When April comes to Zanzibar, so do the rains. This normally tropical paradise becomes inundated with an inordinate amount of precipitation. Visitors are likely to find that they will be staying inside for most of the day if visiting Zanzibar in April.
April, although extremely wet, still sees very warm weather with the average daytime high coming in at a very balmy 27°C (81°F).
Nightly lows get down to only 24°C (75°F) which is rather nice as long as it's not rainy.
April sees an astounding 401mm or nearly 16 inches of rain and has an average relative humidity of 74%, although with the heat it may feel higher than that. Visitors are advised to bring an umbrella if visiting Zanzibar in April.
The average amount of sunshine per day drops to around 7 due to the high amount of rain.
The average temperature of the waters around Zanzibar is usually in the neighborhood of 29°C (84°F).
For a 14 day forecast of the weather, click here.
One advantage of the rainy weather in April is that the Mbweni Botanical gardens, which boasts more than 650 species of plants, will be in full bloom. The Botanical Gardens are a part of the Mbweni Ruins Hotel and visitors may stroll about the area for free during day time hours. The hotel also offers a very attractive lunch and dinner menu for visitors who work up an appetite while viewing the gardens.
If it's rainy, many tourists like to take in the sights and exhibits at the Beit El-Ajaib (the House of Wonders) which is more commonly known as the Zanzibar National Museum. This is a great place to learn about the history of Zanzibar.
Another thing that many visitors find interesting is the Kiwenga Caves, located in the lush and tropical Kiwengwa-Pongwe Forest Reserve on the eastern side of Zanzibar. Visitors will get to experience live bats roosting overhead as they make their way through these barely lit caverns, full of stalactites and stalagmites. Several of the caves are fairly deep at 200 meters or more. Visitors are advised to wear sensible, sturdy shoes with good soles.
