Month guide · Zanzibar · Tanzania
Zanzibar in March
What March is really like in Zanzibar: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: This photo was taken by Anton Zelenov . Please credit this with : Photo : Anton Zelenov in, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
March is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 32°C (90°F), lows of 24°C (75°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 12.2 hours of daylight. Hot and increasingly humid as the long rains approach later in the month.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 32°C (90°F) / 24°C (75°F)
- Rainy days
- About 11
- Daylight
- About 12.2 hours
- Sea temperature
- 29°C (84°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in March
March is the 3rd-warmest month in Zanzibar: days average 32°C (90°F) against a yearly average high of 30°C (86°F), and nights fall to about 24°C (75°F). Rain falls on roughly 11 of its 31 days. Compared with February (32°C (90°F)), March is about as warm; by April highs drop to around 30°C (86°F).
- Sunrise (15 March)
- About 06:28
- Sunset (15 March)
- About 18:37
- Daylight
- About 12.2 hours
- Sea
- 29°C (84°F)
Short rains (November–early December). Brief afternoon showers and storms, with green landscapes, fewer visitors and good-value stays.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, March rates 3 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in July). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in March
March has no major recurring festival in Zanzibar, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in March
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Experience · Michamvi Peninsula
The Rock restaurant
Book well ahead and ask about the tide at your booking time.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Couples
- Food
- Photo spot
- Views
Neighbourhood · Southern Unguja
Kizimkazi
A fishing village on the south coast where boats take visitors to look for bottlenose and humpback dolphins, and where the Kizimkazi mosque has Kufic inscriptions dated to the early 12th century, among the oldest on the East African coast.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- History
- Outdoors
Aquarium · Nungwi
Mnarani turtle conservation pond
A short, easy visit with children while staying in Nungwi.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Nature
Experience · Nungwi
Nungwi dhow yards and sunset
On the beach at Nungwi, builders still construct wooden dhows by hand, and in the evening sunset cruises sail out on traditional boats as fishermen return.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Views
- Outdoors
The sea averages 29°C (84°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Zanzibar.
What to pack
For highs near 32°C, lows near 24°C and 11 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is March a good time to visit Zanzibar?
A shoulder-season month. If your dates are flexible, January–February and June–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Zanzibar in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is March a good time to visit Zanzibar?
It is a shoulder-season month. Hot and increasingly humid as the long rains approach later in the month.
+How warm is Zanzibar in March?
Average highs are around 32°C (90°F) and lows around 24°C (75°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Zanzibar in March?
Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.