Zanzibar at a glance
- Best time
- Jan – Feb, Jun – Oct
- Warmest month
- Feb · 31°
- Warmest sea
- Mar · 29.3°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,860 h
- Rain a year
- 891 mm
- Climate
- Tropical
- Time zone
- UTC+3
- Elevation
- 14 m
Climate in Zanzibar
Zanzibar has a tropical climate: it is warm all year round, and the seasons differ mainly in how much rain falls. February is the warmest month with average highs of 31 °C, while July is the coolest at 27 °C. With around 2,860 hours of sunshine a year, Zanzibar is sunny; December is the sunniest month with 8.8 hours a day.
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Excellent
Best time to visit: January – February, June – October
What is the weather like in Zanzibar in October?
In October, Zanzibar is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 26.9 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 58 mm in total. On about 9 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Zanzibar.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 12 h 14 min06:02 – 18:16
- UV index
- 14 · extremeclear sky, noon (estimate)
- Muggy days
- 31 daysdew point 18 °C or more
- Wind
- 17 km/haverage daily peak
- Cloud cover
- 41 %on average
- Hot days
- 9 days30 °C or more
- Time zone
- UTC+3Africa/Dar_es_Salaam
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 35 %100 %
- Seaweight 25 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %88 %
- Few rainy daysweight 20 %54 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Sun, sea & sand”.
What to pack in October
- Swimwear
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Light, breathable clothes
- Water bottle – drink plenty
- Insect repellent
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sea temperature in Zanzibar
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 26.5 – 27.4 °C
Swimming season: All year
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Zanzibar ranges from 25.7 °C in August to 29.3 °C in March. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
The sea warms up slowly: it is warmest in March, while the air already peaks in February. From April to May the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in March, eight out of ten years were between 28.9 and 30.0 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 28.4° | 27.8° | 28.9° | warm |
| FebruaryFeb | 28.6° | 28.2° | 29.2° | warm |
| MarchMar | 29.3° | 28.9° | 30.0° | very warm |
| AprilApr | 29.0° | 28.4° | 29.5° | very warm |
| MayMay | 28.0° | 27.5° | 28.5° | warm |
| JuneJun | 27.0° | 26.5° | 27.5° | warm |
| JulyJul | 26.1° | 25.7° | 26.4° | warm |
| AugustAug | 25.7° | 25.2° | 26.1° | pleasant |
| SeptemberSep | 26.1° | 25.7° | 26.4° | warm |
| OctoberOct | 26.9° | 26.5° | 27.4° | warm |
| NovemberNov | 28.0° | 27.5° | 28.4° | warm |
| DecemberDec | 28.7° | 28.3° | 29.1° | warm |
Sunshine hours in Zanzibar
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 8.3 of 12.2 hours of daylight in Zanzibar, 68 % of the day.
Sunshine hours count the time with bright, direct sunshine (WMO definition, estimated from model data); daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
Rain in Zanzibar: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Zanzibar has about 10 rainy days with 58 mm of rain in total.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 86 | 30° | 26° | 28.4° | 8.5 h | 12 | 54 |
| FebruaryFeb | 90 | 31° | 26° | 28.6° | 8.4 h | 10 | 44 |
| MarchMar | 74 | 30° | 26° | 29.3° | 7.1 h | 22 | 133 |
| AprilApr | 70 | 29° | 25° | 29.0° | 6.0 h | 26 | 209 |
| MayMay | 76 | 28° | 24° | 28.0° | 6.8 h | 16 | 115 |
| JuneJun | 91 | 28° | 24° | 27.0° | 7.6 h | 7 | 29 |
| JulyJul | 94 | 27° | 23° | 26.1° | 7.6 h | 5 | 16 |
| AugustAug | 93 | 28° | 23° | 25.7° | 8.1 h | 7 | 20 |
| SeptemberSep | 95 | 29° | 23° | 26.1° | 8.5 h | 6 | 20 |
| OctoberOct | 89 | 29° | 24° | 26.9° | 8.3 h | 10 | 58 |
| NovemberNov | 78 | 29° | 25° | 28.0° | 8.3 h | 19 | 97 |
| DecemberDec | 79 | 30° | 26° | 28.7° | 8.8 h | 21 | 97 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)
6.16° S, 39.20° E · 14 m · Africa/Dar_es_Salaam
Best time to visit Zanzibar
The best time to visit Zanzibar is from January to February and from June to October. For a beach holiday with the sea above 21 °C, go in February and from June to October. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from June to August. Rain is most frequent from March to May and from November to January; the wettest month is April with 209 mm.
