These months are perfect for hitting the beach and lounging on the tropical beaches along the coast of Indian Ocean.
This period is also the best time to visit and explore sites found in Zanzibar Archipelago such as The Stone Town.
October
In this month, temperatures start to raise in Zanzibar Archipelago but they are normally interspersed with sunny spells that don’t affect your holiday. In this period, it is possible to enjoy being at the beach, sailing on waters of the Indian ocean as well as taking a dip in the waters.
November – December
The short rains starting falling at Zanzibar Archipelago, the showers are short lived and the temperatures become hotter in the period of November – December. This period is perfect for lounging on the beach or hit a beach bar for a drink.
In conclusion, the best time to visit Zanzibar is during the dry season running from July to September. However, Zanzibar is a year-round destination worth visiting through the year as it experiences sunshine throughout the year with balmy temperatures between 28°C and 34°C.
