Nungwi

Zanzibar Weather in January

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Zanzibar, Tanzania in January.

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Zanzibar City Nungwi Jambiani Paje

Are you planning a trip a to Zanzibar, Tanzania in January and wondering what kind of weather to expect? This page has all the details you need.

What to Expect in Zanzibar in January

Zanzibar, Tanzania is a region in Tanzania. January in Zanzibar generally has very warm temperatures, with moderate precipitation.

Temperatures

You can expect very warm maximum daytime temperatures of around 30°C (86°F) and nighttime temperatures around 27°C (81°F) in Zanzibar City. In Zanzibar, Tanzania, January typically stands out as the hottest month of the year. If you're planning a visit during this time, it would be wise to come prepared. Packing light and breathable summer cloths will ensure you stay comfortable throughout your stay.

To explore the conditions in Zanzibar, Tanzania in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Nungwi with an average of 41 mm (1.6 in) to moderate rainfall in Mbweni with 55 mm (2.2 in).

Explore Zanzibar by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Zanzibar — and find the best time to visit. (based on Zanzibar City)

January30°C (86°F) February31°C (88°F) March31°C (88°F) April30°C (86°F) May29°C (84°F) June29°C (84°F) This monthJuly28°C (82°F) August28°C (82°F) September29°C (84°F) October30°C (86°F) November30°C (86°F) December30°C (86°F)
Best Time to Visit Zanzibar →

Best Places to Visit in Zanzibar in January

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Zanzibar.

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Zanzibar

What is the weather like in January for some of the most popular destinations in Zanzibar, Tanzania?

Temperature range in Zanzibar (January)

Precipitation variation in Zanzibar (January)

Zanzibar City

In January Zanzibar City generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 30°C (86°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 27°C (81°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
30°C (86°F)
31°C (88°F)
Min temperature
26°C (79°F)
27°C (81°F)
27°C (81°F)
Monthly rainfall
108 mm (4.3 in)
55 mm (2.2 in)
50 mm (2 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
10 days
5 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
pleasant
pleasant
Climate in Zanzibar City →

Nungwi

In January Nungwi generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 27°C (81°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
Min temperature
26°C (79°F)
27°C (81°F)
27°C (81°F)
Monthly rainfall
88 mm (3.5 in)
41 mm (1.6 in)
38 mm (1.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
9 days
5 days
Weather conditions
perfect
perfect
perfect
Climate in Nungwi →

Jambiani

In January Jambiani generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 30°C (86°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 27°C (81°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
30°C (86°F)
31°C (88°F)
Min temperature
26°C (79°F)
27°C (81°F)
27°C (81°F)
Monthly sun hours
240 hours
238 hours
221 hours
Monthly rainfall
89 mm (3.5 in)
43 mm (1.7 in)
39 mm (1.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
10 days
4 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
pleasant
pleasant
Climate in Jambiani →

Paje

In January Paje generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 31°C (88°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 27°C (81°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
31°C (88°F)
31°C (88°F)
Min temperature
26°C (79°F)
27°C (81°F)
27°C (81°F)
Monthly rainfall
90 mm (3.5 in)
43 mm (1.7 in)
39 mm (1.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
10 days
4 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
pleasant
pleasant
Climate in Paje →

Bwejuu

In January Bwejuu generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 31°C (88°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 27°C (81°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
31°C (88°F)
31°C (88°F)
Min temperature
26°C (79°F)
27°C (81°F)
27°C (81°F)
Monthly rainfall
90 mm (3.5 in)
43 mm (1.7 in)
40 mm (1.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
10 days
4 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
pleasant
pleasant
Climate in Bwejuu →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Zanzibar, in Tanzania.

In our records: Tanzania January extremes

Notable January records observed across cities in Tanzania in our climate database (2002 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • From our sources, the wettest January day in Tanzania brought 394 mm (16 in) in Mtwara on January 12, 2021.

Popular cities in January

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Zanzibar in January.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Zanzibar City 30°C (86°F) 27°C (81°F) 55 mm (2.2 in)
Nungwi 29°C (84°F) 27°C (81°F) 41 mm (1.6 in)
Jambiani 30°C (86°F) 27°C (81°F) 43 mm (1.7 in)
Paje 31°C (88°F) 27°C (81°F) 43 mm (1.7 in)
Bwejuu 31°C (88°F) 27°C (81°F) 43 mm (1.7 in)
Matemwe 29°C (84°F) 27°C (81°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)

Zanzibar weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Zanzibar, Tanzania in January?

Expect tolerable weather across Zanzibar, Tanzania in January. The popular destination of Zanzibar City averages 30°C (86°F) by day and 27°C (81°F) at night during this month.

What is the average temperature in Zanzibar, Tanzania in January?

Daytime temperatures in Zanzibar City peak at roughly 30°C (86°F) in January, dropping to about 27°C (81°F) overnight.

Does Zanzibar, Tanzania get a lot of rain in January?

Not particularly. Zanzibar City averages just 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain in January, making it a mostly dry month for Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Zanzibar, Tanzania?

In our opinion, January is a good time to visit Zanzibar, Tanzania with overall pleasant weather in Zanzibar City. It's worth noting that weather conditions might differ depending on the location you visit.

On average, the best time to visit Zanzibar, Tanzania is in June, July, August and September with generally perfect weather in Zanzibar City. The weather in April, on the other hand, tends to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Zanzibar.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Tanzania? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Tanzania.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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