Culture and food
Stone Town
The old centre of Zanzibar City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Narrow lanes, carved doors, markets, the old fort and the seafront gardens. Best on foot, with a guide for the history.
Zanzibar
Zanzibar: the beach finish to your Tanzania trip
Stone Town, white-sand beaches and warm water, after the mountain or the plains.
Photo: darkeyed / Pixabay
- Where
- Island off Tanzania's coast
- Airport
- Zanzibar (ZNZ), near Stone Town
- Best months
- June to October, January to February
- Pairs with
- A safari or a climb
Why add it
The easy part of the trip
Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, a short flight or ferry from the mainland. After days on the mountain or in a safari vehicle, it is the easy part of the trip: sleep late, swim, eat well, and walk through old streets when you feel like it.
Most travellers add three to seven days. Fewer than three and the travel eats the rest; more than seven and many people start to want a second activity. The right length depends on how tired you are and how much you want to see besides the beach.
Good to know
- Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, so the Tanzania visa covers it. Check current entry and health rules for your passport before you book.
- Most people on the island are Muslim. Dress modestly in Stone Town and in villages, and respect prayer times and Ramadan.
- Pack sun protection and light clothes. Humidity is high in the hot months.
Where to go
Six places worth your days
Swimming and sunsets
Nungwi and Kendwa
Beaches on the north tip of the island. Deep enough to swim at most states of the tide, with sunset views and plenty of places to stay and eat.
Kitesurfing and quiet
Paje and Jambiani
Long beaches on the east coast. The tide goes far out and comes back, so swimming depends on the time of day. Known for kitesurfing and a relaxed village feel.
Wildlife, half a day
Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park
A forest reserve where you can walk to see the Zanzibar red colobus monkey, found only here. Short, easy and shaded.
More on JozaniEasy morning
Spice farms
Half-day visits to see how cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla grow, with tastings. Zanzibar's spice trade shaped its history.
Boat day
Prison Island and Mnemba
Prison Island (Changuu) is a short boat ride from Stone Town, home to giant tortoises. Mnemba Atoll is a marine area for snorkelling and diving, reached by boat from the north-east.
Looking at the wider Tanzanian coast? See Mafia Island.
Which beach
North, east or town
| Area | Good for | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| North (Nungwi, Kendwa) | Swimming at most tides, sunsets, lively evenings | Busier in high season |
| East (Paje, Jambiani, Bwejuu) | Kitesurfing, long walks, village atmosphere | Big tide changes: the sea can be far out |
| Stone Town | History, food, markets, short boat trips | Not a beach stay: add a beach for swimming |
When to go
Best months for the beach
Dry from June to October and in January and February. The long rains come in March to May.
Janbest
Febbest
Margood
Aprquieter or wetter
Mayquieter or wetter
Junbest
Julbest
Augbest
Sepbest
Octbest
Novquieter or wetter
Decbest
BestGoodQuieter or wetter
Getting there
By air or by sea
By air
Zanzibar Airport (ZNZ) is a few kilometres from Stone Town. Flights run from the mainland, including Dar es Salaam and the Kilimanjaro and Arusha area, and from other countries through regional hubs.
By sea
Ferries run between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar. Check the schedule and sea conditions for the day you travel.
After a climb or safari
Plan one buffer day between the end of the trip and the flight. Tell us your dates and we line up the transfer and the onward flight timing.
Plan it
Tell us your dates
A planner in Moshi lines up the beach, the flight and the transfers around your climb or safari.
- June to October is dry and a little cooler, and January to February is hot and dry. March to May is the long rains, with April and May usually the wettest. Short rains often come in November. Beach days are possible in every month, but the dry months are the safest bet.
- Three to seven. Three days gives you a beach rest and one outing. A week lets you see Stone Town, spice farms and Jozani and still have empty beach days.
- Most people put it last, so it works as a rest after the effort. Doing the beach first means a long rest before the main trip, and it is easy to run short on days.
- Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, so the Tanzania visa covers it. Rules change, so check the current requirements for your passport before you travel.
- For swimming at any time of day, the north (Nungwi and Kendwa). For kitesurfing and quiet villages, the east (Paje and Jambiani), where the tide goes far out. Tell us what matters most and we suggest one.
- Yes. Ask for a combined plan and we line up the order, the transfers and the onward flight. See the combination pages for sample sequences.
