Tanzania
Zanzibar in October
🌦️ Shoulder (showers)Hot, humid and some showers.
🎒 Pack: light, breathable clothes & sunscreen · quick-dry fabrics · sunglasses & hat
Why October scores 8.4What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort7.5
- ✓Hot (32°C highs / 21°C lows)
- !Very humid/sticky (dew point 22°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~88 mm rain)
- Air quality9.8
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~6 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline6.5
- ·Increased caution
| Oct | Jul | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.4 Very good | 9.0 Excellent |
| Season | 🌦️ Shoulder (showers) | ☀️ Dry season |
| High / low | 32° / 21° | 29° / 21° |
| Rain | 88 mm | 45 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 22° | dew pt 21° |
| PM2.5 | 6 µg/m³ | 6 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Zanzibar City weather-station normals. Rainfall: Zanzibar City weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsOctober 2027
No long holidaysNo long public-holiday weekends this month. School holidays aren't counted, so check those if you want to avoid family crowds.
Other public holidays: The Mwalimu Nyerere Day and Climax of the Uhuru Torch Race (14 Oct)
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore ZanzibarEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyAn archipelago off Tanzania known for the historic Stone Town, spice plantations and white-sand beaches on the Indian Ocean.
No major events on our calendar for October.
Coming up later
Zanzibar Revolution DayEvery year12 January every year
Public holiday marking the 1964 revolution, with official ceremonies.
Why go: Government offices and some businesses close.
Where: Across the islands
Long rainsDate variesUsually March to May
Heaviest rain of the year.
Why go: Some hotels close.
Where: Island-wide
Stone Town
A UNESCO-listed old town of Swahili, Arab, Indian and European architecture.
Spice tours
Plantation tours to see cloves, nutmeg and other spices.
Prison Island (Changuu)
An island with giant Aldabra tortoises.
Jozani Forest
Home to the endemic Zanzibar red colobus monkey.
Nungwi and Kendwa beaches
Beaches in the north where the tide goes out less than on the east coast.
Mnemba Atoll
A protected reef off the north-east coast used for snorkelling and diving.
Zanzibar pizza
A stuffed, folded crepe-like snack.
💡 Forodhani Gardens night market
Urojo
A tangy, slightly spicy soup with bhajias and potatoes, also called Zanzibar mix.
💡 Street stalls
Biryani and pilau
Spiced rice dishes.
💡 Local restaurants
Seafood
Grilled fish and octopus.
💡 Forodhani Gardens
Spices
Cloves, vanilla and cinnamon.
💡 Darajani Market
Kanga
Printed cloth with Swahili sayings.
💡 Stone Town shops
Zanzibar doors replicas
Small carved wooden items inspired by Zanzibar's ornate studded doors.
💡 Craft shops
Airport transfer Kiwitaxi
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