Zanzibar · Tanzania
November
Short rains (Vuli) — wetter than October but shorter and more manageable than the April long rains.
Strong option
#8 of 12 months
There are better months for Zanzibar — see the full ranking below.
See when to go instead →Climate
High
30°C
Low
23°C
Rain
148mm
Sun
6.5hrs/day
30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5
How November scores in Zanzibar
Weather
Above average
Value
Very good
Crowds
Excellent
Events
Average
Atmosphere
Above average
What you gain in November
- ↑The short rains (Vuli) are meaningfully different from the April–May long rains: showers tend to be intense but brief, often clearing within an hour, with sunshine following — beach days are still possible in a way they aren't in April
- ↑Kite surfing at Paje is excellent in November — the north-east trade winds blow strongly and consistently, making it one of the best kite surfing months; the flat-water lagoon is in ideal condition
- ↑Low prices and genuinely quiet beaches — particularly on the east coast at Paje and Jambiani — make November a good budget option for travellers who prioritise kite surfing, diving, or cultural exploration over reliable beach days
What you sacrifice
- ↓148mm of rain is significant — November is wetter than any month in the dry season and outdoor plans need flexibility; some days will be genuinely rainy and the beach unusable
- ↓Some resort facilities and tour operators scale back for the short rains; not the full closures of April–May, but the operational infrastructure is not at peak capacity
- ↓Humidity climbs back toward 78% as temperatures rise and the rains bring moisture — the cool, dry comfort of July and August has ended; the combination of heat and wetness can feel oppressive
How November compares to June (best month)
| Factor | November | June ★ |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | 5 | 8 |
| Value | 7 | 7 |
| Crowds | 8 | 7 |
November in other destinations
Lisbon (16.8°C)Barcelona (16.5°C)Tokyo (16.6°C)Bali (30.8°C)Santorini (17.5°C)Paris (10.5°C)New York (11°C)Marrakech (21.3°C)Amsterdam (9.2°C)Maldives (30°C)Rome (15.5°C)Bangkok (30.2°C)Istanbul (13.8°C)Vienna (7.8°C)Seoul (10.4°C)Dubrovnik (15.4°C)Rio de Janeiro (28.8°C)Kyoto (16.9°C)Phuket (31.7°C)Cape Town (23.7°C)Prague (7°C)Amalfi Coast (16°C)Mexico City (22°C)Medellín (27°C)Fiji (29°C)London (11°C)Sydney (24°C)Iceland (4°C)Tulum (29°C)Dubai (29°C)Singapore (31°C)Hoi An (27°C)Chiang Mai (29°C)Miami (27.2°C)Florence (13.6°C)Queenstown (18.5°C)Madrid (13°C)Porto (17°C)Edinburgh (9°C)Copenhagen (8°C)Budapest (9°C)Kraków (6°C)Tbilisi (11°C)Palawan (30°C)Hanoi (25°C)Osaka (16°C)Goa (32°C)Cusco (21°C)Buenos Aires (26°C)Mykonos (17°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 →