Weather in Zanzibar in May
May 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 May, not how a country centroid would. Compared with March and August, May sits in the middle of Zanzibar's year.
- Average temp
- 26°C
22–31°C
- Rainfall
- 161 mm
A wet month
- Sunshine
- 6.7 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 May for the wrong reason.
Nights stay warm. Air-con, if you can get it, is part of the brief. A jumper for May in Zanzibar is almost always a waste of bag space.
Rain
May is the wet side of the year in Zanzibar. Days can be heavy. Plans that cannot survive rain are the wrong plans.
This is not a reason to skip Zanzibar if you like the place. It is a reason to pack for weather and to stop treating every grey hour as a failed holiday.
Evening
Evenings stay warm.
What to pack
Sun protection
Rain jacket
Where to stay in Zanzibar
Dates are a starting point for May.
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.
