Zanzibar i
Coastal town · Zanzibar Urban/West

Zanzibar

Mjini · Tanzania

Now
25°
Sea temperature
28°
Local time
12:00 AM
Population
709.8K
GeoNames
Elevation
14 m
Best time to go
Feb, Jun–Oct
Go score 90/100
Sea temperature
29°
March
Main airport
ZNZ
7 km
Time zone
UTC+3
Africa/Dar_es_Salaam
At a glance

Zanzibar City or Mjini District, often simply referred to as Zanzibar, is one of two administrative districts of Mjini Magharibi Region in Tanzania. The district covers an area of 15.4 km2 (5.9 sq mi). The district has a water border to the west by the Indian Ocean. The district is bordered to the east by Magharibi District. The district seat is in Stonetown. The city is the largest on the island of Zanzibar. It is located on the west coast of Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar Archipelago, north of the much larger city of Dar es Salaam across the Zanzibar Channel. The city also serves as the capital of the Zanzibar Urban/West…

Read more — Wikipedia

The best months to visit are February and June–October.

The sea is warmest in March, at about 29°C (85°F).

Swimming season (water ≥ 21 °C): January–December.

February is the hottest month, with highs around 32°C (90°F).

August is the coldest month, with lows around 20°C (68°F).

The wettest month is April, with rain on about 17 days.

January is the sunniest month, with about 8.3 hours of sunshine a day.

in October, it is warmer than 68% of places in Tanzania.

Weather

16-day forecast

Zanzibar weather forecast
25°
Partly cloudy
Feels like
28°
Humidity
81%
Wind
10 km/h SE
Gusts
18 km/h
Cloud cover
51%
Pressure
1016 hPa
UV index
9
Sunrise / Sunset
06:01 / 18:15

Next 48 hours

25° 00 24° 03 24° 06 43% 27° 09 94% 30° 12 78% 30° 15 24% 27° 18 26° 21 25° 00 22% 24° 03 57% 24° 06 41% 28° 09 55% 31° 12 61% 31° 15 37% 28° 18 26° 21
Today
Oct 16
Light drizzle
31°24°
95% 2.0 mm 22 SE
Tomorrow
Oct 17
Light drizzle
32°24°
62% 0.5 mm 20 SE
Sun
Oct 18
Dense drizzle
31°24°
86% 2.9 mm 21 SE
Mon
Oct 19
Drizzle
30°24°
49% 5.3 mm 18 SE
Tue
Oct 20
Dense drizzle
31°23°
62% 6.3 mm 18 SE
Wed
Oct 21
Drizzle
31°24°
65% 3.6 mm 10 SE
Thu
Oct 22
Light drizzle
32°24°
75% 1.2 mm 13 SE
Fri
Oct 23
Light drizzle
33°24°
76% 0.6 mm 17 SE
Sat
Oct 24
Dense drizzle
29°24°
60% 9.0 mm 16 SE
Sun
Oct 25
Light drizzle
31°23°
27% 1.2 mm 18 SE
Mon
Oct 26
Light drizzle
30°23°
13% 2.4 mm 16 SE
Tue
Oct 27
Drizzle
30°24°
19% 7.2 mm 14 E
Wed
Oct 28
Light drizzle
29°23°
26% 6.0 mm 12 SE
Thu
Oct 29
Rain showers
29°23°
26% 10 mm 13 SE
Fri
Oct 30
Light drizzle
31°23°
39% 0.6 mm 18 SE
Sat
Oct 31
Overcast
——
29% 0
European AQI31Fair
PM2.510.3
PM1016.4
NO₂1.4
O₃45
Pollen

Pollen forecasts are only available in Europe.

Climate

Best time to visit Zanzibar

Average conditions per month from long-term climate normals (WorldClim 1970–2000, CRU 1961–1990, NOAA OISST 1991–2020).

Best time to goFebruary and June–October
15°20°25°30°35° 0200400 mm Jan · 91 mmFeb · 62 mmMar · 159 mmApr · 398 mmMay · 303 mmJun · 70 mmJul · 51 mmAug · 46 mmSep · 48 mmOct · 80 mmNov · 152 mmDec · 169 mm 32°32°32°30°30°29°29°29°30°30°31°31° 23°24°24°23°23°21°21°20°20°21°22°23° JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average high Average low Sea temperature Rainfall (mm) Best time to go

Month by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average high32°32°32°30°30°29°29°29°30°30°31°31°
Average low23°24°24°23°23°21°21°20°20°21°22°23°
Sea temperature28°29°29°29°28°27°26°26°26°27°28°29°
Rainfall (mm)91621593983037051464880152169
Rain days105121716778891313
Sunshine per day (h)8.38.375.76.37.57.57.688.37.87.9
Daylight (h)12.412.312.21211.811.811.811.912.112.312.412.5
Humidity (%)787781848278787878808281
Wind (km/h)121210101214141414131111
Go score808673697290908890888175

The go score (0–100) rewards daytime highs of 22–27 °C, mild nights, sunshine and few rainy days.

Tourist density

Zanzibar: tourist crowds by month

How busy it gets through the year — and the months with good weather and fewer visitors.

Tourist density
Moderate
#6 in Tanzania
Busiest months
June–October
Quietest months
April–May
Sweet spot
November–January
Good weather, fewer crowds
Very quietQuietModerateBusyVery busy ★ Sweet spot

Monthly level: estimate from travel-guide readership and climate. Wikivoyage (Wikimedia Pageviews).

