Zanzibar weather in May
Zanzibar averages 28°C by day and 25°C at night in May, with the sea at 28°C and about 209 mm of rain in the month.
Day
28°C
Night
25°C
Sea
28°C
Rain
209 mm
Flight from London
9h
What May feels like
May is hot but wet in Zanzibar: rainy season, so pack for showers.
The sea is warm at 28°C: comfortable for long swims.
It is rainy season: about 209 mm of rain falls in the month.
That is 10°C warmer than an average May day in London.
Of the 56 sun destinations we track, Zanzibar is the #31 warmest in May.
Going to Zanzibar in May?
Share the TikToks and Instagram Reels you've saved for Zanzibar to Dream Trip. It finds the places, pins them on a map and builds your days around them.
Want it warmer in May?
These are hotter than Zanzibar this month for at most an hour and a half more flying:
Zanzibar weather by month
May is highlighted. Compare with April and June, or see the full year in Zanzibar.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32°C | 26°C | 29°C | 64 mm |
| February | 32°C | 26°C | 30°C | 42 mm |
| March | 32°C | 26°C | 30°C | 105 mm |
| April | 29°C | 25°C | 29°C | 391 mm |
| May | 28°C | 25°C | 28°C | 209 mm |
| June | 28°C | 24°C | 28°C | 70 mm |
| July | 27°C | 23°C | 27°C | 47 mm |
| August | 28°C | 23°C | 26°C | 42 mm |
| September | 29°C | 23°C | 27°C | 46 mm |
| October | 29°C | 24°C | 27°C | 95 mm |
| November | 30°C | 25°C | 29°C | 115 mm |
| December | 31°C | 25°C | 30°C | 105 mm |
Zanzibar in May: quick answers
Is Zanzibar hot in May?
May is hot but wet in Zanzibar: rainy season, so pack for showers. Average highs are 28°C and lows 25°C.
Can you swim in Zanzibar in May?
The sea is warm at 28°C: comfortable for long swims.
Does it rain in Zanzibar in May?
It is rainy season: about 209 mm of rain falls in the month.
What is the warmest month in Zanzibar?
February, at an average high of 32°C. The coolest is July at 27°C.
How long is the flight to Zanzibar from the UK?
About 9h direct from London, estimated from the 7,435 km distance. Check your airline for exact times.
Still choosing? See where is hot in May for every destination ranked by temperature, sea and flight time.
How we measured this
Averages of every day in May from 2016 to 2025, from the Open-Meteo historical weather archive (ECMWF ERA5 reanalysis). Sea temperature is the 2023 to 2025 average from the Open-Meteo marine archive. Rain is the average monthly total. Reanalysis describes an area about 25 km across, so sheltered resorts can run a degree or two warmer. Flight time is a distance-based estimate from London Heathrow.
Planning Zanzibar in May?
Save the restaurants, beaches and views you find on TikTok and Instagram for Zanzibar straight to a map, then let Dream Trip turn them into a day-by-day plan.
