Zanzibar · Tanzania
February
The driest month and the Sauti za Busara music festival — the best combination Zanzibar offers.
Strong option
#4 of 12 months
There are better months for Zanzibar — see the full ranking below.
See when to go instead →Climate
High
32°C
Low
24°C
Rain
48mm
Sun
8.8hrs/day
30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5
How February scores in Zanzibar
Weather
Outstanding
Value
Below average
Crowds
Below average
Events
Excellent
Atmosphere
Excellent
What you gain in February
- ↑Sauti za Busara (Swahili for "Sounds of Wisdom") in mid-February is one of Africa's finest music festivals — held in the Old Fort of Stone Town, it brings together musicians from across the continent and the Indian Ocean islands for four nights of extraordinary live performance; genuinely worth building a trip around
- ↑February is statistically Zanzibar's driest month: 48mm across the month and 8.8 sunshine hours daily — the best beach weather of the year by the numbers
- ↑Warm, clear Indian Ocean water perfect for snorkelling around Mnemba Atoll and diving on the reefs off Matemwe — visibility is at its best in the dry season
What you sacrifice
- ↓Sauti za Busara week brings a spike in accommodation demand in Stone Town — book festival period accommodation months in advance or face very limited options
- ↓Still peak pricing across the island; February is among the more expensive months and the combination of dry season and a major festival means deals are scarce
- ↓Heat is identical to January — 32°C with 74% humidity remains the baseline; the beach is the right place to spend midday
How February compares to June (best month)
| Factor | February | June ★ |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | 9 | 8 |
| Value | 3 | 7 |
| Crowds | 3 | 7 |
February in other destinations
Lisbon (14.3°C)Barcelona (14°C)Tokyo (10.4°C)Bali (30.1°C)Santorini (13.2°C)Paris (8°C)New York (4.5°C)Marrakech (19.1°C)Amsterdam (6°C)Maldives (30.2°C)Rome (11.9°C)Bangkok (33°C)Istanbul (8.6°C)Vienna (4.9°C)Seoul (4°C)Dubrovnik (11.1°C)Rio de Janeiro (31°C)Kyoto (10.1°C)Phuket (32.1°C)Cape Town (26.9°C)Prague (4°C)Amalfi Coast (13°C)Mexico City (23°C)Medellín (29°C)Fiji (31°C)London (9°C)Sydney (26°C)Iceland (3°C)Tulum (29°C)Dubai (26°C)Singapore (31°C)Hoi An (26°C)Chiang Mai (31.5°C)Miami (24.8°C)Florence (11.4°C)Queenstown (22.2°C)Madrid (11.2°C)Porto (15°C)Edinburgh (7°C)Copenhagen (4°C)Budapest (6°C)Kraków (4°C)Tbilisi (8°C)Palawan (30°C)Hanoi (19°C)Osaka (10°C)Goa (33°C)Cusco (19°C)Buenos Aires (29°C)Mykonos (13°C)Sri Lanka (31°C)Costa Rica (26°C)
Climate data: 30-year normals (1991–2020) from Open Meteo ERA5 reanalysis. Scores compare months within Zanzibar, not across destinations. Methodology →