Zanzibar weather in February

In February, Zanzibar sees average daytime highs of 30°C and overnight lows near 27°C, with 36 mm of rain across 7.7 wet days and about 12.2 hours of daylight. It is the 1st-warmest and 8th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 30°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 36% of the time in February, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 18 min at the start of February to 12 h 06 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, February is Zanzibar's 9th-clearest and 4th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Zanzibar's year-round climate.

Daytime high
30°
1st warmest
Overnight low
27°
12th coldest
Rainfall
36 mm
7.7 wet days
Daylight
12 h 12 min
6:32 AM – 6:44 PM
Cloud cover
54%
9th clearest
Wind
15 km/h
4th windiest
Solar energy
6.3 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.1
out of 10

Zanzibar is city in Tanzania.

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in February

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 30°C through the month.

A typical February day in Zanzibar reaches about 30°C in the afternoon and slips back to 27°C overnight — a 4°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 29°C and 31°C. Set against its neighbours, February runs on par with January and on par with March.

25°28°30°33°35°151015202528
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
13027
23027
33027
43027
53027
63027
73027
83027
93027
103027
113027
123027
133027
143027
153027
163027
173027
183027
193027
203027
213027
223027
233027
243027
253027
263027
273027
283027

How February really feels in Zanzibar

Once humidity and wind are folded in, February averages 28 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 32°C
28
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

The story in February is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.

Zanzibar weather by month

How February compares with the rest of the year at a glance. February is the 1st-warmest and 8th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan30° / 27°449.712.35.2
Feb30° / 27°367.712.25.1
Mar30° / 26°12221123.8
Apr29° / 25°20025.511.93.5
May28° / 25°14618.911.75.0
Jun28° / 24°359.611.66.6
Jul27° / 23°226.411.77.1
Aug27° / 23°216.211.87.2
Sep28° / 23°195.4127.1
Oct29° / 24°529.812.15.9
Nov29° / 25°841812.34.5
Dec30° / 26°9320.312.44.1

Cloud cover in February

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 36% of the time in February.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 23% of February, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 41%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202528
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16040
26040
36040
45941
55941
65941
75842
85842
95743
105743
115842
125842
135842
145842
155842
165941
175941
185941
195941
206040
216040
226040
236040
246040
256040
265941
275842
285842

Chance of precipitation in February

Any precipitation

Zanzibar gets around 36 mm of rain over 7.7 wet days in February. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 29% and peaks near 41% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202528
Rain chance (%)
121
222
322
422
522
623
723
824
925
1025
1126
1226
1327
1428
1528
1629
1729
1830
1931
2031
2132
2233
2334
2435
2537
2638
2740
2841

Humidity in February

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of February feels oppressive — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, February lands in the oppressive band about 69% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202528
Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
17723
27723
37723
47624
57624
67624
77525
87525
97426
107327
117228
127228
137129
147030
156931
166931
176832
186733
196733
206634
216535
226337
236238
246139
256040
265941
275743
285644

Wind in February

Winds average 15 km/h in February.

Across February, daily wind ranges from about 13 km/h on the calmest days to 16 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202528
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
116light breeze
216light breeze
316light breeze
416light breeze
516light breeze
616light breeze
716light breeze
816light breeze
915light breeze
1015light breeze
1115light breeze
1215light breeze
1315light breeze
1415light breeze
1514light breeze
1614light breeze
1714light breeze
1814light breeze
1914light breeze
2014light breeze
2114light breeze
2213light breeze
2313light breeze
2413light breeze
2513light breeze
2613light breeze
2713light breeze
2813light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in February

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 12 h 18 min at the start of February to 12 h 06 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 12 minutes over February. Sunrise moves from 6:29 AM to 6:33 AM, and sunset from 6:45 PM to 6:41 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202528
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.36:296:45
212.36:296:45
312.36:296:45
412.36:306:45
512.26:306:45
612.26:306:45
712.26:306:45
812.26:316:45
912.26:316:45
1012.26:316:44
1112.26:316:44
1212.26:316:44
1312.26:316:44
1412.26:326:44
1512.26:326:44
1612.26:326:44
1712.26:326:43
1812.26:326:43
1912.26:326:43
2012.26:326:43
2112.26:326:43
2212.26:326:42
2312.26:336:42
2412.26:336:42
2512.16:336:42
2612.16:336:41
2712.16:336:41
2812.16:336:41

