Zanzibar weather in September

In September, Zanzibar sees average daytime highs of 28°C and overnight lows near 23°C, with 19 mm of rain across 5.4 wet days and about 12 hours of daylight. It is the 8th-warmest and 12th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 28°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 68% of the time in September, and the air most often feels muggy.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 54 min at the start of September to 12 hours by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, September is Zanzibar's 1st-clearest and 7th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Zanzibar's year-round climate.

Daytime high
28°
8th warmest
Overnight low
23°
3rd coldest
Rainfall
19 mm
5.4 wet days
Daylight
12 hours
6:19 AM – 6:17 PM
Cloud cover
36%
1st clearest
Wind
13 km/h
7th windiest
Solar energy
5.82 kWh/m²
Travel score
7.1
out of 10

Zanzibar is city in Tanzania.

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

Temperature in September

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 28°C through the month.

A typical September day in Zanzibar reaches about 28°C in the afternoon and slips back to 23°C overnight — a 5°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 27°C and 29°C. Set against its neighbours, September runs on par with August and on par with October.

20°23°25°28°30°151015202530
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12823
22823
32823
42823
52823
62823
72823
82823
92823
102823
112823
122823
132823
142823
152823
162823
172823
182823
192823
202823
212823
222823
232823
242823
252823
262823
272824
282824
292924
302924

How September really feels in Zanzibar

Once humidity and wind are folded in, September averages 0 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
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

September sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.

Zanzibar weather by month

How September compares with the rest of the year at a glance. September is the 8th-warmest and 12th-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 September

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 68% of the time in September, the clearest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 22% of September, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 11%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
18713
28812
38812
48911
58911
69010
79010
89010
9919
10919
11919
12919
139010
149010
159010
169010
179010
189010
198911
208911
218911
228911
238812
248812
258812
268812
278812
288812
298812
308812

Chance of precipitation in September

Any precipitation

Zanzibar gets around 19 mm of rain over 5.4 wet days in September, the driest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 18% and peaks near 21% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202530
Rain chance (%)
117
217
317
417
517
617
717
817
917
1018
1118
1218
1318
1418
1518
1618
1718
1818
1918
2019
2119
2219
2319
2419
2520
2620
2720
2821
2921
3021

Humidity in September

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, September lands in the muggy band about 65% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
17921
27822
37723
47624
57525
67426
77327
87228
97228
107129
117030
126931
136931
146832
156733
166634
176535
186436
196436
206238
216139
226040
235941
245743
255644
265446
275248
285050
294852
304654

Wind in September

Winds average 13 km/h in September.

Across September, daily wind ranges from about 13 km/h on the calmest days to 14 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202530
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
114light breeze
214light breeze
314light breeze
414light breeze
514light breeze
614light breeze
714light breeze
814light breeze
914light breeze
1014light breeze
1114light breeze
1214light breeze
1314light breeze
1413light breeze
1513light breeze
1613light breeze
1713light breeze
1813light breeze
1913light breeze
2013light breeze
2113light breeze
2213light breeze
2313light breeze
2413light breeze
2513light breeze
2613light breeze
2713light breeze
2813light breeze
2913light breeze
3013light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in September

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 54 min at the start of September to 12 hours by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 6 minutes over September. Sunrise moves from 6:26 AM to 6:11 AM, and sunset from 6:19 PM to 6:14 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202530
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.96:266:19
211.96:266:19
311.96:256:19
411.96:256:19
511.96:246:19
611.96:246:18
711.96:236:18
811.96:236:18
911.96:226:18
1011.96:226:18
1111.96:216:18
1211.96:216:17
1311.96:206:17
1412.06:206:17
1512.06:196:17
1612.06:196:17
1712.06:186:16
1812.06:176:16
1912.06:176:16
2012.06:166:16
2112.06:166:16
2212.06:156:15
2312.06:156:15
2412.06:146:15
2512.06:146:15
2612.06:136:15
2712.06:136:14
2812.06:126:14
2912.06:126:14
3012.06:116:14

Solar energy in September

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in September, about 5.82 kWh/m².

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 — September's 5.82 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202530
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.5Bright
25.5Bright
35.6Bright
45.6Bright
55.6Bright
65.6Bright
75.6Bright
85.7Bright
95.7Bright
105.7Bright
115.7Bright
125.8Bright
135.8Bright
145.8Bright
155.8Bright
165.8Bright
175.9Bright
185.9Bright
195.9Bright
205.9Bright
215.9Bright
226.0Bright
236.0Bright
246.0Bright
256.0Intense
266.0Intense
276.0Intense
286.0Intense
296.0Intense
306.0Intense
Planning a trip in September

Hazard calendar for Zanzibar

In seasonPeak

None of Zanzibar's seasonal hazards are active in September. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.

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 September a good time to visit Zanzibar?

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

7.1
Sightseeing
2nd-best month of the year
7.9
Beach & pool
1st-best month of the year

September is one of the better times to visit Zanzibar for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Zanzibar in September

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

In September, Zanzibar sees daytime highs around 28°C and nights near 23°C. Pack light clothes. Worth having: sun protection. About 5 days see rain.

light clothessun protection

Sea temperature near Zanzibar in September

The nearest coast averages about 26°C in September — 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 September

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in September peaks around 12 (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 September

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where September 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
September 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).