- Mkunazini Street, Stone Town, Urban/West Region, Zanzibar - Tanzania
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT THE ZANZIBAR?
The best time to visit Zanzibar is from June to October during the cool, dry months of spring. Another popular time to visit this tropical island is from December to February when it’s hot and dry. An African beach holiday means sundrenched shores, palm fringed beaches and glorious sunsets – expect all this and more on a Zanzibar Beach Escape. There are two best times to Scuba Dive off the coast of Zanzibar, in July and August and in February and March. Diving off the north coast is particularly good from June to October and off the south coast between November and March. We don’t recommend visiting Zanzibar during the two rainy seasons, from Mid-March to late May and again in November.
Wondering when the best time to visit Zanzibar is? Zanzibar; it’s a magical far-off destination in name alone. And that’s before you even look into the amazing history of this nation. With settlers from far-flung locations such as Persia and a deep Swahili and Arab history, this rich trading archipelago is an incredible place to visit – not least for its awesome beaches and nature. But with two dry seasons and two wet seasons, and two sets of seasonal winds blowing from opposite directions alternately, knowing the best time to visit Zanzibar can be a pain. Don’t worry, though; we’ve done the hard work for you. Cast your eyes below and see what works for you!
Weather in Zanzibar in January
Zanzibar in January is pretty hot. In fact, it’s the hottest month of the year, with average temperatures of 29°C. Even the sea is the same temperature, making it like swimming in a bathtub. Nighttime temperatures are around 25°C. Humidity is about 64%, which is pretty humid, but there’s not a lot of rain – only 3mm. January is actually the start of the dry season in Zanzibar, but there may be the occasional thunderstorm in the afternoons. The kaskazi winds hit the north and east coast this time of year, making waves bigger, which in turn brings seaweed to the beaches. Watersports like kitesurfing are ideal with these breezy conditions.
Weather in Zanzibar in February
February is also really hot. It’s pretty dry too – in terms of rainfall, that is – but humidity levels are increasing. Clouds can build up, but generally, it’s one of the driest months of the year. Temperatures average 28°C but can easily push into the 30s; the sea is also very warm at this time of year, making February suitable for chilling on the beach. The kaskazi is dying down come February, but it’s still better to head to the more sheltered south and west coasts of Zanzibar. It’s also a good time of year for excursions to Chumbe Island for snorkeling in the protected reef.
Weather in Zanzibar in March
With the winds virtually having disappeared by now, March is hot and humid. The beaches and seawater are balmy. Naturally, this brings a lot of visitors to the beaches, but March does also come with the drawback of unpredictable weather. The rainy season begins to reveal itself by the end of the month, which means more clouds, less sun, and occasional heavy downpours. There are still good days, especially in early March, when the seas are clear and calm, making it prime diving time. But by late March, even hotels are closing; it’s the end of high season. However, this does mean that you can get a good discount on the accommodation that’s still open.
Weather in Zanzibar in April
April is the wettest month (401mm of rain). It’s the official start of Wet Season, so of course, there’s going to be a lot of rain falling at this time of year. The rains do, however, make temperatures a bit lower, but it can still easily climb above 30°C on these days. The kaskazi winds which were bombarding the northeast of the island morph into the kusi winds that instead blow from the southwest. Days are typified by clear mornings, with pressure building up, clouds forming, and storms in the late afternoon. But sometimes it literally rains for days on end.
Weather in Zanzibar in May
There’s a lot of rain still in May across the whole of the island. The start of May definitely isn’t the best time to travel to Zanzibar, but by the end of the month, the rain starts to ease off, and downpours are less frequent. Bonus: visiting Zanzibar in May means quiet beaches and hotels at discounted prices, and it won’t rain all the time either. The weather is still pretty unpredictable, though, so you might have to get used to spending some time indoors. On average, the temperature in May is 28°C (night: 24°C). And with all that rain, nature flourishes, with flowers beginning to bloom across the island.
Weather in Zanzibar in June
June is when the long dry season starts. Usually, it’s beautifully sunny, with daytime temperatures of 28°C and nighttime temperatures of 20°C. The kusi wind hitting the south and west coasts makes for ideal kitesurfing conditions, but not exactly top-notch lazing on the beach weather. If you do want to spend time chilling on a slice of sun, sea, and sand, head to the northern end for calmer seas. June is the start of the incredible event that is sea turtles hatching – especially on Juani Island.
Weather in Zanzibar in July
By July, temperatures have dropped, hovering around 24°C on average with highs of approximately 26°C, making this one of the cooler months of the year. There’s plenty of sunshine to soak up and warm seas (also 26°C) to wallow in, though. There’s not a lot of rain, humidity is at 60%, and it’s a pleasant time of year to visit. It’s a busy time on the islands, being the time of year for one of Zanzibar’s major festivals (more on that later). It’s also the start of the summer holidays in many countries, so holidaymakers start making their way here towards the end of the month.