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Zanzibar for you.
Your best months: July – September
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
Feb, Jun – Oct
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Jun – Aug
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Mar – May, Nov – Jan
12 or more rainy days
Zanzibar month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
86January30° · Sea 28° · 9 h
In January, Zanzibar is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 28.4 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 54 mm in total. On about 18 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, January is an excellent month for a holiday in Zanzibar.
Zanzibar in January90February31° · Sea 29° · 8 h
In February, Zanzibar is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 28.6 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 44 mm in total. On about 22 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, February is an excellent month for a holiday in Zanzibar.
Zanzibar in February74March30° · Sea 29° · 7 h
In March, Zanzibar is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 29.3 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 22 days, totalling 133 mm. On about 19 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, March is a good month for a holiday in Zanzibar.
Zanzibar in March70April29° · Sea 29° · 6 h
In April, Zanzibar is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 29.0 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 26 days, totalling 209 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, April is a good month for a holiday in Zanzibar.
Zanzibar in April76May28° · Sea 28° · 7 h
In May, Zanzibar is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 28.0 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 16 days, totalling 115 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Zanzibar.
Zanzibar in May91June28° · Sea 27° · 8 h
In June, Zanzibar is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 27.0 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 29 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, June is an excellent month for a holiday in Zanzibar.
Zanzibar in June94July27° · Sea 26° · 8 h
In July, Zanzibar is hot: daytime highs average 27 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sea averages 26.1 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 5 days bring 16 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, July is an excellent month for a holiday in Zanzibar.
Zanzibar in July93August28° · Sea 26° · 8 h
In August, Zanzibar is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sea averages 25.7 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 20 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, August is an excellent month for a holiday in Zanzibar.
Zanzibar in August95September29° · Sea 26° · 9 h
In September, Zanzibar is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sea averages 26.1 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. Rain falls on about 6 days, adding up to 20 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, September is an excellent month for a holiday in Zanzibar.
Zanzibar in September89October29° · Sea 27° · 8 h
In October, Zanzibar is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 26.9 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 58 mm in total. On about 9 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Zanzibar.
Zanzibar in October78November29° · Sea 28° · 8 h
In November, Zanzibar is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 28.0 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 19 days, totalling 97 mm. On about 9 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, November is a good month for a holiday in Zanzibar.
Zanzibar in November79December30° · Sea 29° · 9 h
In December, Zanzibar is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 28.7 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 21 days, totalling 97 mm. On about 12 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, December is a good month for a holiday in Zanzibar.
Zanzibar in DecemberPlanning a trip to Zanzibar
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 9 h 30 min
- Distance
- 7,440 km
- Time zone
- UTC+3
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Zanzibar
When is the best time to visit Zanzibar?
The best time to visit Zanzibar is from January to February and from June to October. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Zanzibar?
The sea temperature in Zanzibar ranges from 25.7 °C in August to 29.3 °C in March. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
Can you swim in Zanzibar in October?
Yes. In October the sea averages 26.9 °C – lovely and warm for swimming.
What is the warmest month in Zanzibar?
February is the warmest month, with average highs of 31 °C and nights around 26 °C. July is the coolest month at 27 °C.
When does it rain most in Zanzibar?
Rain is most frequent from March to May and from November to January; the wettest month is April with 209 mm. The driest month is July with 16 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Zanzibar get?
Zanzibar gets around 2,860 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is December with 8.8 hours a day; in April there are 6.0 hours a day.
What time zone is Zanzibar in?
Zanzibar uses the time zone Africa/Dar_es_Salaam, at UTC+3 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Zanzibar?
A nonstop flight from London to Zanzibar takes about 9 h 30 min, for a straight-line distance of about 7,440 km.
Near Zanzibar
Other destinations close by.