Nungwi weather in May
May in Nungwi: hot, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 23 rainy days.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#11 of 12 months in Nungwi · #1059 of 1413 destinations to visit in May · comfort 68/100 (tier C)
- Days
- 27°C
- Nights
- 25°C
- Wet days
- 23
- Sun
- 9.2 h
- Humidity
- 81%
- Daylight
- 12 h

Traveller notes on Nungwi in May
Other months in Nungwi
Zanzibar forum threads describe January as the middle of the hot, dry season here - genuinely humid but with little rainfall, and posters rated January/February alongside July/August as some of the best windows for wind-driven water sports on the island. That said, regulars noted wind in Nungwi specifically picks up and drops off unpredictably through the year, making it impossible to count on rideable conditions every day even in a favorable month - Paje on the east coast was mentioned as generally more consistently windy than Nungwi. Kitesurfing infrastructure has expanded here too, with schools now operating directly out of Nungwi rather than only the traditional east-coast spots.
Forum posters describe September as excellent - falling within Zanzibar's dry season - with little to no rain and sea temperatures around 25-26C. Posters do note that early September's very dry conditions start giving way as the month progresses into the lighter 'short rains' that build through October-November, so the back half of September can see the occasional short, morning shower before clearing to a bright, sunny afternoon - nothing like the heavier 'long rains' that hit March-May. Since September counts as Zanzibar's cooler winter season, posters recommend packing a light sweater or pashmina for cooler evenings even though daytime beach conditions stay warm and comfortable.
Add your own note from Nungwi's card on the map.
Nungwi climate normals — May
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Nungwi in May
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Quietschool holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Nungwi's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Toughest weatherNungwi's best weather comes in February, August and September — separate windows, not one continuous season.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Nungwi in May
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Season
Masika, the long rains
20 Mar – 31 May · usuallyMonsoonClosuresThe wettest stretch of the year empties the beach: several guesthouses close for refurbishment and the dive centres cut back their schedules, but what stays open is at its cheapest.
- Season
Wet season
MonsoonRisk23 rainy days and about 217 mm in the month — the real kind of rainy season, not afternoon showers.
from the climate normals
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Nungwi — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Nungwi?
Nungwi in May — FAQ
- Is May a good time to visit Nungwi?
- May in Nungwi: hot, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 23 rainy days. It ranks #11 of 12 months for Nungwi on SeasonMap's comfort score (68/100).
- What is the weather like in Nungwi in May?
- In May, Nungwi averages a daily high of 27.4°C and a low of 25.1°C, with about 216.7 mm of rain over roughly 22.9 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Nungwi in May?
- Nungwi has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 39 in May.
Within 300 km: Mombasa's Green turtle nesting around 1 Mar – 31 Jul, and Zanzibar's Masika, the long rains around 20 Mar – 31 May.