If you plan to visit Zanzibar in December, the weather is typically alright, with an average high temperature of +29°C during the day and approximately 0 sunny days. Expect some rainy, though, as there are typically 26 rainy days in the month and around 110 mm of precipitation. The weather is changeable so you may have to pack for every eventuality. Search flightsin one click on Avionero.
Good to know:
December is usually the hottest month of the year in Zanzibar;
Average weather
☀️
+29°C
Avg. max. temperature
+24°C
Min.
+31°C
Max.
110 mm
Total precipitation
81%
Avg. humidity
2 m/s
Avg. wind
0 ☀️
Sunny Days
1 ⛅️
Cloudy
26 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Zanzibar has OK weather in December.
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Average temperature in Zanzibar in December
Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Zanzibar for December based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Going from a maximum of +31°C during the day to a minimum of +26°C during the night, the temperature in December averages around +29°C.
The average maximum temperature goes up 20% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +29°C to +30°C.
Is Zanzibar warm or cold in December?
Zanzibar is typically warm in December.
Maximum temperatures go up compared to the previous month from +28°C to +29°C. The minimum temperature also goes up from +25°C to +26°C.
It’s generally warm, but pack a long-sleeve shirt for evenings.
December is the hottest month in Zanzibar, here is the comparison with other months:
Water temperature in Zanzibar in December
Water in Zanzibar in December is Very warm. It varies from +27°C to +30°C, with an average of +29°C.This is almost similar to the air temperature, which averages +29°C.
The water temperature in December is one of the warmest of the entire year:
The warmest water temperatures in Zanzibar are reached in March, when the average sea temperature rises to +29°C. The coldest water temperatures are in August, with an average of +26°C.
Can you swim in Zanzibar in December?
You can definitely swim in Zanzibar in December, the water is very warm (+29°C in average), and might even be unpleasant for ones who like it more fresh.
🦭
Cold
Below +16°C
🏄♂️
Fresh
16°C - 21°C
🏊
Comfortable
21°C - 25°C
👙
Warm
25°C - 28°C
🔥
Very warm
+28°C and up
Don't forget sunscreen and a hat, it's going to be hot!
Climate in Zanzibar in December
Zanzibar weather looks like this, on average, in December and the surrounding months.
November
December
January
Avg. temperature
+28°C
+29°C
+29°C
Min. temperature
+24°C
+24°C
+24°C
Max. temperature
+31°C
+31°C
+32°C
Rainfall
92 mm
110 mm
52 mm
Wind
2 m/s
2 m/s
3 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+28°C
+29°C
+29°C
Humidity
81%
81%
79%
Air pressure
1011 HPa
1010 HPa
1009 HPa
Sunny days
1
0
1
Cloudy days
2
1
7
Rainy days
25
26
22
Snowy days
0
0
0
December weather is still as ok as in November.It’s getting warmer as December arrives. The average maximum temperature goes up from +28°C to +29°C during the day.Prepare for more rain. Average rainfall goes from 92 mm to 110 mm.Humidity levels don’t change as the month goes on, averaging around 81%.The average wind speed doesn’t change much during December, staying around 2 m/s.The days becoming less sunny, going from 1 sunny days in November to 0 in December.
January brings much the same weather, it remains ok.
Wind speed in Zanzibar in December based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The average wind speed is 3 m/s getting up to 5 m/s which is a light breeze; barely moving the tree leaves.
The average wind speed in Zanzibar is gradually increasing during December, going from 3 m/s to 4 m/s over the course of the month.
Rain
Amount of rainfall in mm during December in Zanzibar based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Typically, there is a 77% chance of rain on an average day in December, with total rainfall of approximately 82 mm. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 18 mm, which is considered light rain.December is a pretty wet month with over 24 rainy days, so don’t forget to pack an umbrella, raincoat, and a pair of galoshes.
Here’s how December 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 December in Zanzibar?
This is the weather in Zanzibar in December 2024:
1 December
🌧️
+29°C
2 December
🌧️
+29°C
3 December
🌧️
+29°C
4 December
☁️
+29°C
5 December
🌧️
+29°C
6 December
🌧️
+29°C
7 December
🌧️
+29°C
8 December
🌧️
+28°C
9 December
🌧️
+29°C
10 December
🌧️
+29°C
11 December
🌧️
+29°C
12 December
☀️
+29°C
13 December
☀️
+30°C
14 December
☀️
+30°C
15 December
☀️
+30°C
16 December
🌧️
+29°C
17 December
🌧️
+29°C
18 December
☀️
+30°C
19 December
☀️
+30°C
20 December
☀️
+30°C
21 December
☀️
+30°C
22 December
🌧️
+28°C
23 December
☀️
+30°C
24 December
☁️
+30°C
25 December
🌧️
+30°C
26 December
🌧️
+29°C
27 December
☀️
+30°C
28 December
☁️
+30°C
29 December
☀️
+31°C
30 December
☁️
+30°C
31 December
🌧️
+30°C
In December 2024 Zanzibar had 11 sunny days, 4 cloudy days, and 16 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +29°C, with an absolute maximum of +31°C and a minimum of +28°C. The average humidity was 83%, with a maximum of 93% and a minimum of 66%. The average wind speed was 3 m/s, with a maximum of 10 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in December?
Climate Change over Years
This is how Zanzibar climate have been changing during last 43 years period.
The climate in Zanzibar in December has not changed much over the last 43 years.
The average temperature was the lowest in 1984 (+27°C) and the highest in 2019 (+29°C). 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 December:
Is December a good time to visit Zanzibar?
It’s always a good time to visit Zanzibar, but the weather is changeable in December, so plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities and exploring, and pack for every eventuality.
Can you sunbathe in Zanzibar in December?
December 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 December?
Yes, you can swim in Zanzibar in December, the water is very warm, with temperature averaging at +29°C, but it's important to manage hydration and sun exposure.
Is Zanzibar rainy in December?
Zanzibar is often rainy in December. You may get a bit damp when outside, so pack an umbrella, and maybe even a raincoat.
Is it sunny in Zanzibar in December?
Usually, it’s not very sunny in Zanzibar in December, 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.
