Pemba weather in October
October in Pemba: sweltering, dry, with clean air — fine if you can take sticky heat.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#5 of 12 months in Pemba · #114 of 1413 destinations to visit in October · comfort 91/100 (tier S)
- Days
- 30°C
- Nights
- 22°C
- Wet days
- 4
- Sun
- 11.6 h
- Humidity
- 75%
- Daylight
- 12 h
Traveller notes on Pemba in October
Other months in Pemba
Mozambique forum threads describe December in the Pemba/Cabo Delgado region as genuinely hot midsummer, commonly 30C+, with rain when it comes usually arriving as short, sharp storms in the late afternoon or early evening rather than settling in for the day. Several posters noted the heavier rainfall in this region typically doesn't arrive until mid-January into February, so December often means just the occasional rainy day breaking up a run of sunshine - locals described an odd rainy day as a welcome relief after a stretch of nonstop heat rather than a disruption. The consistent read: come prepared for real heat, with rain gear as a minor backup rather than the main concern.
Forum posters name June as a strong pick for diving here, sitting inside the dry winter season (roughly June through September) that brings the clearest water of the year. Posters are consistent that March, April and May count as the genuine rainy season to avoid, with June marking a clean transition into the more reliable dry stretch. Pemba is consistently named as a strong base and springboard for exploring the wider Quirimbas Archipelago, with direct flights from Johannesburg and Maputo making it a practical gateway. Posters generally rate June through October, alongside December-February, as the two best windows overall for diving conditions here.
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Pemba climate normals — October
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Pemba in October
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.
Shoulder seasonschool holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Pemba'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).
Fair weatherPemba's best weather comes in June, July and September — separate windows, not one continuous season.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Pemba in October
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Season
Dry season
1 May – 15 Nov · usuallyThe dry season from May to November is the easier stretch for reaching the Quirimbas by boat, with average daytime temperatures around 28°C and the calmest seas of the year. Source ↗
- Nature
Whale migration
1 Jun – 15 Nov · usuallyWhale seasonHumpback and southern right whales migrate past Pemba between June and November, and dive boats heading out to the Quirimbas regularly cross paths with them along the way. Source ↗
- Season
Sailfish season
25 Aug – 15 Dec · usuallyForaging seasonSailfish season at the offshore Lazarus Banks runs from late August to mid-December and is the main draw for the sport-fishing charters working out of Pemba's harbour; other game fish bite year-round. Source ↗
Where is Pemba?
Pemba in October — FAQ
- Is October a good time to visit Pemba?
- October in Pemba: sweltering, dry, with clean air — fine if you can take sticky heat. It ranks #5 of 12 months for Pemba on SeasonMap's comfort score (91/100).
- What is the weather like in Pemba in October?
- In October, Pemba averages a daily high of 29.8°C and a low of 22.4°C, with about 13 mm of rain over roughly 4.4 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Pemba in October?
- Pemba has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 26 in October.