Zanzibar City, Tanzania Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Zanzibar City
Temperature barely moves in Zanzibar City - 4°C between the average February and the average July. Rainfall does the work instead: 14.3 inches (363 mm) in April against 1.4 inches (36 mm) in August.
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: February - highs near 89°F (32°C)
- Coldest month: July - highs near 82°F (28°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 98°F (36°C) high · 65°F (18°C) low
- Wettest month: April (27 rainy days) · Sunniest: December (11.5 h sun/day)
- Climate type: tropical wet-and-dry
- Annual swing: 4°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 6°C
- Months averaging 30°C or hotter: 5
- Average humidity: 79%
Temperatures through the year
The wettest month is April (14.3 inches (363 mm) across 27 days) and the driest August. At its warmest, in February, Zanzibar City runs to 89°F (32°C) in the afternoon and back to 78°F (26°C) by dawn. July is the coolest month, with highs of 82°F (28°C) and lows near 72°F (22°C). The gridded 2015-2024 daily record for this location tops out at 98°F (36°C) and bottoms at 65°F (18°C) - decade extremes, not all-time station records. Average highs hold at or above 30°C for 5 months of the year, December through March being the unbroken run.
Rain, sun and snow
Days and nights are about 6°C apart on average - narrower than all but 8% of the 3496 cities in our dataset.
How Zanzibar City compares
- Rain or snow reaches the ground on 209 days a year - more wet days than 92% of the 3496 cities we track.
- Zanzibar City averages 79°F (26°C) across the year - warmer than 89% of the 3496 cities we track.
- Its warmest and coolest months are 4°C apart - a steadier year than all but 11% of the 3496 cities we track.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 88° | 78° | 14 | 3.0 in | 11.1 h/day | 12.4 h | 45% | 77% |
| February | 89° | 78° | 11 | 1.9 in | 11.1 h/day | 12.3 h | 40% | 75% |
| March | 89° | 77° | 19 | 4.7 in | 10.4 h/day | 12.2 h | 60% | 78% |
| April | 84° | 76° | 27 | 14.3 in | 8.4 h/day | 12.0 h | 90% | 87% |
| May | 82° | 75° | 20 | 7.0 in | 9.7 h/day | 11.8 h | 65% | 84% |
| June | 82° | 73° | 15 | 2.1 in | 10.5 h/day | 11.8 h | 50% | 79% |
| July | 82° | 72° | 15 | 1.7 in | 10.7 h/day | 11.8 h | 48% | 78% |
| August | 83° | 71° | 14 | 1.4 in | 10.9 h/day | 11.9 h | 44% | 76% |
| September | 85° | 71° | 14 | 1.5 in | 11.3 h/day | 12.1 h | 45% | 76% |
| October | 86° | 73° | 15 | 3.5 in | 11.4 h/day | 12.3 h | 50% | 77% |
| November | 86° | 75° | 23 | 6.3 in | 11.3 h/day | 12.4 h | 77% | 82% |
| December | 86° | 77° | 23 | 5.1 in | 11.5 h/day | 12.5 h | 74% | 81% |
Zanzibar City month by month
Average high and low for each month, with the bar showing where it sits in Zanzibar City's year (left is the coldest night, right is the warmest afternoon).
January
- Rain
- 14 days
- Sunshine
- 11.1 h
- Daylight
- 12.4 h
February
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 11.1 h
- Daylight
- 12.3 h
March
- Rain
- 19 days
- Sunshine
- 10.4 h
- Daylight
- 12.2 h
April
- Rain
- 27 days
- Sunshine
- 8.4 h
- Daylight
- 12.0 h
May
- Rain
- 20 days
- Sunshine
- 9.7 h
- Daylight
- 11.8 h
June
- Rain
- 15 days
- Sunshine
- 10.5 h
- Daylight
- 11.8 h
July
- Rain
- 15 days
- Sunshine
- 10.7 h
- Daylight
- 11.8 h
August
- Rain
- 14 days
- Sunshine
- 10.9 h
- Daylight
- 11.9 h
September
- Rain
- 14 days
- Sunshine
- 11.3 h
- Daylight
- 12.1 h
October
- Rain
- 15 days
- Sunshine
- 11.4 h
- Daylight
- 12.3 h
November
- Rain
- 23 days
- Sunshine
- 11.3 h
- Daylight
- 12.4 h
December
- Rain
- 23 days
- Sunshine
- 11.5 h
- Daylight
- 12.5 h
Warmer places to go, by month: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
Seasons in Zanzibar City
September through November
September through November runs hot here - highs near 86°F (30°C), nights near 73°F (23°C), and rain falls on around 52 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 11.3 hours of sun a day.
December through February
December through February runs hot here - highs near 88°F (31°C), nights near 77°F (25°C), and rain falls on around 48 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 11.2 hours of sun a day.
March through May
March through May sits firmly in the heat here - highs near 85°F (29°C), nights near 76°F (24°C), and rain falls on around 66 of the 90 days.
June through August
Through June through August, Zanzibar City sits firmly in the heat: 82°F (28°C) by day, 72°F (22°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 43 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 10.7 hours of sun a day.
Climate questions, answered
How sunny is Zanzibar City?
How hot does Zanzibar City get in summer?
Does Zanzibar City have seasons?
Are nights cold in Zanzibar City?
How long does summer last in Zanzibar City?
Best time to visit Zanzibar City
The best time to visit Zanzibar City is generally June to August and February, when humidity and rainfall are at their lowest, which is what actually varies here. Daytime temperatures in that window sit near 84°F (29°C), with rain on about 14 days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in June.
Pack for Zanzibar City with light clothing for the warm months, proper waterproofs rather than an umbrella - wet days are the norm here and moisture-wicking fabrics for the humidity. February nights average 78°F (26°C), so evenings rarely match the afternoons.
Zanzibar City temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need the precipitation in other units? The mm-to-inches rainfall converter handles it.