January 22, 2026
March’s hot and humid air sticking on your skin gets fresher, crispier, once the rains start settling down on the dusty trees. The bush becomes greener, lusher, the beaches calmer, the roads emptier, hotels closing. Communities turn back to more traditional ways of living, while the tourists chasing the sun slowly depart the island.
The dark clouds hovering over an outgoing tide are truly from another world
March to May is known as Zanzibar’s long rainy season, and yet some residents – including ourselves – describe this time of the year as the best time to be around. Sunshine always comes after the rain, and while on some days the clouds are hanging low and the streets are flooded, on others the days are light and bright – with a warm glow touching the skin. March to May counts three months, but it rarely rains three months in a row. Perhaps the sun doesn’t show itself for a week, but if your intention to travel is based on more than getting a tan, this time of year creates the perfect setting for slowing down, letting go of control, feeling present, and indulging in how life really is here: calm. The dark clouds hovering over an outgoing tide are truly from another world, swimming in the rain cleanses the spirit and nothing can replace that feeling of appreciation when the sun comes out again, with petrichor – the earthy smell of rain – scenting the air, flowers blossoming, and the turquoise hues from the Indian Ocean sparkling bright.
You are not the only one who benefits from travelling outside of the high season. Slower, off-season travel is better for people and place. It supports year-round livelihoods, reduces pressure on ecosystems and creates more meaningful cultural exchange. Even though many hotels close due to low occupancy or maintenance, there are plenty of accommodation options offering lower prices or long-term stays. At Mr. Kahawa we stay open all year-round, which enables us to provide long-term contracts to our team, instead of short, seasonal contracts. Guests who stay with us appreciate the calmness, the interactions, the empty stretches of beach. A warm cup of coffee while listening to the soft rain ticking on the roofs, watching the fishermen departing in their ngalawas – facing the storm nevertheless.
From 15 March to 15 June 2026, we invite you to experience this slower season with 20% off all stays. Not as an incentive to rush here – but as an invitation to take a break, and be changed by a different pace.
Learn the true meaning of pole pole – not as a catchy tourist phrase, but as a slow movement of life.
Bring a book – or two 😉 – a rain jacket, let go of anything that no longer serves you, and learn the true meaning of pole pole – not as a catchy tourist phrase, but as a slow movement of life.