Sea

Zanzibar: sea water temperature

Water temperature details
Water temperature today
28°C (82°F)
How it feels: warm

Wave height: 0.5 m

Swimming season

January–December

Thu28°
Fri28°
Sat27°
Sun27°
Mon27°
Tue28°
Wed28°

Average sea temperature by month

21°C 28° Jan 29° Feb 29° Mar 29° Apr 28° May 27° Jun 26° Jul 26° Aug 26° Sep 27° Oct 28° Nov 29° Dec

Nearby beaches & coastal towns

Wikivoyage

Zanzibar travel guide

What to see, do, eat and where to stay — from the Wikivoyage community.

Guide available in French

Zanzibar, ou Zanzibar City, est une ville portuaire située sur l'île d'Unguja ainsi que la plus importante localité de l'archipel de Zanzibar en Tanzanie. La vieille ville est classée au patrimoine mondial de l'UNESCO et est régulièrement citée entre la 30 et la 40 place des endroits les plus visités au monde et à la 4 place en Afrique. C'est aussi la capitale administrative du Gouvernement révolutionnaire de Zanzibar.

Zanzibar City est divisée en deux grandes zones. La vieille ville appelée (« Vieille ville ») en swahili ou (« Ville de pierre ») en anglais du fait qu'elle est principalement construite en pierre corallienne. Cette zone est inscrite au patrimoine mondial de l'UNESCO depuis 2000. L'autre zone est appelée en swahili ce qui signifie « L'autre coté » ou (« Nouvelle ville ») en anglais parce qu'elle n'a commencé à se développer qu'à la fin du . Historiquement, les deux parties étaient séparées par une crique, d'où le nom de Ng'ambo, maintenant remblayée et remplacée par la Creek Road. Climat Les mois les plus chauds vont de décembre à mars avec des températures maximales avoisinant les 33 °C en février. Les mois les plus froids vont de juin à septembre avec des températures minimales légèrement inférieures à 20 °C en septembre. Question précipitations, une grosse saison des pluies ( en swahili) de mars à mai avec une moyenne de d'eau par m et une moyenne de 17 jours de pluie en avril ; une petite saison des pluies ( en swahili) en novembre et décembre avec une moyenne de d'eau par m et une moyenne de 26 jours de pluie pour les deux mois. Les mois les plus secs vont de juillet à septembre avec une moyenne de d'eau par m et une moyenne de 12 jours de pluie pour les trois mois.

01
Prévisions météo à court terme

Prévision pour les 5 prochains jours

Text from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Edit or improve it on Wikivoyage. · FR, IT

Wikidata

Landmarks nearby

Mountains, castles, museums, beaches and heritage sites within 25 km — from Wikidata.

Things to do in Zanzibar
Practical

Zanzibar: practical information

Plugs, money, emergency numbers, safety and typical prices — everything to know before you go.

Power plugs
G
Voltage
230 V · 50 Hz
Driving
Drive on the left
Currency

Tanzanian Shilling

TZS · Sh

Languages
English, Swahili
Calling code
+255
Emergency numbers
Safety & travel advice
3
Reconsider travelUS State Department
Advises against all but essential travel to parts of the countryUK Foreign Office · Oct 9, 2026
Read the full advice
Typical prices
  • Meal, casual restaurantTZS 16,700≈ $6.40
  • CappuccinoTZS 4,650≈ $1.80
  • Beer (0.5 l)TZS 6,550≈ $2.50
  • Bottled water (1.5 l)TZS 2,200≈ $0.80
  • Taxi, 5 kmTZS 11,350≈ $4.40
  • Public transport ticketTZS 2,200≈ $0.80
  • Mid-range hotel, per nightTZS 164,700≈ $63.00

Estimated from Tanzania’s consumer price level (World Bank) — real prices vary by place and season. Prices are about 26% of US levels.

Upcoming public holidays
  • Dec 9Independence Day
  • Dec 25Christmas Day
  • Dec 26St. Stephen's Day
  • Jan 1New Year's Day
  • Jan 12Zanzibar Revolution Day
Sun & daylight
Sunrise
06:01
Sunset
18:15
Daylight today
12.3 h
Local time in Zanzibar
Earthquake history

1 earthquakes of magnitude 5 or more within 100 km in the last 51 years.

Strongest: M5 (2005).

USGS

Map

How to get to Zanzibar

Nearest airports

Distances

estimate

Hotels

Hotels in Zanzibar

Hotels and holiday rentals with live nightly prices.

Hotels in Zanzibar
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We may earn a commission when you book through this map, at no extra cost to you.

GBIF

Wildlife around here

The most-recorded species within 25 km (GBIF), with their seasonality.

Population history

Wikidata · 1967–2022
0191.6K383.3K574.9K766.6K 197019801990200020102020 1967: 68,4001983: 125,0001998: 158,0002002: 205,8702012: 501,4592020: 403,7002022: 709,809
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to visit Zanzibar?

Based on climate normals, the best time to visit Zanzibar is February and June–October.

What is the weather like in Zanzibar in October?

In October, Zanzibar averages a high of 30°C (86°F) and a low of 21°C (70°F), with 80 mm of rain on about 9 days.

How warm is the sea in Zanzibar?

The sea is warmest in March (about 29°C (85°F)). Swimming season: January–December.

What is the rainiest month in Zanzibar?

April, with rain on about 17 days.

What is the nearest airport to Zanzibar?

Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ), about 7 km away.

What power plugs are used in Tanzania?

Plug types G, 230 V.

What currency is used in Tanzania?

Tanzanian Shilling (TZS).

What is the emergency number in Tanzania?

112.

Is Tanzania safe to visit?

US State Department: Reconsider travel. UK Foreign Office: Advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country.

When is Zanzibar most crowded?

The busiest months are June–October.

When is Zanzibar least crowded?

The quietest months are April–May.

When is the best time to visit Zanzibar without the crowds?

November–January: good weather with fewer visitors than in peak season.

What time zone is Zanzibar in?

Africa/Dar_es_Salaam (UTC+3).

What is the population of Zanzibar?

About 709,809.