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Zanzibar Insider

Best time to visit Zanzibar

When to go to Zanzibar: the four seasons, month by month, wind and kitesurfing windows, and what Ramadan changes.

Updated

Zanzibar works year-round, but the difference between a good month and a difficult one is real. The short version: late June to October is prime, dry, cooler and low-humidity. January and February are hot but dry. The long rains from mid-March to May are the stretch to avoid.

The four seasons

The long rains (masika) run from roughly mid-March to May: heavy downpours, high humidity, and some beach hotels close or go quiet for maintenance. The long dry season, June to October, is the sweet spot, with cooler trade winds, clear days, and the sea at its calmest for swimming and snorkelling.

The short rains (vuli) arrive November to mid-December, usually as sharp afternoon showers rather than all-day washouts, and prices dip. January to early March is the short dry: the hottest stretch of the year, with the island at its greenest after the rains.

Month by month

A quick, honest read of each month:

  • January: hot and mostly dry; New Year crowds thin out after the first week.
  • February: the hottest month; dry, excellent sea conditions, busy over half-term.
  • March: good until mid-month, then the long rains typically begin.
  • April: the wettest month; many smaller hotels close; avoid unless you like storms.
  • May: rains taper late in the month; green landscapes, low prices, some closures.
  • June: dry and cooling; the season turns excellent from mid-month.
  • July: prime, dry and breezy, the busiest stretch of the European summer holidays.
  • August: prime; book accommodation early, especially the north coast.
  • September: prime and slightly quieter than August; humpback whales pass offshore July to September.
  • October: dry and warm; excellent value as the season winds down.
  • November: short rains begin; usually afternoon showers, good deals between them.
  • December: showers ease by mid-month; Christmas and New Year bring peak crowds and prices.

Wind, kitesurfing and the sea

Two monsoon winds shape the island's calendar. The kaskazi blows from the north-east from December to March; the kusi blows from the south-west from June to October. Kitesurfers plan around both: Paje on the east coast works in either window, with flat-water lagoons at high tide.

Tides matter more than wind for swimmers. East-coast beaches (Paje, Jambiani, Bwejuu) go shallow at low tide as the water retreats far across the flats, so plan swims around the tide table. The north coast (Nungwi, Kendwa) keeps enough depth to swim at any tide, which is why sunset boats and swimmers cluster there.

Ramadan

Ramadan shifts about eleven days earlier each year; in 2026 it runs roughly 18 February to 19 March. Resorts operate normally throughout, but in Stone Town some eateries close in daylight hours and the streets go quiet until iftar. Travelling during Ramadan is rewarding if you want a calmer island; just plan meals around the evening.