Solar energy in February

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in February, about 6.3 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.36 kWh/m² to a high of 6.3 kWh/m² in February across the year — February's 6.3 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202528
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.3Intense
26.3Intense
36.3Intense
46.3Intense
56.3Intense
66.3Intense
76.3Intense
86.3Intense
96.3Intense
106.3Intense
116.3Intense
126.3Intense
136.3Intense
146.3Intense
156.3Intense
166.3Intense
176.3Intense
186.3Intense
196.3Intense
206.3Intense
216.2Intense
226.2Intense
236.2Intense
246.2Intense
256.2Intense
266.2Intense
276.1Intense
286.1Intense
Planning a trip in February

Hazard calendar for Zanzibar

In seasonPeak

In February, Zanzibar sits inside its cyclone season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Zanzibar sits in the South Indian Ocean cyclone belt; the season peaks January–March.

Zanzibar's rainy season runs March–May, when most of the year's rain falls.

Cyclone
Rainy season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is February a good time to visit Zanzibar?

Our two travel scores rate February for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

5.1
Sightseeing
7th-best month of the year
7.0
Beach & pool
5th-best month of the year

February is a reasonable time to visit Zanzibar for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Zanzibar in February

From February's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In February, Zanzibar sees daytime highs around 30°C and nights near 27°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection. Worth having: rain gear. About 8 days see rain.

light clothessun protectionrain gear

Sea temperature near Zanzibar in February

The nearest coast averages about 29°C in February — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea offshore is warmest in March at about 29°C and coldest in August near 26°C.

The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.

24°26°28°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan28Tropical
Feb29Tropical
Mar29Tropical
Apr29Tropical
May28Tropical
Jun27Warm
Jul26Warm
Aug26Warm
Sep26Warm
Oct27Warm
Nov28Warm
Dec29Tropical

UV index in Zanzibar in February

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in February peaks around 14 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Zanzibar peaks around March 16 at about 15 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 17 at about 9 (very high).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highExtremeMar 16UV 15Jun 17UV 9
UV index (midday)Level
Jan13Extreme
Feb14Extreme
Mar15Extreme
Apr14Extreme
May10Extreme
Jun9Very high
Jul10Extreme
Aug10Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct13Extreme
Nov12Extreme
Dec12Extreme

Air quality in Zanzibar in February

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where February falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Zanzibar is worst in January — around 18 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.2× the cleanest month (November, 8 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateGoodModerateGoodJan 2018 µg/m³Nov 118 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan18Moderate
Feb16Moderate
Mar13Moderate
Apr11Good
May14Moderate
Jun16Moderate
Jul17Moderate
Aug15Moderate
Sep13Moderate
Oct9Good
Nov8Good
Dec13Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Zanzibar?

Zanzibar sits at 6.2°S, 39.2°E, 14 m above sea level, in Tanzania. The nearest listed city is Bagamoyo, 45 km away.

MagomeniDar es SalaamKibaha

Topography around Zanzibar

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Zanzibar.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Zanzibar has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 46 m around an average of 8 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 124 m; within 80 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 347 m.

The land around Zanzibar is covered by water (53%) and artificial surfaces (35%) within 3 km, water (58%) and trees (27%) within 16 km, and water (61%) within 80 km.

3 km
46 m
16 km
124 m
80 km
347 m
treesshrubsgrasslandartificial surfacesbare terrainwatermangroves
February weather nearby: Bagamoyo 45 km · Sokoni 49 km · Nungwi 50 km · Mapinga 51 km · Mvomero 59 km · Magomeni 71 km · Dar es Salaam 74 km · Kibaha 74 km

Tanzania travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 3
Reconsider Travel
Power plugs
Type D / G
230 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 29% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$1,319
2025
Happiness
3.9 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
31%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
3.7
per 100k, 2020
Road deaths
31.1
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Lower middle
World Bank
English
Low
EF EPI 479
Religion
Christian 63%Muslim 34%folk religion 1%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Zanzibar (-6.1639°, 39.1979°, elevation 14 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).