Monthly climate guide
Zanzibar weather in January
Expect hot weather in Zanzibar in January: afternoons reach about 30°C (85°F), while nights drop to around 27°C (81°F). Around 75 mm of rain falls over the month (some rain), and skies are a mix of sun and cloud. Daytime highs are about the same as December and about the same as February.
What stands out in January
- Days and nights are close, only about 3°C apart.
- With the heat, see Prison Island (Changuu) early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
- Zanzibar is usually about 4°C cooler than Moshi, 380 km away, in January.
- It's humid — around 77% — so the heat feels heavier.
Avg high
30°C
85°F
Avg low
27°C
81°F
Rainfall
75 mm
some rain
Humidity
77%
relative
Sky
52%
cloud · a mix of sun and cloud
Zanzibar weather by month
Show the monthly averages as a table
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Humidity | Cloud cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30°C / 85°F | 27°C / 81°F | 75 mm | 77% | 52% |
| February | 30°C / 86°F | 27°C / 81°F | 44 mm | 76% | 47% |
| March | 30°C / 86°F | 28°C / 82°F | 123 mm | 76% | 55% |
| April | 29°C / 85°F | 27°C / 81°F | 303 mm | 79% | 63% |
| May | 28°C / 83°F | 26°C / 79°F | 254 mm | 80% | 59% |
| June | 28°C / 82°F | 25°C / 77°F | 25 mm | 76% | 39% |
| July | 27°C / 81°F | 24°C / 76°F | 14 mm | 74% | 37% |
| August | 27°C / 81°F | 24°C / 76°F | 15 mm | 74% | 34% |
| September | 28°C / 82°F | 25°C / 76°F | 29 mm | 74% | 32% |
| October | 29°C / 84°F | 26°C / 78°F | 82 mm | 75% | 37% |
| November | 29°C / 85°F | 27°C / 80°F | 127 mm | 76% | 43% |
| December | 30°C / 86°F | 27°C / 81°F | 98 mm | 76% | 41% |
What to pack for January
- Light, breathable clothing (cotton or linen)
- A sun hat and high-SPF sunscreen
- A refillable water bottle
- A compact umbrella or packable rain jacket
- Water-resistant shoes
- Quick-dry fabrics — it feels stickier than the temperature suggests
Is January a good time to visit Zanzibar?
Our Zanzibar guide recommends: June to October (dry and a little cooler) and December to February (hot and mostly dry). The long rains fall from March to May, with shorter rains in November.
East-coast beaches such as Paje and Jambiani have very large tides; for swimming at any time of day, the north coast around Nungwi and Kendwa is better.
Best time to visit Zanzibar →Other Tanzania cities in January
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Zanzibar weather in January. WeatherCompare, 2026 (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020 monthly averages). https://weathercompare.eu/weather/tanzania/zanzibar/january
<a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/tanzania/zanzibar/january">Zanzibar weather in January</a> (WeatherCompare)
<iframe src="https://weathercompare.eu/embed/tanzania/zanzibar" width="300" height="160" style="border:0;border-radius:12px" loading="lazy" title="Zanzibar weather in January"></iframe> <p style="font-size:12px"><a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/tanzania/zanzibar/january">Zanzibar weather in January</a> – WeatherCompare</p>
Zanzibar in January: quick answers
Is January a good time to visit Zanzibar?
January is a reasonable time for Zanzibar: highs around 30°C and about 75 mm of rain, though not one of the three best months.
How warm is Zanzibar in January?
Average highs are about 30°C (85°F) and average lows about 27°C (81°F), based on 10 years of daily data.
Does it rain a lot in Zanzibar in January?
Zanzibar typically gets around 75 mm of rain in January — some rain.
When is the best time to visit Zanzibar?
June to October (dry and a little cooler) and December to February (hot and mostly dry). The long rains fall from March to May, with shorter rains in November.
Figures are long-term averages for the area around Zanzibar (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020), not a forecast for a specific year. For upcoming days, see the live multi-source forecast.