Weather in Zanzibar in August
Another cooler month, but this is the last month where the temperatures are “cold.” It’s never too hot, and humidity isn’t that high, so it’s pleasant. The kusi winds start to die down in August, so the sea becomes a lot calmer, and it’s a much better time of year for laying out on the sand on beaches in the southwest. But the sea still can be rough beyond the reefs. Turtles are still hatching in August – it’s a fantastic sight to see! August is a prime fishing month if you’re into that. It’s also bustling, with hotels getting booked up left, right, and center.
Weather in Zanzibar in September
Cool, but starting to get warmer, September is a lovely, relaxed time of year to visit Zanzibar. There’s usually a slight breeze, but the seas remain calm – and warm (26°C) – so diving is a good option if you’re visiting in September. In particular, the ocean around Mafia Island – with visibility of about 25 meters – is terrific for spotting whale sharks. Being such a great time to go to Zanzibar, naturally, it’s pretty popular this time of year; in fact, it’s even busier than August, so you’d better book in advance if you want to stay in your dream spot.
Weather in Zanzibar in October
In essence, October sees the same kind of weather patterns as September: lots of sunshine, warm air, and sea temperatures (both around 28°C on average), little rain, around 60% humidity, and not a load of strong winds. In fact, October is the least windy month in Zanzibar. This makes it a great time of year to laze around in the lagoons and the sea. Sunshine, sunshine, sunshine. You can even spot dolphins swimming through the calm seas off the coast of Ras Kizimkazi, and those whale sharks are still making their way around Mafia Island. It’s still a great time of year for diving, snorkeling, and all the other beachside fun you could ask for.
Weather in Zanzibar in November
November is the short rainy season. Throughout the month, 226mm of rain falls, which is very different to September and October. This means there are fewer visitors to the islands. That temperature is still pretty warm though, with an average of 28°C, but the humidity is creeping up (around 69%). The sea is still like bathwater. Even though it’s rainy, it’s much less heavy than the long rainy season back from April to May. Weather can be unpredictable, though, so be prepared.
Weather in Zanzibar in December
During the last month of the year, all of Zanzibar is sprinkled with showers, but as the month goes on, those become a lot more sporadic. It amounts to just under 200mm of rain. You can expect daytime temperatures of 28°C, with highs of 35°C in some parts. The kaskazi winds begin to get up again, and seas can get a little rough on the north and east coast of the main island; the south, east, and southeast are much more sheltered. It’s a popular time of year, because who doesn’t want to spend Christmas in Zanzibar?
What Our Clients Say
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Great Tour Operator and Great Local Guide!
Very efficient tour operator. I booked the 8 days Zanzibar tour and everything was perfect. Since the beginning they were very efficient. They answer to all your questions within one day and they send all the information you need before departure. The tour was well organized, intensive because we only had 8 days but it really covered the most important places. My guide Ahmed was amazing, he explained a lot of things about the history and the culture of Zanzibar. he was always available for us and he helped to organize all the excursions during the free time. Definitely recommend them for a great time in Zanzibar.
Josh Hutcherson
Granville Island, Vancouver, Canada
The Best Way To See Zanzibar
We were on an 11-day tour of the Northern and Central/Urban part of Zanzibar with a group of 16. We could not have been happier. We were split into two groups each with a guide, Ali and Mohammed. But we were often together giving us two guides. They were wonderful, so knowledgeable, helpful and caring. They could not do enough for us. They were so open and honest about their lives we gained insights into Zanzibar we could never have had without them. They were also hilariously funny. We loved all our stops but would have liked to have spent another night in Kendwa. We would highly recommend the trip.
Lorraine Morisson
Buckinghamshire, London, United Kingdom
Immersive Holiday Experience
After years of wanting to go to Tanzania, I landed in Zanzibar and in the good company of Mohamed. My booking with Khamis was efficient and she was super pragmatic about how I should go about the trip. Being a solo traveller can be expensive and I appreciated that Khamis and Mohamed were aware of this and provided me with options that didn’t burn a hole in my pocket. There was a genuine interest in curating my days to what I wanted and as a result not only did I drink some yummy coffee, eat mangoes off a tree on a highway but also watch the strange art of selling homes in an open market.
Diantha Kalos
Duivendrecht, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Perfect For My Group!
Everything was outstanding. The tour system they have set up met my needs and exceeded them. Considering that I have been on all of the tours before, I will say that they are just different than the other tour companies. Ahmed was young, very intelligent and loved sharing his knowledge and the history of his beloved country. He is very interactive with his clients and that makes it so much easier for his clients to understand what he is saying and made it easier for them to remember what he says. Thank you for making my trip go so smoothly! I will be using The Mountain Tours and Safari again!
