Zanzibar Archipelago
Spice islands and turquoise water.
Best Time
June–October & December–February
Region
Indian Ocean
Area
2,650 km² (Unguja + Pemba)
Style
Private safari
Overview
About Zanzibar
A semi-autonomous archipelago of coral islands. UNESCO-listed Stone Town, white-sand beaches, working spice farms and some of the best snorkelling in East Africa.
Stone Town and the spice islands
Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous archipelago off the Tanzanian coast, made up of two main islands - Unguja (commonly called Zanzibar) and Pemba - plus a scatter of smaller atolls. UNESCO-listed Stone Town is a labyrinth of carved doors, Omani palaces, Indian merchant houses and Swahili courtyards built over a thousand years of trade between Africa, Arabia and Asia.
Beaches and reefs
The east coast (Paje, Jambiani, Matemwe) has long white-sand beaches and steady kite-surf wind. The north (Nungwi, Kendwa) has the best swimming beaches with no tidal retreat. Mnemba Atoll, off the northeast tip, is one of the great snorkelling and diving sites in East Africa.
More than just a beach
Beyond the beach, Zanzibar offers spice farm tours, dolphin trips off Kizimkazi, the red colobus monkeys of Jozani Forest, sunset dhow cruises off Stone Town, and freshly caught seafood at the Forodhani night market.
Wildlife you'll see
- Red colobus monkey (Jozani)
- Dolphin
- Whale shark (season)
- Coral fish
Highlights
- ✦Stone Town heritage
- ✦Mnemba Atoll
- ✦Spice plantations
- ✦Beach villas
Things to do
When to go
Dry, breezy and sunny, peak season.
Hot, blue skies, ideal for swimming.
Getting there
20-minute flight from Dar es Salaam or 1-hour from Arusha.
On the map
Zanzibar Archipelago
- 1Zanzibar Archipelago
Insider tips
- ★Add at least four nights of beach after a safari - the contrast of bush and beach is what makes a Tanzania trip unforgettable.
- ★Stone Town deserves one or two nights at the start or end of your beach stay.
- ★If you are a strong swimmer, ask us to base you near Mnemba so you can snorkel daily on the reef.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a separate visa for Zanzibar?+
No - the standard Tanzania visa covers Zanzibar. There is a small mandatory tourism levy paid on arrival.
Is the water swimmable year-round?+
Yes, but the eastern beaches have big tidal swings. The north (Nungwi/Kendwa) has the deepest water at low tide.
Best time of year for Zanzibar?+
June to October and December to February are the dry, sunny months. April and May are the long rains - avoid them.
Tours
Journeys that visit Zanzibar
4-Day Beach to Bush, Fly in, Fly out Luxury Safari
Trade the beach for the plains, without the long drives.
3-Day Fly In & Out Zanzibar to Serengeti Premium Safari
Premium 3-day taste of the Serengeti, flying from your beach.
3-Day Fly In & Out Migration Crossing from Zanzibar
Witness the Mara River crossings, direct from your Zanzibar beach.
4-Day Fly In Zanzibar To Northern Circuit Classic Safari
Beach holiday, then four days across the Northern Circuit.
2-Day Zanzibar to Ngorongoro & Tarangire Luxury Safari
The shortest possible safari from your Zanzibar beach.
3-Day Zanzibar to Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Lake Manyara
Beach to bush, three iconic parks in a fast Zanzibar fly-in safari.
From the journal
Read about Zanzibar
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