Month guide · Zanzibar · Tanzania
Zanzibar in November
What November is really like in Zanzibar: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Yann Macherez, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
November is a good-value shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 31°C (88°F), lows of 23°C (73°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 12.4 hours of daylight. The short rains bring afternoon showers and storms, usually brief; good-value prices.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 31°C (88°F) / 23°C (73°F)
- Rainy days
- About 11
- Daylight
- About 12.4 hours
- Sea temperature
- 28°C (82°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in November
November is the 4th-warmest month in Zanzibar: days average 31°C (88°F) against a yearly average high of 30°C (86°F), and nights fall to about 23°C (73°F). Rain falls on roughly 11 of its 30 days. Compared with October (30°C (86°F)), November is about as warm; by December highs stay near 31°C (88°F).
- Sunrise (15 November)
- About 05:56
- Sunset (15 November)
- About 18:20
- Daylight
- About 12.4 hours
- Sea
- 28°C (82°F)
Long rains (March–May). Hot and humid March gives way to heavy rain in April and May, with rough seas, closed hotels and the lowest prices.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, November rates 2 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in July). That makes November one of the better-value months to book.
Events in November
November has no major recurring festival in Zanzibar, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in November
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Historic site · North-west coast
Mangapwani caves
Visit with a guide who can explain the history, often as part of a spice tour.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
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
Historic site · Stone Town
Stone Town
Explore early in the morning before the heat and the tour groups; getting lost is part of the experience, and the waterfront is never far.
- Time needed
- A full day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Market · Stone Town
Forodhani Gardens night market
Every evening the waterfront gardens in front of the Old Fort fill with food stalls grilling seafood skewers, making Zanzibar pizza and pressing sugarcane juice with lime and ginger, while local boys dive off the sea wall at sunset.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Food
- After dark
- Kids
The sea averages 28°C (82°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Zanzibar.
What to pack
For highs near 31°C, lows near 23°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 November a good time to visit Zanzibar?
A good-value 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 November a good time to visit Zanzibar?
It is a good-value shoulder-season month. The short rains bring afternoon showers and storms, usually brief; good-value prices.
+How warm is Zanzibar in November?
Average highs are around 31°C (88°F) and lows around 23°C (73°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Zanzibar in November?
Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.