Season guide · Zanzibar · Tanzania
Zanzibar in the long rains
March–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Hot and humid March gives way to heavy rain in April and May, with rough seas, closed hotels and the lowest prices. Expect highs up to 32°C (90°F) and lows around 23°C (73°F), with about 42 rainy days across March–May.
Key facts
- Months
- March–May
- Temperatures
- 23°C (73°F) to 32°C (90°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 42
- Sea
- 28°C (82°F) to 29°C (84°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in the long rains
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 32°C (90°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 11 | 12.2 h | 3/5 |
| April | 30°C (86°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 17 | 12 h | 1/5 |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 23°C (73°F) | 14 | 11.8 h | 1/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 30°C (86°F) against a yearly 30°C (86°F), and 42 of the year's roughly 103 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
Good choices for the long rains
Historic site · Stone Town
Former slave market and Christ Church
The Anglican Christ Church Cathedral was built in the 1870s on the site of Zanzibar's last open slave market, closed in 1873.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Day trips in the long rains
- Mnemba Atoll (About 1 hour by road and 20–40 minutes by boat) — The island's top snorkelling and diving area, a protected reef ring around a private island with clear water, reef fish, turtles and frequent dolphins.
- Jozani Forest (About 45 minutes by car) — The national park's red colobus monkeys, endemic to Zanzibar, can be seen at close range, and a mangrove boardwalk shows the coastal ecosystem.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is the long rains a good time to visit Zanzibar?
It is a trade-off: Hot and humid March gives way to heavy rain in April and May, with rough seas, closed hotels and the lowest prices. The best months overall are January–February and June–September.
+What is the weather like in Zanzibar in the long rains?
Highs of up to 32°C (90°F) and lows around 23°C (73°F), with about 42 rainy days over the season.