Month by month
| Month | Afternoon | Sea | Rain | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31.4 °C | 28.4 °C | 12 days | Ideal — one of the best times of year |
| February | 32.2 °C | 28.9 °C | 11 days | Ideal — one of the best times of year |
| March | 31.7 °C | 29.5 °C | 18 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| April | 28.9 °C | 29.3 °C | 27 days | Unfavourable season |
| May | 28.1 °C | 28.2 °C | 20 days | Unfavourable season |
| June | 27.8 °C | 27.2 °C | 14 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| July | 27.5 °C | 26.2 °C | 15 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| August | 28.4 °C | 26 °C | 15 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| September | 29.5 °C | 26.3 °C | 14 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| October | 30.2 °C | 27.1 °C | 16 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| November | 30 °C | 28.2 °C | 23 days | Unfavourable season |
| December | 30.6 °C | 29 °C | 20 days | Unfavourable season |
Nearby in August
Before you go
Three things to check once you have picked your dates.
Entry
Visa issued on arrival. Passport valid for at least 6 months. FCDO says apply for an e-visa before travel; a single-entry visa on arrival is also possible. Zanzibar: mandatory ZIC inbound insurance; return ticket.
For a British passport, per the UK Foreign Office on 19 May 2026. Rules change: check before booking.
Safety
Outside the areas advised against
Parts of the country are advised against (within 20 km of the border with Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province (south of Mtwara)); Zanzibar is not one of them.
Official advice updated 19 May 2026
Health
CDC level 2 notice: Polio (global)
Vaccines · typhoid recommended for most travellers; hepatitis A and hepatitis B if you are not already vaccinated; rabies, cholera and polio depending on activities and areas visited. Routine vaccines up to date (measles in particular).
Yellow fever · No yellow fever locally, vaccine not recommended. Certificate required only if you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk.
Malaria · Present. Areas: All areas below 1,800 m (5,900 ft) elevation. Preventive medication recommended: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine — prescribed before departure.
Mosquitoes · dengue reported: protect yourself from bites.
Per the CDC (page reviewed 25 August 2026); see a travel clinic a few weeks before departure.
Beau Fixe is not a safety or health authority. These notes summarise dated public texts and link to their source: France Diplomatie (Licence Ouverte 2.0), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (gov.uk, Open Government Licence v3.0), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Source: CDC). Only the competent authorities are authoritative.
FAQ
Can you swim in Zanzibar in August?
The sea averages 26°C in August — yes, pleasant swimming.
How hot is Zanzibar in August?
Expect 28.4°C in the afternoon and 22°C at night, averaged over the last 10 years.
Does it rain a lot in Zanzibar in August?
Around 15 days with rain (≥ 1 mm) in the month — 47% of days.