Zanzibar weather in January
Zanzibar in January averages 29°C (84°F), 43 mm of rain and 8.4 hours of sun a day.
Of the twelve months in Zanzibar, January is the fifth driest.
- Average temp
- 29°C (84°F)
25–33°C · 77–91°F
- Rainfall
- 43 mm
Not much rain
- Sunshine
- 8.4 h
hours per day
What is Zanzibar like in January?
Daytime
Days are hot, often above 32°C.
Rain
Rain is usually light.
Evening
Evenings stay warm.
What should I pack for Zanzibar in January?
High-factor sun cream
With 8.4 hours of sun a day, burn time is short even in shade.
Sunglasses and a brimmed hat
Midday glare is the part people underpack for, not the heat itself.
Loose cotton or linen
Synthetics stop working once you are sweating through them all day.
A refillable water bottle
Daily highs this warm need roughly double the water a temperate day does.
Comfortable walking shoes you can rinse
Dry warm weather is walking weather, and dust gets into everything.
January compared with December and February
January in Zanzibar is about the same temperature as December and 81 mm drier than it, which averages 29°C (83°F).
January in Zanzibar is about the same temperature as February and 33 mm drier than it, which averages 29°C (84°F).
Daylight in Zanzibar in January
On 15 January the sun is up for 12 hours 27 minutes in Zanzibar, rising about 06:19 and setting about 18:45 local time.
Where to stay in Zanzibar
Dates are a starting point for January.
Travel guides for Zanzibar
What to read before you book.
Zanzibar weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How January compares with the rest of the year
January is highlighted. Every other month links to its own page.
| Month | Average | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| January | 29°C / 84°F | 43 mm |
| February | 29°C / 84°F | 76 mm |
| March | 28°C / 83°F | 176 mm |
| April | 27°C / 81°F | 266 mm |
| May | 26°C / 80°F | 161 mm |
| June | 25°C / 77°F | 36 mm |
| July | 25°C / 76°F | 18 mm |
| August | 25°C / 77°F | 21 mm |
| September | 26°C / 78°F | 21 mm |
| October | 27°C / 80°F | 74 mm |
| November | 28°C / 82°F | 127 mm |
| December | 29°C / 83°F | 124 mm |
Check another month
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FAQs about Zanzibar in January
January climate averages for Zanzibar, 1991–2020.
Zanzibar averages 29°C (84°F) in January, ranging from about 25°C (77°F) at night to 33°C (91°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Barely. January sees only about 43 mm, so rain is unlikely to affect your plans.
They are about the same. January averages 29°C (84°F) and February 29°C (84°F), so temperature alone will not decide between them.
January is about as warm as December, and 81 mm drier.
It is outside the easiest window. The most comfortable stretch here is June to October; January sits outside it, which usually means more heat, more rain, or both — worth it if you would rather have the place to yourself.
About 8.4 hours of sun a day on the 1991–2020 average — among the brighter months anywhere.
This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what January is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 12 hours 27 minutes of daylight in mid-January, against 12 hours 29 minutes in December and 11 hours 46 minutes in June.
On 15 January, sunrise is about 06:19 and sunset about 18:45 local time. Both shift across the month.
