Nungwi

Zanzibar Weather in May

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

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Zanzibar City Nungwi Jambiani Paje

Thinking about venturing to Zanzibar, Tanzania this May and curious about the weather conditions to expect? This page holds all the key information you seek, responding to your question:

What to Expect in Zanzibar in May

Zanzibar, Tanzania is a region in Tanzania. May in Zanzibar generally has warm temperatures, with precipitation levels ranging from high to heavy.

Temperatures

You can expect warm maximum daytime temperatures of around 29°C (84°F) and nighttime temperatures around 25°C (77°F) in Zanzibar City. The temperatures cited for both day and night represent usual averages, but it's possible some days could be hotter. It's advisable to dress accordingly to handle the heat.

To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of Zanzibar, Tanzania, check out the map below.

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From high rainfall in Mbweni with an average of 160 mm (6.3 in) to heavy rainfall in Nungwi with 244 mm (9.6 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) This monthJune29°C (84°F) July28°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 May

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 May for some of the most popular destinations in Zanzibar, Tanzania?

Temperature range in Zanzibar (May)

Precipitation variation in Zanzibar (May)

Zanzibar City

In May Zanzibar City generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 25°C (77°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
Min temperature
26°C (79°F)
25°C (77°F)
24°C (75°F)
Monthly rainfall
230 mm (9.1 in)
166 mm (6.5 in)
53 mm (2.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
15 days
7 days
Weather conditions
poor
pleasant
perfect
Climate in Zanzibar City →

Nungwi

In May Nungwi generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 25°C (77°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
28°C (82°F)
Min temperature
26°C (79°F)
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
Monthly rainfall
297 mm (12 in)
244 mm (9.6 in)
80 mm (3.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
17 days
8 days
Weather conditions
poor
unpleasant
perfect
Climate in Nungwi →

Jambiani

In May Jambiani generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 25°C (77°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
29°C (84°F)
28°C (82°F)
Min temperature
26°C (79°F)
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
Monthly sun hours
154 hours
215 hours
225 hours
Monthly rainfall
280 mm (11 in)
209 mm (8.2 in)
63 mm (2.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
15 days
7 days
Weather conditions
poor
unpleasant
perfect
Climate in Jambiani →

Paje

In May Paje generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 25°C (77°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
29°C (84°F)
28°C (82°F)
Min temperature
26°C (79°F)
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
Monthly rainfall
271 mm (11 in)
203 mm (8 in)
61 mm (2.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
15 days
7 days
Weather conditions
poor
unpleasant
perfect
Climate in Paje →

Bwejuu

In May Bwejuu generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 25°C (77°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
29°C (84°F)
28°C (82°F)
Min temperature
26°C (79°F)
25°C (77°F)
24°C (75°F)
Monthly rainfall
268 mm (11 in)
202 mm (8 in)
60 mm (2.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
16 days
7 days
Weather conditions
poor
unpleasant
perfect
Climate in Bwejuu →

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

Popular cities in May

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Zanzibar City 29°C (84°F) 25°C (77°F) 166 mm (6.5 in)
Nungwi 29°C (84°F) 25°C (77°F) 244 mm (9.6 in)
Jambiani 29°C (84°F) 25°C (77°F) 209 mm (8.2 in)
Paje 29°C (84°F) 25°C (77°F) 203 mm (8 in)
Bwejuu 29°C (84°F) 25°C (77°F) 202 mm (8 in)
Matemwe 29°C (84°F) 25°C (77°F) 214 mm (8.4 in)

Zanzibar weather in May: frequently asked questions

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

May in Zanzibar, Tanzania brings pleasant weather. In Zanzibar City, daytime temperatures are typically around 29°C (84°F) and nighttime lows hover near 25°C (77°F).

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

In Zanzibar City, the average daytime high in May is 29°C (84°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 25°C (77°F).

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

Yes. May brings heavy rainfall to Zanzibar, Tanzania, with Zanzibar City averaging around 166 mm (6.5 in). Expect frequent showers and pack accordingly.

Is May a Good Time to Visit Zanzibar, Tanzania?

Given the typically pleasant weather conditions in Zanzibar City, May might be a good time to visit Zanzibar, Tanzania. However, the weather conditions may vary depending on your destination.

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

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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