Zanzibar Travel Guide
Zanzibar in July
Quick answer
July is the driest, breeziest and busiest month.
Zanzibar in July is dry, breezy and the busiest month on the island. Days reach 29.0°C, nights fall to 22.1°C, the sea is 26.2°C and only 31 mm of rain falls on about 4 days, the lowest of any month. The south-east trade wind, the Kusi, is at its peak and the open east coast has swell. At Boutique Hotel Matlai July is high season: 16 Jun to 15 Oct in 2026.
| Air, day and night | 29.0°C / 22.1°C |
| Sea | 26.2°C on average |
| Rain | 31 mm on 4 days: the driest month |
| Wind | Kusi (south-east) at its peak |
| Rate season | High: 16 Jun to 15 Oct (2026) |
| Crowds | Peak: book early |
| Last verified | 26 October 2026 |
The numbers
What is the weather in Zanzibar in July?
July has the coolest days of the year and the least rain. Air averages 29.0°C by day, 4.2°C cooler than February, and 22.1°C at night, while the sea holds 26.2°C, with a coolest reading of 25.0°C in the record. A rainy day in the table means 1 mm or more; July has about 4 of them, and fewer than one day with 10 mm.
| Month | Day / night air °C | Rain (mm) and rainy days | Sea °C |
|---|---|---|---|
| June | 29.3 / 22.9 | 52 mm, 5.3 days | 27.2 |
| July | 29.0 / 22.1 | 31 mm, 4.3 days | 26.2 |
| August | 29.4 / 21.1 | 38 mm, 6.0 days | 25.8 |
Air and rain: WMO Climate Normals 1991-2020, Zanzibar (station 63870), published by NOAA, averages for 1991 to 2020. Sea: NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km daily sea surface temperature, mean of daily readings 2017 to 2025 for the 5 km cell off Michamvi Pingwe. Typical values, not a forecast.
The air and rain figures come from the weather station at Zanzibar airport, on the west side of the island and about 35 km from our beach in a straight line. It is the nearest official long record, not a reading taken here. Over the 30 years behind the averages, July rain ranged from 0.1 mm to 133 mm, so even the wettest July was a drier month than an average November.
The wind and the sea
What does the Kusi do to the sea in July?
The Kusi blows from the south-east from about May to October. It brings dry air, low humidity and the best underwater visibility of the year, and at its peak, in July and August, it also brings swell to the open east coast. Boat trips sometimes move to another day, and mornings are the calm part of the day. Reef-sheltered beaches barely notice, and the pools at the villas are in their cooler season, at around 25°C, which feels refreshing rather than warm.
The tide does not care about the season. You swim straight off the beach in the 2 to 4 hours around high tide, and at low tide you swim the channel to the Mchanga sandbank. The tide comes about 50 minutes later each day, and the spring tides around full and new moon go furthest out. Seaweed is rare in these months; it is more common from December to March. Our tides and swimming guide explains the cycle. Every room has the tide table.
Price and crowds
What does July cost, and how early should you book?
July is inside high season on our rate sheet: 16 Jun to 15 Oct in 2026 and 15 Jun to 31 Oct in 2027. An Asili House double room is US$620 a night in 2026 and US$670 in 2027, per room with half board, tax included; the Zanzibar infrastructure tax of US$4 per person per night is extra. The same room costs US$535 in low season in 2026, so the peak premium is real. The full grid is on rooms and rates.
The island is at its fullest from July to September. A small hotel with six rooms sells out whole date bands to single bookings, so the dates people want go first. If you can move by a few weeks, June and September have almost the same weather with fewer people.
What to do
What is July good for, and what is it less good for?
July is good for what depends on dry air and clear water: snorkelling, diving, long beach days, and kitesurfing at Paje, which is in its season on the Kusi (see kitesurfing in Zanzibar). It is good for pairing with a safari, because the dry season is the classic game-viewing window; the Great Migration calendar shows what the herds are doing. Reef fishing is better from June to September, while the big offshore fish are better from October.
