Best time to visit Zanzibar
June to October and December to February are the best months for Zanzibar. April and May are the wettest.
Month by month
- January and February: hot and dry, calm seas, excellent for beaches and diving.
- March: hot, humid, rains begin at the end of the month.
- April and May: long rains. Some hotels close, prices are low.
- June to October: dry and cooler, breezy. Peak season in July and August.
- November: short rains, usually brief showers.
- December: hot and busy over Christmas and New Year.
At a glance
- Best overall
- June to October
- Hottest
- December to March
- Wettest
- April and May
- Kitesurfing
- June to September, December to February
- Diving visibility
- best from October to March
By activity
- Beaches: all dry months.
- Diving and snorkelling: October to March for calm, clear water.
- Kitesurfing: the kaskazi (December to February) and kusi (June to September) winds.
- Combining with safari: June to October for the dry-season safari, or January and February for calving.
Ramadan
During Ramadan, many local restaurants in Stone Town close during the day, and the atmosphere changes. Hotels continue as normal. In 2027 Ramadan is expected to start in early February.
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