If you plan to visit Zanzibar in January, the weather is typically alright, with an average high temperature of +29°C during the day and approximately 1 sunny days. Expect some rainy, though, as there are typically 22 rainy days in the month and around 52 mm of precipitation. The weather is changeable so you may have to pack for every eventuality. Search flightsin one click on Avionero.
Average weather
☀️
+29°C
Avg. max. temperature
+24°C
Min.
+32°C
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.
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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
Going from a maximum of +30°C during the day to a minimum of +25°C during the night, the temperature in January averages around +29°C.
The average maximum temperature goes up 0% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +29°C to +29°C.
Is Zanzibar warm or cold in January?
Zanzibar is typically warm in January.
Maximum temperatures go up compared to the previous month from +29°C to +29°C. The minimum temperature also goes up from +26°C to +26°C.
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 +28°C to +30°C, with an average of +29°C.This is almost similar to the air temperature, which averages +29°C.
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 +29°C. The coldest water temperatures are in August, with an average of +26°C.
Can you swim in Zanzibar in January?
You can definitely swim in Zanzibar in January, 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 January
Zanzibar weather looks like this, on average, in January and the surrounding months.
December
January
February
Avg. temperature
+29°C
+29°C
+29°C
Min. temperature
+24°C
+24°C
+25°C
Max. temperature
+31°C
+32°C
+32°C
Rainfall
110 mm
52 mm
38 mm
Wind
2 m/s
3 m/s
3 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+29°C
+29°C
+29°C
Humidity
81%
79%
78%
Air pressure
1010 HPa
1009 HPa
1009 HPa
Sunny days
0
1
1
Cloudy days
1
7
9
Rainy days
26
22
16
Snowy days
0
0
0
January weather is still as ok as in December.The temperature levels stay the same in the area of +29°C 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 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
Typically, there is a 61% chance of rain on an average day in January, with total rainfall of approximately 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 galoshes.
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 2024:
1 January
☀️
+29°C
2 January
☀️
+30°C
3 January
☀️
+30°C
4 January
🌧️
+29°C
5 January
☁️
+29°C
6 January
☀️
+29°C
7 January
☀️
+29°C
8 January
🌧️
+29°C
9 January
🌧️
+28°C
10 January
🌧️
+29°C
11 January
☀️
+29°C
12 January
🌧️
+29°C
13 January
☀️
+29°C
14 January
☀️
+30°C
15 January
☀️
+29°C
16 January
🌧️
+29°C
17 January
☀️
+29°C
18 January
☀️
+29°C
19 January
☀️
+29°C
20 January
☀️
+30°C
21 January
☀️
+30°C
22 January
🌧️
+29°C
23 January
☀️
+30°C
24 January
☀️
+29°C
25 January
☀️
+29°C
26 January
☁️
+29°C
27 January
☀️
+29°C
28 January
☀️
+28°C
29 January
☀️
+29°C
30 January
☀️
+29°C
31 January
☀️
+29°C
In January 2024 Zanzibar had 22 sunny days, 2 cloudy days, and 7 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +29°C, with an absolute maximum of +30°C and a minimum of +28°C. 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 Years
This is how Zanzibar climate have been changing during last 43 years period.
The climate in Zanzibar in January 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 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 +29°C, 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.
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.
