Zanzibar Travel Guide
Zanzibar in April and May
Quick answer
Early April is warm and quiet, the long rains come later, and we close for them.
Early April in Zanzibar is warm and quiet, with a sea of 29.1°C and air of 30.6°C; in recent years we have mostly had sunny days then. The long rains (masika) build later in April and run through May: over the month the weather station averages 409 mm on 18 days in April and 298 mm on 14 days in May. Boutique Hotel Matlai closes for part of the period: in 2027 it is closed from 15 April to 21 May. The weeks before it, late March and early April, are the easy ones for a beach holiday.
| Rain, April | 409 mm on 18 days: the main month of the long rains |
| Rain, May | 298 mm on 14 days |
| Air, April | 30.6°C / 24.5°C |
| Sea | 29.1°C in April, 28.1°C in May |
| Matlai in 2027 | Closed 15 April to 21 May |
| Rate season | Low: 1 Mar to 14 Jun (2027) |
| Last verified | 26 October 2026 |
The numbers
How much does it rain in Zanzibar in April and May?
April is where the long rains build, and over the full month the station records 409 mm on 17.5 days with 1 mm or more, 9.6 of them with 10 mm or more. The long rains usually build later in the month. May is a little lighter at 298 mm on 13.8 days. A rainy day in the table means 1 mm or more. March and June are in the table so you can see what the long rains are measured against.
| Month | Day / night air °C | Rain (mm) and rainy days | Sea °C |
|---|---|---|---|
| March | 32.5 / 24.5 | 177 mm, 11.0 days | 29.4 |
| April | 30.6 / 24.5 | 409 mm, 17.5 days | 29.1 |
| May | 29.7 / 23.8 | 298 mm, 13.8 days | 28.1 |
| June | 29.3 / 22.9 | 52 mm, 5.3 days | 27.2 |
Air and rain: WMO Climate Normals 1991-2020, Zanzibar (station 63870), published by NOAA, averages for 1991 to 2020. Sea: NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km daily sea surface temperature, mean of daily readings 2017 to 2025 for the 5 km cell off Michamvi Pingwe. Typical values, not a forecast.
The air and rain figures come from the weather station at Zanzibar airport, on the west side of the island and about 35 km from our beach in a straight line. It is the nearest official long record, not a reading taken here. Over 30 years the driest April had 32.4 mm and the wettest 811.7 mm, in 2020; the wettest May had 838.3 mm, in 2019. Our own records say the south-east gets less rain than Stone Town and the middle of the island, but we have no measured number, so we print none.
The closure
When is Matlai closed in April and May?
The hotel closes for part of April and May every year, and the dates are announced in advance. In 2027 the last night you can stay is 14 April, and we are closed from 15 April to 21 May. That leaves about two weeks after Easter Sunday on 28 March 2027, enough to cover the school holidays that run into April; the Easter 2027 page explains how to use them. After 22 May the dry Kusi wind is arriving and the rain is falling away.
I would rather say it plainly: if you came to find out whether April is a good month for a beach holiday on this coast, the answer is no, and the numbers say why.
What the rain does
What does the rain mean for a stay?
Tropical rain here usually comes as a burst in the afternoon or at night that clears, and the morning and evening stay free. Rain varies from year to year: over 30 years the April total ranged from 32.4 mm to 812 mm. In early April, in recent years, we have mostly had sunny days.
The UK government notes that in the rainy season strong rain and winds can affect travel. In practice that can mean a slower transfer, or a ferry or small plane that waits a little for the weather. It is sensible to keep a spare day before an international flight. The Tanzania Meteorological Authority publishes the forecast, and you should read it the week you go. If you do come, our post on where to eat in the low season is a good start.
Sea and tide
Is the sea still warm, and does the tide change?
The sea is one of the good news items. Off Michamvi Pingwe it averages 29.1°C in April, from 27.9°C to 30.2°C in the daily readings, and 28.1°C in May. Only March is warmer.
The tide runs as in every month. You swim straight off the beach in the 2 to 4 hours around high tide, and at low tide you swim the channel to the Mchanga sandbank; the tide comes about 50 minutes later each day, and the spring tides at full and new moon go furthest out. The rain only changes how much of the day you can use. Our tides and swimming guide has the details.
Price and value
Is April and May cheaper, and who is it for?
