Best Time to Visit Zanzibar
Zanzibar is one of the top destinations in the world for culture, history, and water activities. Home to the famous Stone Town and pristine white sand beaches, this island off the coast of Tanzania should be the number one destination on your bucket list!
Ready to plan your Zanzibar vacation but aren’t sure what time of year to book your flights? The best time to head to Zanzibar is June through October. You can enjoy the sunshine and cloudless blue skies during this time as it’s the dry season.
To make visiting Zanzibar even easier, June through October is also the best time to do a Tanzania safari! You can plan a safari to the national parks of your choice and then head to Zanzibar after hanging out with the Big 5.
Zanzibar’s Dry Season
Zanzibar and the northern circuit parks of Tanzania, including Serengeti, have three main seasons. The dry season is from June through October.
Since most travellers come to the island for suntanning, kitesurfing, and snorkeling; you’ll want to make sure you come during the months that see little to no rainfall.
June and July: can be a little cold in the mornings and evenings. Don’t worry though, the sun comes out brightly in the late mornings and afternoons giving you ample opportunities to lounge on the beach.
August: is when the weather starts to warm up. The humidity also decreases making this a perfect month to do watersports or just take a stroll around Stone Town.
September: has warm and breezy weather. If you want a chance to see turtles hatching and making their way to the ocean for the first time, September is also the best time to visit. Head to the Mafia Islands in Zanzibar for turtle watching and pristine scuba diving.
October: almost always has dry and warm weather, but sometimes the rains can start early at the end of the month. The evenings are much warmer since it’s getting closer and closer to the wet season.
Zanzibar’s “Short Rain” Season
November and December are called the “short rains.” About half the days out of this season see rainfall. It usually only rains for a few hours every day so you’ll still have plenty of time to lie on the beach and swim in the warm water.
Both November and December have warm days. You can comfortably hang out in your swimwear all day and take relaxing walks on the beach at night.
If you’re interested in going whale shark diving, you can head to the Mafia Islands in December. This is when the whale sharks are most populous and you have a good chance of seeing large congregations of them in the water.
Zanzibar’s “Long Rain” Season
As the long rains start, the weather in Zanzibar becomes hotter and more humid. Sometimes January and February are dry months though and the weather remains cooler. It can be hard to predict the weather during these two months, so you’re gambling a bit if you book your vacation during this time.
March is when the rainy season begins to peak. March, April, and May see the most rainfall. It doesn’t rain all day, but most afternoons see about 3 to 4 hours of rainfall. This is not the best time to visit Zanzibar because the rain can interfere with your beach and water activities.
If you’re interested in scuba diving, you’ll want to come before the long rains start. Aim to visit Zanzibar from January to March for the best conditions for diving.
Zanzibar and the Great Migration
Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania have very similar seasons and weather patterns. Most travellers find the weather during the dry season a perfect time to do all their safaris and visit Zanzibar.
The Great Migration in Serengeti also coincides with the dry season. The exact timing of the migration varies but it usually happens from late June to the end of August. Some years it can also extend to early September.
You can easily get from Zanzibar to Serengeti as daily charter flights leave from the island to one of Serengeti’s seven airstrips.
When to Visit Zanzibar For the Perfect Honeymoon
Nothing is better than laying on brilliantly white beaches and swimming in turquoise waters with your soulmate. Thousands of people every year visit Zanzibar for their honeymoon because it’s the ultimate romantic destination.
Some of the top honeymoon activities in Zanzibar include snorkeling, massages on the beach, and dancing under the stars.
To enjoy the best weather on your honeymoon, come to Zanzibar from June through October. You don’t have to worry about rain as it’s the dry season. You can spend all day cuddled up on the beach with your favourite person as you start your new life together.
Zanzibar During the Dry Season
Whether you’re coming to Zanzibar as part of a safari, honeymoon, or just another vacation; you can experience the best the island has to offer by coming in June through October. Since these months see little rainfall and plenty of sunshine, you can do all the activities on your Zanzibar bucket list.
