What is the weather like in Zanzibar in May?

Expect temperatures between 24°C and 28°C with 39% average rain probability and about 8 hours of sunshine daily.

What is the weather like in Zanzibar in May?

Zanzibar in May scores 62/100 based on 30 years of climate data. Decent conditions for most activities.

Who should visit Zanzibar in May?

May in Zanzibar is ideal for: Cultural tourists, Business travelers.

Zanzibar Weather in May | 30-Year Forecast

Avg High

28°C

Hottest around day 16

Avg Low

24°C

Coolest around day 31

Rainy Days

27days

39% avg rain chance

Sunshine

8hrs/day

Spring season

Sea Temperature in May

Indian Ocean(Bahari ya Hindi)

28.4°C

Monthly Average

Water Feel

🌴Tropical

Perfect for swimming and water sports

Swim Rating

✅Excellent for swimming

Based on average sea surface temperature

Body of Water

Indian Ocean

Bahari ya Hindi

Zanzibar coastline

Essential Travel Info for Zanzibar

🗓️ Best Time to Visit 📖 Travel Guide 🍴 Food Guide

Currency

TZS

Sh Tanzanian shilling

Language

English

+1 more

Driving

Left side

Safety

Moderate Safety

GPI: 2.001

Travel Intelligence

Exclusive flight analytics & health data for Zanzibar

Smart Flight Estimator

Airport-to-Airport Logistics

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Flight Connectivity Analysis

Airport traffic data & seasonal patterns

Low Traffic

36/ 100

Traffic Index

Quieter airport

Peak Daily Arrivals

slots per day

Peak

Aug

Low

May

Monthly Traffic Distribution

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Traffic Level

Low Season

Key Connections

Dar es Salaam Julius Nyerere (DAR)

Arusha (ARK)

Chake Pemba (PMA)

Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta (NBO)

Tanga (TGT)

Health & Safety Advisory

CDC travel health recommendations

10 Recommendations

COVID-19

All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. Please seeYour COVID-19 Vaccinationfor more information.

Cholera

Active cholera transmission iswidespreadin Tanzania. Cholera is rare in travelers.Certain factorsmay increase the risk of getting cholera or having severe disease (more information). Avoiding unsafe food and water and washing your hands can also help prevent cholera.Vaccination may be considered for children and adults who are traveling to areas of active cholera transmission.

Hepatitis A

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers one year old or older going to Tanzania.Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A. The dose does not count toward the routine 2-dose series.Travelers allergic to a vaccine component should receive a single dose of immune globulin, which provides effective protection for up to 2 months depending on dosage given.Unvaccinated travelers who are over 40 years old, are immunocompromised, or have chronic medical conditions planning to depart to a risk area in less than 2 weeks should get the initial dose of vaccine and at the same appointment receive immune globulin.

Hepatitis B

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers younger than 60 years old traveling to Tanzania. Unvaccinated travelers 60 years and older may get vaccinated before traveling to Tanzania.

Malaria

CDC recommends that travelers going to certain areas of Tanzania take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. Depending on the medicine you take, you will need to start taking this medicine multiple days before your trip, as well as during and after your trip. Talk to your doctor about which malaria medication you should take.Transmission areasAll areas below 1,800 m (5,900 ft) elevationDrug resistanceChloroquineSpeciesP. falciparum(primarily)P. malariaeandP. ovale(less commonly)P. vivax(rare)Recommended chemoprophylaxisAtovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine2Updated April 23, 2025See footnotes

Measles

Cases of measles are on the rise worldwide. Travelers are at risk of measles if they have not been fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to departure, or have not had measles in the past, and travel internationally to areas where measles is spreading.All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, including an early dose for infants 6–11 months, according toCDC’s measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.

+4 more

Source: CDC Travelers' Health

View Complete Health Guide

Is May a Good Time to Visit Zanzibar?

👌Decent conditions for most activities(62/100)

Short Answer

May perfect for Zanzibar's beaches - 28.4°C water temperature, 28°C days, minimal 39% rain. Book beachfront early as this is peak coastal season.

Decision Factors

Oppressive heat and humidity

28°C with 82% humidity - challenging conditions

Vaccinations required

Yellow Fever

Warm tropical seas

28.4°C sea temperature - Tropical Bath

Health precautions needed

Be aware of: Leptospirosis, Schistosomiasis, African Sleeping Sickness (African Trypanosomiasis)

Plenty of sunshine

9.7h of sunshine daily

Shoulder season - balanced conditions

46% of peak - good value with moderate crowds

Good For

🏛️
Cultural tourists
Comfortable conditions for exploring museums and sites
💼
Business travelers
Climate-controlled meetings unaffected by weather

Who Should Avoid

👴
Elderly travelers
82% humidity creates difficult conditions

"According to 30YearWeather's analysis of 30 years of NASA POWER satellite data,Zanzibar in May averages 28°C with 39% precipitation probability."

📊 Source: 30YearWeather.com🛰️ Data: NASA POWER (1991-2021)View Methodology →

Frequently Asked Questions: Zanzibar in May

What are the temperatures in Zanzibar in May?

Daytime highs average 28°C, nights drop to 24°C. Temperatures remain fairly consistent.

How many rainy days in Zanzibar in May?

Expect around 27 days with measurable rainfall. An umbrella is advisable.

What to wear in Zanzibar in May?

Comfortable casual wear with a light jacket for evenings.

Is May peak season in Zanzibar?

This is shoulder season—moderate prices and manageable crowds.

Zanzibar Weather in May