Zanzibar in May usually sees fair weather conditions, with an average daily high temperature of +82°F and roughly 2 sunny days. However, you should prepare for about 25 rainy days with an average precipitation of 139 mm. The weather is changeable so pack for every eventuality. Search flightsin one click on Avionero.
Average weather
☀️
+82°F
Avg. max. temperature
+73°F
Min.
+86°F
Max.
139 mm
Total precipitation
82%
Avg. humidity
3 m/s
Avg. wind
2 ☀️
Sunny Days
4 ⛅️
Cloudy
25 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Zanzibar has OK weather in May.
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Average temperature in Zanzibar in May
Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Zanzibar for May based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The temperature in May is +82°F on average, with a range between a maximum of +86°F during the day and a minimum of +75°F at night.
The average maximum temperature goes up 0% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +81°F to +81°F.
Is Zanzibar warm or cold in May?
Zanzibar is typically warm in May.
Maximum temperatures go up compared to the previous month from +82°F to +82°F. The minimum temperature also goes up from +77°F to +77°F.
It’s generally warm, but pack a long-sleeve shirt for evenings.
Take a look at how May is compared to other months in Zanzibar:
Water temperature in Zanzibar in May
Water in Zanzibar in May is Very warm. It varies from +82°F to +85°F, with an average of +83°F.Note that the air temperature is lower than the water temperature, averaging around +82°F.
In May, 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 May?
You can definitely swim in Zanzibar in May, 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 May
Zanzibar weather looks like this, on average, in May and the surrounding months.
April
May
June
Avg. temperature
+82°F
+82°F
+81°F
Min. temperature
+75°F
+73°F
+72°F
Max. temperature
+90°F
+86°F
+86°F
Rainfall
192 mm
139 mm
38 mm
Wind
2 m/s
3 m/s
3 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+85°F
+83°F
+81°F
Humidity
84%
82%
78%
Air pressure
1011 HPa
1013 HPa
1015 HPa
Sunny days
0
2
4
Cloudy days
1
4
7
Rainy days
24
25
20
Snowy days
0
0
0
May weather is still as ok as in April.The temperature levels stay the same in the area of +82°F for average maximum temperature during the day.As May arrives, the amount of rainfall goes down. On average, the rainfall volume decreases from 192 mm to 139 mm.It feels drier, as humidity decreases from 84% to 82%.Winds are stronger in comparison to April, 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 May, from 0 to 2.
But maybe it is worth considering traveling in June as the weather gets better.
Wind speed in Zanzibar in May based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The average wind speed is 4 m/s getting up to 6 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 increasing during May, going from 3 m/s to 3 m/s over the course of the month.
Rain
Amount of rainfall in mm during May in Zanzibar based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
A chance of rain on a typical day in May stands at 77%, leading to total precipitation of around 77 mm. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 21 mm, which is considered light rain.May is a pretty wet month with over 24 rainy days, so don’t forget to pack an umbrella, raincoat, and a pair of wellies.
May is one of the rainiest months in Zanzibar, here is a comparison with other months, 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 May in Zanzibar?
This is the weather in Zanzibar in May 2023:
1 May
🌧️
+81°F
2 May
🌧️
+82°F
3 May
☀️
+83°F
4 May
☀️
+83°F
5 May
☁️
+83°F
6 May
☁️
+83°F
7 May
🌧️
+82°F
8 May
☀️
+83°F
9 May
🌧️
+82°F
10 May
🌧️
+81°F
11 May
☀️
+84°F
12 May
🌧️
+83°F
13 May
🌧️
+82°F
14 May
☀️
+82°F
15 May
☀️
+85°F
16 May
☀️
+85°F
17 May
☀️
+84°F
18 May
☀️
+83°F
19 May
☀️
+86°F
20 May
☀️
+86°F
21 May
🌧️
+80°F
22 May
🌧️
+82°F
23 May
🌧️
+84°F
24 May
☀️
+84°F
25 May
☀️
+83°F
26 May
☀️
+84°F
27 May
☀️
+84°F
28 May
🌧️
+78°F
29 May
☁️
+82°F
30 May
☁️
+83°F
31 May
🌧️
+81°F
In May 2023 Zanzibar had 15 sunny days, 4 cloudy days, and 12 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +82°F, with an absolute maximum of +86°F and a minimum of +79°F. The average humidity was 84%, with a maximum of 100% and a minimum of 64%. The average wind speed was 4 m/s, with a maximum of 12 m/s and a minimum of 1 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in May?
Climate Change Over the Years
This is how Zanzibar climate has changed over the last 43 years.
The climate in Zanzibar in May 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 May:
Is May a good time to visit Zanzibar?
It’s always a good time to visit Zanzibar, but the weather is changeable in May, so plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities and exploring, and pack for every eventuality.
Can you sunbathe in Zanzibar in May?
May 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 May?
Yes, you can swim in Zanzibar in May, 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 May?
Zanzibar is often rainy in May. You may get a bit damp when outside, so pack an umbrella, and maybe even a raincoat.
Is it sunny in Zanzibar in May?
Usually, it’s not very sunny in Zanzibar in May, 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.
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.
