Zanzibar weather, month by month.

• January — Kaskazi

  Temp: 27–32°C · Wind: Light NE · Sea: Glass-calm · Rain: Almost none

  Hot, bright, peak diving visibility around Mnemba.

• February — Kaskazi

  Temp: 28–33°C · Wind: Light NE · Sea: Calm · Rain: Almost none

  Hottest period. Festival nights in Stone Town — Sauti za Busara, the year's flagship music festival.

• March — Masika begins

  Temp: 27–32°C · Wind: Shifting · Sea: Stirred · Rain: Building

  First long rains arrive. Slower travel period begins.

• April — Masika

  Temp: 26–30°C · Wind: Variable · Sea: Stirred · Rain: Most days

  Wettest month. Many east-coast hotels close. Deep green island.

• May — Masika

  Temp: 25–29°C · Wind: Building S · Sea: Stirred · Rain: Frequent

  Long rains tapering. Quiet, private feel.

• June — Kuzi begins

  Temp: 24–28°C · Wind: Steady S/SE · Sea: Choppy east, calm lagoon · Rain: Dry

  Trade winds settle in. Cooler. Kite season starts on Paje.

• July — Kuzi

  Temp: 23–28°C · Wind: Strong SE · Sea: Choppy east, calm lagoon · Rain: Dry

  Coolest nights of the year. Strong, reliable wind.

• August — Kuzi

  Temp: 23–28°C · Wind: Strong SE · Sea: Choppy east, calm lagoon · Rain: Dry

  Peak kitesurfing. Long lunches and cool evenings; Mwaka Kogwa, the Shirazi New Year, is celebrated near Makunduchi in late July.

• September — Kuzi

  Temp: 24–29°C · Wind: Steady SE · Sea: Settling · Rain: Dry

  Wind softening. Sea beginning to glass over again.

• October — Kuzi → Vuli

  Temp: 26–30°C · Wind: Light · Sea: Glass returning · Rain: Light afternoons

  Transitional. First mangoes ripen near Jozani.

• November — Vuli

  Temp: 27–31°C · Wind: Light · Sea: Glass · Rain: Short afternoons

  Brief afternoon storms; clear mornings. Hotels reopen.

• December — Kaskazi begins

  Temp: 27–32°C · Wind: Light NE · Sea: Calm · Rain: Almost none

  Heat returns, sea settles. Festive period begins.

For event timing see Zanzibar events 2026. For the broader picture, return to the Zanzibar reference, or read the seasonal context in when to visit Zanzibar and shape a week from the 8-day itinerary.