Zanzibar has two types of rainy seasons - the long rainy season and the short rainy season. Rainfall begins to increase in mid-March before April and May see heavy downpours that can be as high as 401 millimeters. During these months, seasonal restaurants and shops usually close and the pace of life usually slows down as locals wait for the monsoon to pass. However, the rains will disperse the humidity left over from the sweltering East African summer and make the following months more pleasant.
Rainfall increases again in November and December, with an average of 210 millimetres falling during the month. However, these short rains tend to come and go quickly, leaving behind bluer skies.