Zanzibar · Tanzania
July
Peak dry season — whale sharks, ZIFF finale, Festival of the Dhow Countries, and perfect beach conditions.
Best match
#2 of 12 months
July is one of the best times to visit Zanzibar.
Climate
High
26°C
Low
20°C
Rain
28mm
Sun
8.2hrs/day
30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5
How July scores in Zanzibar
Weather
Outstanding
Value
Above average
Crowds
Above average
Events
Outstanding
Atmosphere
Excellent
What you gain in July
- ↑The driest and clearest month of the cool season: 28mm of rain, 8.2 sunshine hours, and the best underwater visibility of the year — Mnemba Atoll diving and Nungwi snorkelling are at their finest
- ↑Whale shark season peaks in July and August — encounters are more frequent than June and the south coast tours are fully operational with experienced guides and well-maintained equipment
- ↑Festival of the Dhow Countries (mid-July) runs alongside the ZIFF finale — a celebration of Indian Ocean culture across music, film, and crafts that makes Stone Town extraordinary to visit for the combined two-week festival period
What you sacrifice
- ↓International school holidays bring European visitors in numbers — Stone Town's narrow lanes and the best beach positions are at their busiest for the year, and accommodation prices reflect demand
- ↓At 26°C, July is the coolest month of the year — ideal for activity but the evenings are genuinely cool; not the sweaty tropical heat of January, which some visitors prefer
- ↓The trade winds are at their most consistent — kite surfers love it, but swimmers and snorkellers on exposed beaches will encounter more chop than in the calmer months of December and January
How July compares to June (best month)
| Factor | July | June ★ |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | 9 | 8 |
| Value | 5 | 7 |
| Crowds | 5 | 7 |
July in other destinations
Lisbon (25.9°C)Barcelona (28.4°C)Tokyo (30.5°C)Bali (29.8°C)Santorini (25.7°C)Paris (23.5°C)New York (28.5°C)Marrakech (36.3°C)Amsterdam (21.6°C)Maldives (30.2°C)Rome (30.2°C)Bangkok (31.8°C)Istanbul (27.9°C)Vienna (25.6°C)Seoul (28.6°C)Dubrovnik (28.3°C)Rio de Janeiro (25.1°C)Kyoto (31.8°C)Phuket (31.5°C)Cape Town (16.8°C)Prague (26°C)Amalfi Coast (31°C)Mexico City (23°C)Medellín (29°C)Fiji (26°C)London (24°C)Sydney (16°C)Iceland (14°C)Tulum (32°C)Dubai (42°C)Singapore (32°C)Hoi An (34°C)Chiang Mai (31.5°C)Miami (33.3°C)Florence (32.2°C)Queenstown (7.5°C)Madrid (32.8°C)Porto (27°C)Edinburgh (19°C)Copenhagen (22°C)Budapest (28°C)Kraków (24°C)Tbilisi (31°C)Palawan (30°C)Hanoi (33°C)Osaka (33°C)Goa (30°C)Cusco (19°C)Buenos Aires (14°C)Mykonos (29°C)Sri Lanka (30°C)Costa Rica (25°C)
Climate data: 30-year normals (1991–2020) from Open Meteo ERA5 reanalysis. Scores compare months within Zanzibar, not across destinations. Methodology →