Most people book Zanzibar for July, August or December. March and April get skipped — and the reason is straightforward: they sit at the start of the long rains, and April is when the long rains begin to build. We are not going to pretend otherwise.
What gets missed is what you trade for that. These are the months when the island is green, the beaches are genuinely empty, the water is as warm as it is in high season, and the rates drop. The rain is not a grey day — it is a loud hour in the afternoon and then light that photographers come here for.
This is the honest case for the two months nobody advertises: what they are actually like, what they cost, who they suit, and who should book June to October instead.
What March and April Actually Offer
March brings long sunny days, warm water and very little wind — the sea turns calm enough for easy snorkeling, kayaking and beach days. The ocean itself is around 28°C.
Most of the big resorts further north are quiet in these months, and on the peaceful southeast coast it feels wonderfully unhurried — fewer crowds, fewer beach vendors, just coconut palms, white sand and open water.
The heavier "masika" rains start toward the end of April; until mid-April, the weather is mostly hot, sunny and breezy. Zanzibar's strong Kusi and Kaskazi winds are gone by this point too, so the sea goes flat — good for sunrise swims and calm-water photography. Restaurants and roads are quieter across the island, and dolphins, starfish and reef fish are easy to find in the warm water.
Why Matlai Suits the Quiet Season
Floating breakfasts in the villa pool and open-air cinema nights are both booked as extras through your butler, along with private candlelit dinners by the ocean and spa treatments under the palms. Kayaks and snorkeling gear are steps from your villa, and an evening boat trip out to watch the sunset over Chwaka Bay is easy to arrange. Nearby: The Rock Restaurant (about 10 minutes away), Blue Lagoon for snorkeling, Michamvi's beaches, Jozani Forest and its red colobus monkeys, and day trips to Stone Town. For photos, prices and availability, see the villas and booking pages.
Ramadan and Post-Ramadan Travel
If you're traveling during Ramadan, expect a quieter, more reflective atmosphere across the island, with some restaurants outside tourist areas closing during daylight hours. Life at Matlai carries on as usual, and the beach and grounds are, if anything, even quieter than the rest of the low season. After Ramadan ends, the mood turns festive again with local celebrations. We don't publish a fixed seasonal discount here — rates and any current offers are confirmed directly, and the honest low-season numbers for March and April are covered just below.
What the rain actually does here
Let's deal with the honest part first, because every other page about these months skips it. Zanzibar's long rains run roughly March to May, and April is when the long rains begin to build. If you need a guarantee of dry days, book June to October instead and we will tell you so on the phone.
But rain here does not behave the way northern-European rain behaves. It is not a grey lid over the whole day. It arrives as short, heavy afternoon showers, often loud, usually over within the hour, and the light afterwards is the best light of the year — the air is washed clean and the lagoon goes an improbable colour. The sea temperature does not drop: it sits in the same 25–28°C band it holds all year. You are not swimming in a cold ocean under a shower; you are swimming in a warm one between them.
The numbers, plainly
March is the more forgiving of the two. It still carries the tail of the Kaskazi — warm, calmer evenings, less wind — and it is one of the better snorkelling stretches of the year. Our low season begins on 15 March in 2026, and on 1 March in 2027, so the second half of March is warm weather at quiet-season prices.
April is the quietest month on the island. That is the trade: the most rain, and the fewest people you will ever share this coast with. It is also when the island is greenest, and when green turtles are at their nesting peak.
Why April works better at Matlai than at most places
Here is the practical problem with April in Zanzibar, and nobody advertises it: a lot of independent restaurants close for the month. Guests at hotels without a proper kitchen end up eating the same limited menu for a week, or driving to find dinner in the rain.
That is precisely why this month suits us. Matlai runs two kitchens on site — Zatiny and Duyên — with half board included, so a closed restaurant down the coast is somebody else's problem. The butler service does not thin out in low season either; if anything you get more of it, because there are fewer guests to look after. Six rooms in April is close to having the place to yourself.
If you want the detail on where to eat when half the coast is shut, that is here: where to eat in Zanzibar in low season.
And a word about May
People reading this often ask about May as well, so: May is the other half of the long rains and it is the quietest month of all. We are normally open, but the hotel closes for part of April and May — it depends on the season, and we announce it in advance rather than leaving anyone guessing. If you are looking at May, write to us before you book flights and we will tell you straight away whether we are open for your dates.
Who should not come in March or April
If your trip depends on reliable sunshine, if you want a beach-bar scene, or if you are travelling a very long way for four nights and cannot afford to lose an afternoon, come in the dry season instead. These months reward people who are relaxed about weather and want the island quiet — not people who need it to behave.