Zanzibar · Tanzania
October
Pre-short rains shoulder season — warming up, occasional showers, and good value.
Strong option
#6 of 12 months
There are better months for Zanzibar — see the full ranking below.
See when to go instead →Climate
High
29°C
Low
22°C
Rain
72mm
Sun
7hrs/day
30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5
How October scores in Zanzibar
Weather
Good
Value
Very good
Crowds
Excellent
Events
Above average
Atmosphere
Good
What you gain in October
- ↑Temperatures warm back up to 29°C as the island moves out of the cool dry season — the beach weather improves and the Indian Ocean water temperature climbs back toward its summer peak
- ↑Low crowds and moderate prices make October one of the better value months for an independently minded traveller who can live with occasional showers
- ↑Kite surfing season begins again in October as the north-east trade winds establish — Paje's flat-water lagoon becomes active again and kite schools reopen with fresh enthusiasm after the quieter dry season closing period
What you sacrifice
- ↓October sits in the pre-short rains period — rainfall of 72mm is moderate but showers are increasingly common; beach days are possible but not as reliable as July or August
- ↓The island is in a transitional state: some seasonal operations have closed for the between-seasons period while others are in pre-season mode; the full Zanzibar experience requires some navigation
- ↓Islamic calendar events including Idd el Fitr and Maulid (dates vary year to year) can affect some services and create periods of heightened local activity; check the Islamic calendar for your specific dates
How October compares to June (best month)
| Factor | October | June ★ |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | 6 | 8 |
| Value | 7 | 7 |
| Crowds | 8 | 7 |
October in other destinations
Lisbon (21.1°C)Barcelona (21.2°C)Tokyo (22.4°C)Bali (31.1°C)Santorini (20.9°C)Paris (16°C)New York (18.5°C)Marrakech (27.1°C)Amsterdam (14.4°C)Maldives (30.3°C)Rome (20.7°C)Bangkok (30.6°C)Istanbul (19.2°C)Vienna (16.1°C)Seoul (18.4°C)Dubrovnik (20.2°C)Rio de Janeiro (27.6°C)Kyoto (22.8°C)Phuket (31.2°C)Cape Town (21.4°C)Prague (14°C)Amalfi Coast (22°C)Mexico City (22°C)Medellín (27°C)Fiji (28°C)London (15°C)Sydney (22°C)Iceland (6°C)Tulum (31°C)Dubai (34°C)Singapore (32°C)Hoi An (29°C)Chiang Mai (30.5°C)Miami (30°C)Florence (19.8°C)Queenstown (15.5°C)Madrid (19.8°C)Porto (21°C)Edinburgh (13°C)Copenhagen (13°C)Budapest (17°C)Kraków (13°C)Tbilisi (19°C)Palawan (30°C)Hanoi (29°C)Osaka (22°C)Goa (32°C)Cusco (21°C)Buenos Aires (22°C)Mykonos (22°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 →