Ricardo Hurtado
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Perfect Vacation in Zanzibar
I can just describe this company with one word: PERFECT. Since the moment I decided to plan my vacation to Zanzibar I contacted Khamis via email and she gave me all the recommendations and planned my days. Khamis was responsable and always responded my questions in a timely manner. During my days in Zanzibar we had the most amazing time thanks to our tour guide, Ibrahim. He was always on time, he answered all our questions and explained everything with details. They exceeded all my expectations and we were very pleased. I will definitely recommend this company to anyone traveling to Zanzibar.
Harry Etheridge
Rybne, Kyiv, Ukraine
Do you have some Questions?
We’ve been working long enough to know what are some of your common questions before, during & after your Zanzibar trip. Have a look at some of the answers.
FAQ
Got a Question?
Here a brief overview of the most frequently asked questions on Zanzibar vacations. More detailed information on each subject can be found HERE.
To have a captivating and exceptional experience on Zanzibar Excursion/Holiday, tourists should schedule to stay a minimum of seven days. Meanwhile, you can decide to spend more days to have a fantastic and satisfying Zanzibar holiday/Excursion.
Notably, the citizens of the United States (US) and the United Kingdom need tourist visas. Likewise, European, Canadian, and Australian travelers will likewise require tourist visas for Tanzania.
Meanwhile, the tourist visas are obtainable on getting to Tanzania, although, the American, as well as British governments, urge travelers to apply prior to traveling. The single-entry tourist visa cost is $50 for British citizens (while it cost $40 for applying ahead of time) and the single-entry tourist visa cost is $100 USD for US residents. Moreover, tourists can obtain a cost is $100 for Multiple-entry visas for $100 USD. Ensure your visa is VALID for 6 months before the time to take off. However, tourist visas are needed by South African residents to visit Zanzibar Islands.
NOTE: The costs and visa requirements are be changed anytime, do make effort to visit the Tanzania Immigration website for more details.
Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous piece of the Assembled Republic of Tanzania. Accordingly, you don’t have to get independent visas for the territory Tanzania and Zanzibar Islands.
No, nutritious foods are available at an affordable price during your Zanzibar excursion. Base on your financial plan, you can spend as low as $5 every day on meals. While another individual can decide to order food that costs is $15. However, bottled water and drinks are accessible at affordable prices.
Indeed, Zanzibar is a phenomenal beach holiday destination. It is additionally an incredible worth for-cash destination that is loaded with character, rich history, and unforgettable experience. Ultimately, Zanzibar culture is vivid and intriguing. Admittedly, the old architecture is precious as well as the seashores are beautiful.
Individuals frequently ask us if Zanzibar holidays excursion/Trips are costly. The basic answer is NO. You can visit Zanzibar on a tight spending plan that suits you.
The worldwide flights to Tanzania are probably going to be the single greatest cost of a trip to the Zanzibar Islands. The most ideal approach to get a save money on your Zanzibar Island holiday is thus to watch out for flight specials to Tanzania and even flight arrangements directly to Zanzibar.
From Dar es Salaam on the terrain of Tanzania, you would then be able to take the reasonable ship or fly to Stone Town on Zanzibar’s fundamental island, Unguja.
On a strict financial plan, you can spend as low as $50 to $55 USD every day on a Zanzibar holiday/Trip. That is a quote dependent on basic, nitty-gritty convenience in lodgings and essential beach huts, and dinners at local cafés and food slow down.
Certainly YES. Zanzibar Islands is safe for tourists to travel for Excursions/Trips or holidays. Zanzibar is one of the safest African destinations. Indeed, the Zanzibar Archipelago is essential to consider for experience in Tanzania, which is quite possibly the most steady African nations. Tanzania is positioned as the most tranquil country in East Africa, indeed.
The local individuals are for the most part inviting and excited when they get to see tourists. On account of the truly flawless beaches, bright climate and rich culture Zanzibar is a well-known tourist destination. Thus, it includes all the fundamental tourism foundation for an agreeable and safe holiday. Numerous worldwide travelers make the most of their experience on the islands such a lot that they return consistently.
About Us
A legally Tour Operator Company incorporated in Zanzibar and operating in the entire Tanzania. We speak the language, understand the culture and know every inch of the land. With Our Team, you’ll get the most authentic experience. We introduce you to unexploited beaches and game spotting areas, the greatest parks, local bonfires. You’ll immerse yourself in the african life, get up close and personal with the culture, the locals, and the wilderness. You might get so comfortable you won’t ever want to leave!
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