Januarygood
Visiting Zanzibar in January 2026/27
Sitting in the middle of the short dry season, January is a great month to visit Zanzibar and the islands with calmer trade winds, warmer waters and higher temperatures rounding out at 32 degrees.
Activities & Events
January ranks amongst the best months in the year for diving with the calm, warm waters giving great visibility and animals such as whale shark coming past the coast.
Cheat Sheet
- + Dry warm weather
- + Trade winds calm down to gentle breezes
- + Excellent time for diving along the coast
- – Early in the month is still festive season so expensive
Top Tips for January 2026/27
- + Combining with the southern Serengeti this is a great time
Februarygood
Visiting Zanzibar in February 2026/27
As with January, February is still a great time to head to Zanzibar to make the most of the calms winds and the warm temperatures. Combined with being the northern hemisphere winter, this is the perfect time for some winter sun!
Activities & Events
Along with the Great Migration herds in the Southern Serengeti, this is a great time to head to the island.
Cheat Sheet
- + Dry and warm weather
- + Calm and cooling trade winds
- + Considered low season for rates
- – Some properties can be humid
Top Tips for February 2026/27
- + With low season rates in the southern parks you get great value.
March mixed
Visiting Zanzibar in March 2026/27
A bit of a harder month to predict than January and February as the humidity tends to build and the winds start to blow in the run up to the main rainy period that runs through until June.
Activities & Events
With the warmer waters and trade winds still blowing softly, the diving is still great but, as the rains arrive, visibility tends to drop off later in the month.
Cheat Sheet
- + Mostly clear, dry weather
- + Very good diving in first part of the month
- + Low season so very quiet on the island
- – As the rains arrive the weather can be changeable
Top Tips for March 2026/27
- + With game still good in the Serengeti it is still a great time for a value safari.
April mixed
Visiting Zanzibar in April 2026/27
Definitely considered one of the least desirable months to visit the islands as the main rainy period arrives to Tanzania. This being said, the rainfall is often found on the western side of the island with short rain bursts and humid temperatures.
Activities & Events
As this is seen as the low season for the island there is not a huge amount going on and the diving has dropped off in quality.
Cheat Sheet
- + Often the beaches on the eastern side avoid the rains
- + Excellent value for money
- – Quite a few properties close for the month for refurbishments
- – Stone Town becomes a bit of a wash out
Top Tips for May 2026/27
- + If you take a chance you can get superb value for money
May mixed
Visiting Zanzibar in May 2026/27
Along with April, May is considered one of the least desirable months to visit the islands as the main rains have now, fully arrived period arrives to Tanzania.
Activities & Events
The wettest month in the year also brings a change in the trade winds with the cooler “kusi” wind starting to increase and clearing out some of the humidity.
Cheat Sheet
- + If you take a chance the east coast is still often dry and hot
- + Low season prices in many properties
- – Quite a few properties close for the month for refurbishments
- – Stone Town becomes a bit of a wash out
Top Tips for May 2026/27
- + If you take a chance you can get superb value for money
June good
Visiting Zanzibar in June 2026/27
With the start of the month bringing the end of the main rains and the “kusi” trade winds starting to blow stronger, the average temperatures drop to around 28 degrees and the waters start to get choppier.
Activities & Events
The island’s kite surfing community start to get interested mid-way through the month with the best winds found on the southern coast.
Cheat Sheet
- + Clear skies and cooler temperatures
- + Great value as still categorised as low season
- + Fewer tourists still
- – The trade winds start to blow harder
Top Tips for June 2026/27
- + A great month particularly for the southern parks
July best
Visiting Zanzibar in July 2026/27
Arguably one of the best months to visit the islands, July offers dry and sunny conditions with average temperatures around 28 degrees throughout the month.
Activities & Events
The first two weeks of the month are when the annual film festival comes to Stone Town with film, music and arts gathering from across Africa.
Cheat Sheet
- + Clear, dry weather
- + Festivals and the clove harvest bring culture
- – Kusi trade winds blow at their strongest
- – It’s peak season so high prices and visitor numbers
Top Tips for July 2026/27
- + Definitely book early to avoid the crowds
August amazing
Visiting Zanzibar in August 2026/27
After the frenetic festivals of July, August is a slower but still excellent time to head to Zanzibar. The southerly “kusi” winds start to subside and the average temperatures start to increase again from their yearly lows of around 28 degrees.
Activities & Events
With the trade winds still blowing to the south, kite surfing is still great with snorkelling and diving still good to the north.
Cheat Sheet
- + Temperatures starting to increase again
- + Really good diving and kite surfing
- – Trade winds are still strong
- – The island is as busy with tourists as it gets
Top Tips for August 2026/27
- + Many of the hotels reward early booking for the month
September great
Visiting Zanzibar in September 2026/27
Probably one of the best months in the year for weather on the island with the lowest number of days with rainfall, temperatures increasing to the low 30s and the trade winds falling to a cooling breeze.
Activities & Events
Many of the activities for which the island is famed are still very good with both kite surfing and diving at their prime.
Cheat Sheet
- + Excellent weather and temperatures
- + Trade winds are dropping
- + Fewer families and more offers on properties
- – An expensive time to head to the northern Serengeti
Top Tips for September 2026/27
- + One of our favourite months for a southern safari and beach!
October still good
Visiting Zanzibar in October 2026/27
The last month of the long dry season, the first couple of weeks of October offer some of the best temperatures and best conditions of the year. With calm seas and warm waters this is the pick of the months for divers.
Activities & Events
Prime period for diving and general beach time with the “kusi” trade wind falling away and temperatures increasing steadily.
Cheat Sheet
- + Dry and warm
- + Excellent visibility for diving and snorkelling
- + Good offers for properties on price
- – Getting more humid to the end of the month
Top Tips for October 2026/27
- + A good month for some autumn sunshine
November fair
Visiting Zanzibar in November 2026/27
The arrival of the short rains brings rainfall and humidty to the island but only in short bursts. For those looking to visit the island without the crowds and to save on the budget then November is a great month.
Activities & Events
The quietest month of the year for weather is also the quietest month for activities and events with the island taking on a sleepy atmosphere.
Cheat Sheet
- + Warm weather and waters
- + Much lower visitor numbers
- + Low season prices
- – Occasional rainfall and higher humidity
Top Tips for November 2026/27
- + The first two weeks of the month are a company favourite!
December fair
Visiting Zanzibar in December 2026/27
As the short rains subside towards the end of the month, so the tourist numbers increase towards the festive period. Despite the short bursts of rain and the tripical temperatures, often hitting 35 degrees, this is one of the busiest months on the island.
Activities & Events
The festive season, in particular the New Year festivities, brings fireworks and parties to the island!
Cheat Sheet
- + Increasing temperatures and calm winds
- + Plenty of festivities to be had
- – The island gets busy
- – This is as expensive as the hotels get
Top Tips for December 2026/27
- + For travel over the festive period get booking now!
