Is Mombasa sunnier than Zanzibar?

They are nearly tied: Mombasa gets about 2,799 hours of sunshine a year and Zanzibar about 2,836.

Which is warmer, Mombasa or Zanzibar?

Mombasa is warmer across the year: average daytime highs of 32°C (90°F) versus 29°C.

Which is better in winter (November–February), Mombasa or Zanzibar?

Zanzibar scores better across November–February: 82/100 average versus 72, with daytime highs around 30°C.

Which has the warmer sea, Mombasa or Zanzibar?

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

Mombasa vs Zanzibar: which is sunnier?

🇰🇪 Kenya vs 🇹🇿 Tanzania · 247 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)

Mombasa and Zanzibar are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 2,799 vs 2,836 hours a year. Zanzibar has the higher Sunshine Score in 9 of 12 months, Mombasa in 1 (2 within 2 points).

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

At a glance

	Mombasa	Zanzibar
Sunshine hours / year	2,799	2,836
Sunniest month	August (90/100)	July (93/100)
Nov–Feb average score	72/100	82/100
Jun–Aug average score	87/100	92/100
Rain / year	895 mm	1,009 mm
Warmest sea	31°C / 88°F	31°C / 88°F
Peak midday UV	12 (extreme)	12 (extreme)

Mombasa vs Zanzibar month by month

Month	Sunshine Score		Day high °C		Rain mm		Sea °C
Month	Mombasa	Zanzibar	Mombasa	Zanzibar	Mombasa	Zanzibar	Mombasa	Zanzibar
January	73	84	34°	29°	24	62	29°	30°
February	65	86	35°	30°	15	51	30°	31°
March	67	74	34°	30°	62	119	31°	31°
April	72	68	31°	29°	129	256	30°	29°
May	68	68	30°	28°	217	186	28°	29°
June	82	90	29°	27°	74	29	28°	28°
July	89	93	29°	27°	36	13	27°	27°
August	90	93	29°	27°	29	14	27°	27°
September	89	92	31°	28°	38	22	27°	27°
October	78	84	32°	28°	98	64	27°	27°
November	76	77	32°	29°	104	101	28°	29°
December	75	79	33°	30°	69	92	29°	30°

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

When to pick which

November–February: Zanzibar (average score 82/100 vs 72). Mombasa is the warmer, around 34°C daytime highs vs 30°C.
March–May: too close to call — Mombasa averages 69/100, Zanzibar 70/100. Mombasa is the warmer, around 32°C daytime highs vs 29°C.
June–August: Zanzibar (average score 92/100 vs 87). Mombasa is the warmer, around 29°C daytime highs vs 27°C.
September–October: Zanzibar (average score 88/100 vs 84). Mombasa is the warmer, around 32°C daytime highs vs 28°C.

Sea temperature

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

Full month-by-month guides: Mombasa weather by month · Zanzibar weather by month · Best time to visit Tanzania.

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