Best Time to Visit Zanzibar: A Month by Month Guide
There is no bad month to visit Zanzibar. There are months that suit different trips. The island sits just south of the equator, so it stays warm all year and the sea rarely drops below swimming temperature. What changes is the wind, the rain and how busy the coast is.
The two monsoons
Zanzibar runs on two seasonal winds, and locals plan around them rather than around a calendar.
Kaskazi blows from the north-east, roughly December through March. It brings hot, still days and a flat sea. This is the best window for boat trips, snorkelling at Mnemba and long afternoons on a sandbank.
Kusi blows from the south-east, roughly June through September. Days are a few degrees cooler, evenings are pleasant, and there is a steady breeze on the east coast. Walking Stone Town in July is far more comfortable than walking it in February.
Rain
The long rains fall from around mid-March to the end of May. Rain here usually comes in heavy bursts rather than all-day drizzle, and the island is greener and much quieter. Prices are at their lowest. Some smaller beach properties close for part of this period.
The short rains arrive around November. They are lighter and less predictable, and most days still have long dry spells. November is one of the better value months if you do not mind an afternoon shower.
Month by month, in short
- December to February. Hot, calm, bright. Peak over Christmas and New Year, then quieter through January.
- March. Still hot. Rain starts to build towards the end of the month.
- April and May. Long rains. Green, quiet, cheapest. Good if your plans are flexible.
- June to August. Dry, breezy, comfortable. July and August are the busiest months of the year.
- September and October. Dry and settled, with fewer people than August. Many travellers consider this the sweet spot.
- November. Short rains, warm sea, good value.
The tide matters more than the month
This is the part most people miss. On the east coast at Paje, Jambiani and Michamvi the sea retreats a long way twice a day and the lagoon empties to walkable sand. It is beautiful, and it is not swimming. On the north coast at Nungwi and Kendwa the water stays deep enough to swim at any state of the tide.
If your idea of a holiday is walking into the sea whenever you feel like it, book the north. If you want the wide, dramatic tidal flats, the kite school and a quieter beach, book the east and choose a hotel with a good pool. We plan around the tide table and tell you what to expect before you pay.
Other things worth knowing
Ramadan. The dates move each year. During Ramadan many local restaurants in Stone Town close during daylight hours and the town is quieter by day and lively after sunset. Beach hotels operate normally. Ask us for the dates that apply to your travel year.
Kitesurfing. Paje is one of the best kite spots in the region. The reliable wind seasons run roughly June to September and December to March.
Booking ahead. July, August and the last two weeks of December fill early, particularly the good beachfront rooms and private guides. If you are travelling then, book several months out.
Tell us when you are coming
Send us your dates and what you want from the trip. We will tell you honestly what the sea, the wind and the crowds will be doing, and build the itinerary around it. Start with our Zanzibar tours and excursions or request a quote.
