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Zanzibar in January: Weather, Average temperature and Climate

Take a look at past year’s weather for Zanzibar in January and see if it is worth visiting.
Check flight prices to Zanzibar on Avionero:
January

Weather in Zanzibar in January 2025

OK Weather
Warm
🌧️
Rainy
🌊
Very warm water
Zanzibar in January usually sees fair weather conditions, with an average daily high temperature of +84°F and roughly 1 sunny days. However, you should prepare for about 22 rainy days with an average precipitation of 52 mm. The weather is changeable so pack for every eventuality. Search flights in one click on Avionero.

Average weather

☀️
+84°F
Avg. max. temperature
+75°F
Min.
+90°F
Max.
52 mm
Total precipitation
79%
Avg. humidity
3 m/s
Avg. wind
1 ☀️
Sunny Days
7 ⛅️
Cloudy
22 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Zanzibar has OK weather in January.

Average temperature in Zanzibar in January

Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Zanzibar for January based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

The temperature in January is +84°F on average, with a range between a maximum of +86°F during the day and a minimum of +77°F at night.

The average maximum temperature goes up 0% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +84°F to +84°F.

Is Zanzibar warm or cold in January?

Zanzibar is typically warm in January.

Maximum temperatures go up compared to the previous month from +84°F to +84°F. The minimum temperature also goes up from +79°F to +79°F.

It’s generally warm, but pack a long-sleeve shirt for evenings.

Take a look at how January is compared to other months in Zanzibar:

Water temperature in Zanzibar in January

Water in Zanzibar in January is Very warm. It varies from +82°F to +86°F, with an average of +83°F. This is almost similar to the air temperature, which averages +84°F.

In January, water temperatures are average relative to the rest of the year:

The warmest water temperatures in Zanzibar are reached in March, when the average sea temperature rises to +85°F. The coldest water temperatures are in August, with an average of +78°F.

Can you swim in Zanzibar in January?

You can definitely swim in Zanzibar in January, the water is very warm (+83°F in average), and might even be unpleasant for ones who like it more fresh.
🦭
Cold
Below +61°F
🏄‍♂️
Fresh
61°F - 70°F
🏊
Comfortable
70°F - 77°F
👙
Warm
77°F - 82°F
🔥
Very warm
+82°C and up
Don't forget sunscreen and a hat, it's going to be hot!

Climate in Zanzibar in January

Zanzibar weather looks like this, on average, in January and the surrounding months.
DecemberJanuaryFebruary
Avg. temperature
+84°F+84°F+84°F
Min. temperature
+75°F+75°F+77°F
Max. temperature
+88°F+90°F+90°F
Rainfall
110 mm52 mm38 mm
Wind
2 m/s3 m/s3 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+83°F+83°F+83°F
Humidity
81%79%78%
Air pressure
1010 HPa1009 HPa1009 HPa
Sunny days
011
Cloudy days
179
Rainy days
262216
Snowy days
000

January weather is still as ok as in December. The temperature levels stay the same in the area of +84°F for average maximum temperature during the day. As January arrives, the amount of rainfall goes down. On average, the rainfall volume decreases from 110 mm to 52 mm. It feels drier, as humidity decreases from 81% to 79%. Winds are stronger in comparison to December, going up from 2 m/s to 3 m/s on average. The good news is there are likely to be more sunny days in January, from 0 to 1.

But maybe it is worth considering traveling in February as the weather gets better.

Wind

Wind speed in Zanzibar in January based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

The average wind speed is 3 m/s getting up to 7 m/s which is a medium breeze. You can feel it, especially getting out of the water.

The average wind speed in Zanzibar is gradually decreasing during January, going from 4 m/s to 2 m/s over the course of the month.

Rain

Amount of rainfall in mm during January in Zanzibar based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
A chance of rain on a typical day in January stands at 61%, leading to total precipitation of around 56 mm. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 7 mm, which is considered light rain. January is a pretty wet month with over 19 rainy days, so don’t forget to pack an umbrella, raincoat, and a pair of wellies.
Here’s how January is compared with other months in the amount of precipitation, total mm:
Zanzibar wettest month is April, where a typical day has a 80% chance of precipitation and 192 mm of rainfall per day. September, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 80% chance of precipitation and 27 mm of rainfall per day.

How was the weather last January in Zanzibar?

This is the weather in Zanzibar in January 2023:
1 January
☀️
+85°F
2 January
☀️
+85°F
3 January
☀️
+86°F
4 January
🌧️
+85°F
5 January
☁️
+85°F
6 January
☀️
+85°F
7 January
☀️
+85°F
8 January
🌧️
+85°F
9 January
🌧️
+82°F
10 January
🌧️
+83°F
11 January
☀️
+85°F
12 January
🌧️
+84°F
13 January
☀️
+83°F
14 January
☀️
+85°F
15 January
☀️
+85°F
16 January
🌧️
+85°F
17 January
☀️
+85°F
18 January
☀️
+84°F
19 January
☀️
+84°F
20 January
☀️
+85°F
21 January
☀️
+86°F
22 January
🌧️
+84°F
23 January
☀️
+85°F
24 January
☀️
+85°F
25 January
☀️
+85°F
26 January
☁️
+84°F
27 January
☀️
+84°F
28 January
☀️
+83°F
29 January
☀️
+85°F
30 January
☀️
+84°F
31 January
☀️
+84°F
In January 2023 Zanzibar had 22 sunny days, 2 cloudy days, and 7 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +84°F, with an absolute maximum of +86°F and a minimum of +82°F. The average humidity was 76%, with a maximum of 94% and a minimum of 19%. The average wind speed was 3 m/s, with a maximum of 13 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in January?

Climate Change Over the Years

This is how Zanzibar climate has changed over the last 43 years.

The climate in Zanzibar in January has not changed that much over the last 43 years.

The average temperature was the lowest in 1984 (+81°F) and the highest in 2019 (+84°F). The driest year was 2003 with only 487 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 1997 with 1353 mm.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the weather in Zanzibar in January:

Is January a good time to visit Zanzibar?

It’s always a good time to visit Zanzibar, but the weather is changeable in January, so plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities and exploring, and pack for every eventuality.

Can you sunbathe in Zanzibar in January?

January is warm in Zanzibar. You may enjoy some beach or pool time in the day, but pack something a tad warmer for the evening.

Can you swim in Zanzibar in January?

Yes, you can swim in Zanzibar in January, the water is very warm, with temperature averaging at +83°F, but it's important to manage hydration and sun exposure.

Is Zanzibar rainy in January?

Zanzibar is often rainy in January. You may get a bit damp when outside, so pack an umbrella, and maybe even a raincoat.

Is it sunny in Zanzibar in January?

Usually, it’s not very sunny in Zanzibar in January, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.

Other cities in Tanzania

Check out the weather for other cities in Tanzania.

Monthly weather in Zanzibar

Source of the data

For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Zanzibar, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.

For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.