Weather in Zanzibar in January
January in Zanzibar is a hot month. Plan the serious walking for morning. The rest of the day wants shade and a slower pace.
In Tanzania, this is how Zanzibar actually wears January, not how a country centroid would. January is high summer in the southern year. Do not pack Zanzibar as if it were a northern winter. Compared with March and August, January sits in the middle of Zanzibar's year.
- Average temp
- 29°C
25–33°C
- Rainfall
- 43 mm
Not much rain
- Sunshine
- 8.4 h
hours per day
What to expect
Daytime
Hot days in Zanzibar. Ruins, markets and hills are a morning job. Midday sightseeing is how people remember January for the wrong reason.
Nights stay warm. Air-con, if you can get it, is part of the brief. A jumper for January in Zanzibar is almost always a waste of bag space.
Rain
Mixed skies in Zanzibar in January. Dry days and wet days share the month. Outdoor plans need a backup, not a cancellation policy.
Pack a shell you will actually carry. The monthly table is the place for totals. This is the feel: usable, interrupted.
Evening
Evenings stay warm.
What to pack
Sun protection
Where to stay in Zanzibar
Dates are a starting point for January.
Travel guides for Zanzibar
What to read before you book.
Average weather in Zanzibar
TemperatureRainfall
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FAQs about Zanzibar
Climate averages for Zanzibar, 1991–2020.
The best time to visit Zanzibar is between June and October, the most comfortable stretch of the year on these averages.
January is the hottest month, with an average around 29°C.
April is the wettest month, with about 266 mm of rain.
No. These are 1991–2020 climate normals from Meteostat, not a live forecast. Actual weather in any given week can differ.
