The best time to visit Zanzibar is from June to October during the cool, dry months of spring. Another popular time to visit this tropical island is from December to February when it’s hot and dry. We don’t recommend visiting Zanzibar during the two rainy seasons, from mid-March to late May and again in November.
The months of June to October are regarded as the peak months to travel to Zanzibar. The weather is warm and reliable, with strong rays of sunshine glistening on the Indian Ocean. As thousands of tourists make their way to Zanzibar during these months, many of the properties offer special offers to make them competitive on the island. These can be anything from long stay discounts and free nights’ accommodation, to complimentary lobster dinners on the beach for honeymooners. If you are planning your trip to Zanzibar during these months, we would highly recommend booking in advance to make sure that there is availability in your favourite property! There is little to no rain during this period, so if you want to relax by the beach, this would be the right time for you to visit.
This will also be the high season on the island, so most of the tourist footfall will be during this time. If you are traveling during this time, especially to the more popular areas, such as Stone Town, Nungwi Beach and Kendwa Beach, you should book your accommodation and tickets well in advance, so that you get the best prices.
Since the monsoon season has come to an end, the island experiences a warm and dry spring. The aftermath of the monsoon makes Stone Town rather charming, especially the lush green scenery becomes more pleasant. This is the best time for you to visit the beaches as well but the high season would mean that the northern beaches will have a lot more people than in other seasons. This is also a good time for you to visit Zanzibar if you are going to Tanzania for the Great Wildebeest Migration, or the safari. If you wish to go island hopping, or snorkeling, then this is definitely the best season for you especially between the months of July and September.
November to February is a shoulder season in Tanzania. November sees quite a bit of rainfall, so if you want to visit the archipelago to relax by the beach, this is not the right time. Following the rains, the months of December to February will see an increase in the tourist footfall, but the weather will be more hot and humid compared to the last season. November to February is a shoulder season in Tanzania. November sees quite a bit of rainfall, so if you want to visit the archipelago to relax by the beach, this is not the right time. Following the rains, the months of December to February will see an increase in the tourist footfall, but the weather will be more hot and humid compared to the last season.
December will see a lot of tourists in the country, as it coincides with the holiday season. During the other months, the crowds will reduce, so you will get higher discounts on hotels around the islands.
This is when to visit Zanzibar if you want to enjoy the archipelago without having to bear the crowd. Except for November, the other months are good to visit the northern islands, wherein lies the best beach resorts. It will be warmer during these months, but the waters will be cold and crystal clear, so you can indulge in more water sports during this time. In fact, February is one of the best times for you to go snorkeling, or walking in the coral reefs, as the water will be clear enough for you to see through.
The monsoons in Zanzibar are a sight to behold! The seas get particularly rough, and the stormy seas are a force of nature that are quite stunning to look at. However, the monsoons are a bad time to visit Zanzibar, as the archipelago might get inaccessible in certain areas. The rains will definitely disrupt all your tourist activities as well. Except for the biggest resorts, most hotels will close during this period.
The weather will get hot and humid, and rather wet. This will be a good time for you to visit Zanzibar if you want to spend prolonged time getting exposed to the Swahili and Zanzibari culture without spending too much money. Stone Town’s charm still remains at an all-time high, after all.
