Is Dar es Salaam sunnier than Zanzibar?

They are nearly tied: Dar es Salaam gets about 2,837 hours of sunshine a year and Zanzibar about 2,836.

Which is warmer, Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar?

Year-round daytime highs are similar: Dar es Salaam averages 29°C (84°F), Zanzibar 29°C (84°F).

Which is better in winter (November–February), Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar?

Zanzibar scores better across November–February: 82/100 average versus 76, with daytime highs around 30°C.

Which has the warmer sea, Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar?

Both peak at about 31°C (88°F); month-by-month sea temperatures for both are on this page.

Dar es Salaam vs Zanzibar: which is sunnier?

🇹🇿 Tanzania vs 🇹🇿 Tanzania · 72 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)

Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 2,837 vs 2,836 hours a year. Zanzibar has the higher Sunshine Score in 5 of 12 months; the other 7 are within 2 points.

Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.

At a glance

	Dar es Salaam	Zanzibar
Sunshine hours / year	2,837	2,836
Sunniest month	July (94/100)	July (93/100)
Nov–Feb average score	76/100	82/100
Jun–Aug average score	93/100	92/100
Rain / year	1,131 mm	1,009 mm
Warmest sea	31°C / 88°F	31°C / 88°F
Peak midday UV	12 (extreme)	12 (extreme)

Dar es Salaam vs Zanzibar month by month

Month	Sunshine Score		Day high °C		Rain mm		Sea °C
Month	Dar es Salaam	Zanzibar	Dar es Salaam	Zanzibar	Dar es Salaam	Zanzibar	Dar es Salaam	Zanzibar
January	79	84	30°	29°	90	62	30°	30°
February	81	86	30°	30°	80	51	31°	31°
March	68	74	30°	30°	155	119	31°	31°
April	68	68	29°	29°	258	256	29°	29°
May	68	68	28°	28°	151	186	29°	29°
June	91	90	28°	27°	24	29	28°	28°
July	94	93	27°	27°	12	13	27°	27°
August	93	93	28°	27°	14	14	27°	27°
September	91	92	28°	28°	24	22	27°	27°
October	83	84	29°	28°	68	64	28°	27°
November	72	77	30°	29°	128	101	30°	29°
December	72	79	30°	30°	127	92	30°	30°

The sunnier month by month: Jan Zanzibar · Feb Zanzibar · Mar Zanzibar · Apr even · May even · Jun even · Jul even · Aug even · Sep even · Oct even · Nov Zanzibar · Dec Zanzibar.

When to pick which

November–February: Zanzibar (average score 82/100 vs 76). Daytime highs are similar (30°C vs 30°C).
March–May: too close to call — Dar es Salaam averages 68/100, Zanzibar 70/100. Daytime highs are similar (29°C vs 29°C).
June–August: too close to call — Dar es Salaam averages 93/100, Zanzibar 92/100. Daytime highs are similar (28°C vs 27°C).
September–October: too close to call — Dar es Salaam averages 87/100, Zanzibar 88/100. Daytime highs are similar (29°C vs 28°C).

Sea temperature

Both seas peak at 31°C / 88°F. Swimmable water (21°C+): Dar es Salaam all year, Zanzibar all year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.

Full month-by-month guides: Dar es Salaam weather by month · Zanzibar weather by month · Best time to visit Tanzania.

More comparisons: Dar es Salaam vs Mombasa · Dar es Salaam vs Arusha · Dar es Salaam vs Moroni · Zanzibar vs Mombasa · Zanzibar vs Arusha · Zanzibar vs Moroni · all head-to-heads