Zanzibar
Spice island, Swahili coast. Best June–October, and January–February. The 'long rains' ruin April–May.
A wet week ahead. Plan indoor backups.
Forecast updated 1 Oct, 04:25 UTC. Trip dates: 3–10 Oct.
Days 1–5 are usually reliable, 6–10 drift, 11–14 are the model guessing. Check again the day before you fly — more on what this can and can't do.
Plan the trip
3–10 Oct · 7 nights · from New YorkAffiliate links: the price is the same for you, and we earn a small commission. Hotel and flights are separate bookings on the partners' own sites. How this works
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When to go, where to stay, what to eat, what to avoid.
When to go
From the 2026 climate study, not the live forecast.Structural odds, not a verdict — the live forecast can still surprise either way.
The long rains (Masika) ruin April and May — many lodges close. Best windows: June through October (dry kusi monsoon, breezy, sea 26–28°C) and January–February (kaskazi, calm seas, dry, sea 28°C). Zanzibar sits just north of the southwest Indian Ocean cyclone belt — direct strikes are very rare.
Common questions about Zanzibar
When is the best time to visit Zanzibar?
January–February and June–October are when we'd go. Skip April–May: the rainy season. The live forecast on this page shows what the next two weeks look like.
Is Zanzibar worth visiting in October?
Yes. October sits inside the best stretch (January–February and June–October). Once your dates fall within the next two weeks, the forecast above gives you the real picture.
Is Zanzibar good in April?
We'd go another month: April means the rainy season. Locked dates? It still works if you plan around short, heavy showers rather than written-off days.
Dates settling? Compare hotels on Booking and flights on Kiwi — both open with 3–10 Oct filled in, the forecast's best window. Adjust the dates on the site; the hotel and the flight are separate bookings.
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