Written by the Paramount Gorilla Expeditions team, based in Uganda, on the best time to visit Zanzibar and the Seychelles for beach weather.
Beach Stays in 2027
The dry seasons and trade winds below repeat every year, so the timing advice holds for 2027.
Zanzibar is driest and sunniest from June to October, with a second, quieter dry window from late December to February. The Seychelles has a gentler calendar, with no true rainy season, only shifts in the trade winds. If you are adding a beach stay to a safari, let the safari season decide your dates and treat the Seychelles as flexible.
Zanzibar
- June to October: the driest, sunniest months, which match the dry safari season on the mainland and in Kenya. That is why a safari followed by a beach stay is so easy to plan.
- Late December to February: a second, hotter and quieter dry window.
- Mid-March to May: the long rains, with heavy and sustained downpours that can disrupt a beach stay. Many people avoid this period.
- November: shorter rains, usually brief.
The Seychelles
The Seychelles sits close to the equator, so the seasons are defined by wind rather than rain.
- May to September: cooler, drier south-east trade winds. This is often best for visibility and calm seas on the eastern islands.
- October to April: warmer, more humid north-west winds, with a slightly higher chance of showers but calmer conditions on the western beaches.
Weather sources differ on some details, such as the hottest month and the best diving months, so confirm with us for your dates.
Best time to visit Zanzibar and the Seychelles, month by month
- January and February: Zanzibar hot and dry. Seychelles warm, with north-west winds.
- March to May: Zanzibar's long rains, best avoided. In the Seychelles, April and May are often calm and good for snorkelling.
- June to September: Zanzibar at its driest and sunniest. Seychelles cooler, with south-east trade winds.
- October: Zanzibar still dry. Seychelles often calm between the winds.
- November: Zanzibar's short rains, usually brief. Seychelles often calm.
- December: Zanzibar dries out from late December. Seychelles warm and humid.
How to choose the best time to visit Zanzibar and Seychelles
If you are combining a safari with a beach finale, let the safari season set your dates. For Zanzibar, that usually points to June to October. For the Seychelles, almost any month works. See diving and snorkelling in Zanzibar and the Seychelles, honeymoon safari with Zanzibar and the Seychelles island by island.
Before you go
Check visa and entry rules, which differ for each destination, and read safari weather 101 for the mainland.
See also: Tanzania & Zanzibar Beach Week.
See also: Zanzibar in 5 days, Zanzibar in 7 days, Seychelles in 7 to 8 days and Seychelles in 9 to 10 days.
Plan the best time to visit Zanzibar and the Seychelles
Keep planning with our Seychelles holiday guide. The Zanzibar Commission for Tourism publishes official visitor information for the islands. Tourism Seychelles publishes official entry and visitor information. We confirm the current fees for your dates in every quote.
For the months on Pemba, see our Pemba Island guide, and for Mafia's whale sharks, our Mafia Island guide.
For the areas and their tides, read our guide to where to stay in Zanzibar.