Tanzania’s coastal regions experience typical tropical weather patterns with high temperatures and rainfall all year round but there are two seasonal peaks driven by the equatorial wind changes caused by the earth’s rotation. Zanzibar for many people is nothing more than a beach resort, and whilst there is much more to the island than just it’s beaches for those travelling there for just the beach choosing the time of year is exceptionally important, as spending a week in the rain is not something that interests many people.
There are typically two dry seasons and two wet seasons on Zanzibar, which is more commonly referred to as the monsoon season and the dry season. You will find a month by month break down below as to what weather conditions you can expect over the course of a year on Zanzibar.
December to March
Often considered as one of the better times to visit the Zanzibar archipelago, especially popular with those combing their trip with a variety of Tanzania safaris. It’s likely that you will be caught up in the odd shower of rain here or and there is likely to be a few hazy days but nothing to write home about.
April to May
Towards the end of April the winds swing violently to the south and southeast which brings with it a substantial amount of rain which can continue for up to 2 months without showing any signs of stopping. There are obviously the occasional breaks in the weather where the odd sunny, hot day will appear but in general it’s a pretty wet time to be visiting the island.
June
Throughout June the rains die down much more although there is still a notable wind which continues to blow from the southeast. The truth in reality is that the winds are no more fierce than in the previous month it’s only because there are a lot more people on the island to witness it in June who have previously been on safari in the Manyara or more commonly the Serengeti National Park.
July to October
The weather on Zanzibar is reciprocated on the Tanzanian mainland throughout July, very warm, dry and with very little rain around. In Zanzibar the temperatures are high and there is an above average amount of sunshine hours. The winds during this period continue to blow from the southeast and are very mild.
November
The winds during the beginning of November switch from a south easterly to a north easterly direction which brings with it a vast array of precipitation. At this time of year conditions can be particularly hot and humid but these events are highly unpredictable and change year on year.