It is less good if you want a still, glassy sea or a warm pool. February and the Kaskazi months give you both. If you want the longer weather story for the two peak months, we also have the June and July guide, and the best time to visit Zanzibar page puts every month side by side. For a hotel choice, see the best hotels in Zanzibar. This page is part of the Zanzibar travel guide.
Where these facts come from
Official sources
- NOAA and the World Meteorological Organization: Climate Normals 1991-2020, Zanzibar (station 63870): The monthly air temperature, rainfall and rainy-day averages for 1991 to 2020 at the Zanzibar airport station, which is on the west side of the island.
- NOAA Coral Reef Watch: daily 5 km sea surface temperature: The daily satellite sea temperature for the cell off Michamvi, averaged by month for 2017 to 2025 (2016 and 2022 not retrieved)
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: Tanzania safety and security: The rainy seasons (end of March to May, October to mid-December) and what heavy rain does to travel.
- Tanzania Meteorological Authority: The official forecasts for Unguja (Zanzibar) and the seasonal rainfall outlooks.
Checked on 26 October 2026. We link to the bodies that set the rules, not to summaries of them. Rules change: check the page itself before you travel.
Good to know
Questions travellers ask
What guests ask before booking July, answered with the sourced numbers in the table.
Is July a good time to visit Zanzibar?
Yes, it is the driest month of the year: 31 mm of rain on 4 days, and a 26.2°C sea with the clearest water. The costs are a livelier sea on the open east coast, cooler evenings than you expect, and peak-season crowds and prices.
Is it cold in Zanzibar in July?
Not cold, but cooler than the rest of the year. Days average 29.0°C, against 33.2°C in February, and nights 22.1°C. The south-east wind makes boat mornings and evenings feel fresher, so bring a light layer.
Does it rain in Zanzibar in July?
Very little. The average is 31 mm, on about 4 days with 1 mm or more, and in 30 years the wettest July had 133 mm and the driest 0.1 mm. A wet July is rare, not impossible.
Is the sea rough in July?
Livelier, not dangerous. July and August are the peak of the Kusi, and swells run on the open east coast, so a boat trip sometimes moves to another day and mornings are the calmest time on the water. Beaches in reef-sheltered lagoons barely notice. Check the tide table for your dates, because it still decides the swimming.
Is July high season at Matlai?
Yes. High season runs from 16 Jun to 15 Oct in 2026 and from 15 Jun to 31 Oct in 2027. An Asili House double room is US$620 a night in 2026 and US$670 in 2027, per room with half board, tax included.
Is July good for snorkelling and diving?
Yes. The Kusi months have the best underwater visibility of the year and the water is clear. The sea is at its coolest of the year, about 26°C, which is still comfortable swimming water.
How far ahead should I book July?
As soon as your dates are fixed. We have six rooms in two villas, and a small hotel can lose a whole date band to a single booking in the peak.
Your stay at Matlai
Choose your dates and the booking page opens with them, showing live availability.
Bookings with children go by enquiry: the booking page books adults only, so send us your dates on WhatsApp and we reply with the options. Children under 14 stay with a whole villa. WhatsApp →
These dates are by enquiry only — please email info[at]hotelmatlai.com or WhatsApp +255772628833 and we will confirm availability and rates.
Indicative public rates — the engine shows live availability for your dates.
Welcome drink, kayaks, bicycles and snorkelling gear, free of charge.
Booking with the hotel itself? Ask us what we can offer for your dates.
Why guests book Matlai
- A team of butlers on call, 07:00 to 22:00. One message and it is arranged.
- Half board with a chef’s menu that changes daily: three courses, plus two à la carte kitchens at every table, Zatiny (Indian Ocean fusion) and Duyên (Vietnamese).
- Dine where you like: in the restaurant, in the garden or on your own balcony. A private table by the beach or a candlelight dinner can be arranged at an extra charge.
- Six rooms in two villas, a pool for each villa, shared by its rooms, and every room facing the sunrise over the ocean.
- Bustani, the garden spa; the sandbank in front of the hotel at low tide; a quiet beach lined with small, family-owned hotels.
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