It is low season on our sheet: 15 Mar to 15 Jun in 2026 and 1 Mar to 14 Jun in 2027. An Asili House double room is US$535 a night in 2026 and US$550 in 2027, per room with half board, tax included. The Zanzibar infrastructure tax of US$4 per person per night is extra. The full grid is on rooms and rates. The island is at its quietest.
Who it suits is a short list: travellers who value quiet and a low price, repeat guests, writers, and people who can only travel then. If you want the warm sea with the most sun, aim for the weeks just before the long rains: March and early April give the same warm sea with less rain, and the best time to visit Zanzibar page puts all twelve months side by side. If you prefer the driest weeks, look at Zanzibar in July. This page is part of the Zanzibar travel guide.
Planning around the weather? Match the month to the coast in our guide to the best beaches in Zanzibar, which explains what the tide does on each.
Where these facts come from
Official sources
- NOAA and the World Meteorological Organization: Climate Normals 1991-2020, Zanzibar (station 63870): The monthly air temperature, rainfall and rainy-day averages for 1991 to 2020 at the Zanzibar airport station, which is on the west side of the island.
- NOAA Coral Reef Watch: daily 5 km sea surface temperature: The daily satellite sea temperature for the cell off Michamvi, averaged by month for 2017 to 2025 (2016 and 2022 not retrieved)
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: Tanzania safety and security: The rainy seasons (end of March to May, October to mid-December) and what heavy rain does to travel.
- Tanzania Meteorological Authority: The official forecasts for Unguja (Zanzibar) and the seasonal rainfall outlooks.
Checked on 26 October 2026. We link to the bodies that set the rules, not to summaries of them. Rules change: check the page itself before you travel.
Good to know
Questions travellers ask
The questions we get about April and May, answered with the same sourced numbers as the table.
Is early April a good time to visit Zanzibar?
Yes. Early April is warm and quiet: the sea is 29.1°C, the days are long and the beaches are calm. In recent years we have mostly had sunny days in early April at the hotel. The long rains (masika) build later in the month and are strongest in late April and May, which is when we are closed. Over the whole month the Zanzibar weather station averages 409 mm on 18 days, and the air stays 30.6°C, so the rain is warm.
Is Zanzibar worth visiting in May?
Yes, if you want quiet and green. May still averages 298 mm on 14 days, then the dry Kusi wind takes over and the rain falls away towards June (52 mm). May is a little drier than April.
Is Matlai open in April and May?
Not for all of it. The hotel closes for part of April and May every year, and the dates are announced in advance. In 2027 the last night you can stay is 14 April, and the hotel is closed from 15 April to 21 May. Ask us for the dates of other years.
How much cheaper is April and May?
It is low season: 15 Mar to 15 Jun in 2026 and 1 Mar to 14 Jun in 2027. An Asili House double room is US$535 a night in 2026 and US$550 in 2027, per room with half board, tax included.
How warm is the sea in Zanzibar in April and May?
Warm. The sea off Michamvi Pingwe averages 29.1°C in April, the warmest of the year after March, and 28.1°C in May, in daily satellite readings of 2017 to 2025.
Does the rain affect travel in Zanzibar?
Sometimes a little, in the rainy season. The UK government notes that strong rain and winds can affect travel at that time, so roads, ferries and flights can run slowly. It is sensible to keep a spare day before an international flight and to check the Tanzania Meteorological Authority forecast in the week you go.
Which is better, March or May?
March has less rain: 177 mm on 11 days against 298 mm on 14. March is also warmer, with 32.5°C days and a 29.4°C sea, and the island is quieter from early March. May is the cheaper, emptier month.
Your stay at Matlai
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Why guests book Matlai
- A team of butlers on call, 07:00 to 22:00. One message and it is arranged.
- Half board with a chef’s menu that changes daily: three courses, plus two à la carte kitchens at every table, Zatiny (Indian Ocean fusion) and Duyên (Vietnamese).
- Dine where you like: in the restaurant, in the garden or on your own balcony. A private table by the beach or a candlelight dinner can be arranged at an extra charge.
- Six rooms in two villas, a pool for each villa, shared by its rooms, and every room facing the sunrise over the ocean.
- Bustani, the garden spa; the sandbank in front of the hotel at low tide; a quiet beach lined with small, family-owned hotels.
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