Month guide · Zanzibar · Tanzania
Zanzibar in May
What May is really like in Zanzibar: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Mangapwani, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
May is a month many travellers avoid. Expect average highs of 29°C (84°F), lows of 23°C (73°F), about 14 rainy days and roughly 11.8 hours of daylight. Rains continue, easing towards the end of the month; low prices but limited boat trips.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 29°C (84°F) / 23°C (73°F)
- Rainy days
- About 14
- Daylight
- About 11.8 hours
- Sea temperature
- 28°C (82°F)
- Crowds
- Very quiet
- Hotel prices
- Lowest
Weather in May
May is the 8th-warmest month in Zanzibar: days average 29°C (84°F) against a yearly average high of 30°C (86°F), and nights fall to about 23°C (73°F). Rain falls on roughly 14 of its 31 days. Compared with April (30°C (86°F)), May is about as warm; by June highs stay near 28°C (82°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 06:24
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 18:14
- Daylight
- About 11.8 hours
- Sea
- 28°C (82°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, May rates 1 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 1 for hotel prices (highest in July). That makes May one of the better-value months to book.
Events in May
May has no major recurring festival in Zanzibar, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in May
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Experience · Central Unguja
Spice farm tour
Choose a small farm tour that includes lunch, and bring cash for buying spices directly from the farm.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Food
- Nature
- Kids
Historic site · Stone Town
Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe)
Built by the Omanis around 1700 on the site of a Portuguese church, the fort's thick walls now enclose craft shops, a café and an open-air amphitheatre used for performances and festivals.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Shopping
Market · Stone Town
Darajani Market
Visit in the morning; the fish and meat sections are intense, but the fruit and spice stalls are good for tasting.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Photo spot
Island · Off Stone Town
Prison Island (Changuu)
About 30 minutes by boat from Stone Town, Changuu Island was planned as a prison and later used as a quarantine station; today it is home to a colony of Aldabra giant tortoises, some of them very old, plus a small beach and snorkelling reef.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- History
- Outdoors
The sea averages 28°C (82°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Zanzibar.
What to pack
For highs near 29°C, lows near 23°C and 14 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Zanzibar?
A month many travellers avoid. If your dates are flexible, January–February and June–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Zanzibar in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Zanzibar?
It is a month many travellers avoid. Rains continue, easing towards the end of the month; low prices but limited boat trips.
+How warm is Zanzibar in May?
Average highs are around 29°C (84°F) and lows around 23°C (73°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Zanzibar in May?
Expect rain on about 14 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.