Best time to visit the Indian Ocean

It is hard to imagine that there could be a bad time to go to the Seychelles, but you might struggle to see shells in the Seychelles between May and October, due to the seaweed factor on the south coasts of Mahé and Praslin Island, blown onto the shore by seasonal south-east trade winds. Other weed-free beaches are never far away though and, apart from that, December to March is the rainy season, and the rest of the year is pretty much ‘died and gone to heaven’ beach bliss.

It is hard to beat a Christmas present of the Maldives in your stocking, because December to March are the best times to visit to avoid monsoons. You will also see marine marvels such as whale sharks, which honour the islands with their presence between January and April. If you want to head here later in the year, April until November will be showery, with the worst of the south-westerly monsoons hitting in July and August. It is still warm, though, and there are few people around. Get in before then to see the manta rays mooching around, as they start to arrive in June and stay around until September, unbothered by monsoons.

Famously the birthplace of Freddie Mercury, you will enjoy the most rhapsodic weather between June and October, with dry and hot days. Apart from that, and just like Mr Mercury, the weather can be complex and a little unpredictable. There is a ‘long rains’ season from March until May, with tropical rain pelting down in the afternoons, but staying humid and hot for the rest of the day. Then there’s the ‘short rains’ season during November and December, with lighter rainfall. And just to add to the complexity, if it doesn’t rain during the ‘short rains’ season, then January and February may have its wet moments. But as Freddie says, no matter when you go to Zanzibar… it’s a kind of magic.

One of the best things about the Indian Ocean beaches of Kenya and Tanzania is that the best time to visit them is exactly when anyone living through the dreary northern European or North American winters wants to escape. December, January, February and March are perfect in the likes of Kenya’s Mombasa, the gateway to the coast and myriad islands. The wettest months are mid-April to May, with June, July, August, September and early October lovely again, followed by a short rainy season from October to November. Any storms won’t be too extreme.