Perhaps the most frequent question when it comes to vacationing in Zanzibar is "how's the weather in month X?", usually thrown on a forum, followed by countless answers formulated along the lines of "when I was in month Y it rained, so no I recommend".

Before we take as the letter of the law the personal experiences of others who "didn't have good weather luck", it would be better to look at data and statistics. Only then will we make a better decision, having all the correct information behind us. Accordingly.

What is the weather like in Zanzibar? What is the best time for vacation? When and how much does it rain? When is the rainy season?

We will answer all these questions in the following lines.

Zanzibar is located between 6 and 7 degrees South latitude of the Equator having a tropical climate. Temperatures vary very little during a calendar year with an average annual temperature of 27 degrees Celsius.

The minimum during the night between July and September: 21-22 degrees.

The maximum during the night between December and May: 24 degrees.

The minimum during the day between May and August: 28-29 degrees.

The maximum during the day during December - March: 31-33 degrees.

Below you can find the table with the average temperatures throughout the year calculated for the period 1991 - 2020.

Regarding rains and rainy season, the correct information is as follows.

In fact, there are 2 "rainy seasons" in Zanzibar: long rain season and short rain season.

"Long rain season" or the actual rainy season is in the months of April-May. Then there are the "long" rains that have an almost daily frequency. A few mentions though.

1) In the last 2 years, even the rainy season "wasn't what it used to be" in the sense that it barely rained. Most often there were "showers" or passing cloud breaks, after which the weather remained partially cloudy. This year (2022) the weather was extremely nice until around April 20 when the rains started.

2) Even during the long rainy season Zanzibar can be visited. For example, if you come to dive, you can come without any problem. Prices are low and the island is not crowded at all. On the days when you are not diving, if you have good weather you can go on excursions or go on a safari on the mainland. The only additional consideration is Ramadan, the Islamic religious holiday during which bars and restaurants outside hotels close.

"Short rain season" or the short rains, are in the months of November - December, but they are exactly as they are called: "short rains", short showers that last a few minutes and then clear up, so you don't have to you are in trouble for this "short rainy season".

In summary, Zanzibar is an ideal place where you can go without problems almost all year round.

The period of the actual rainy season, and the period when we also take vacation to return home to Romania, is between April 15 and June 15. Apart from this interval, whatever period you choose, all sails up!

The temperature of the ocean water is also perfect for swimming with an average of 27.6 degrees all year round, being colder (25 degrees) during August - October, and warmer (28 degrees) during November - April.

In conclusion, to the question "when is the best time to come to Zanzibar?", the answer is, "When you want!", as long as you fall outside the period April 15 - June 15.