Zanzibar Islands

the spice islands where africa meets arabia

Unwind on the pristine beaches of the Indian Ocean, wander through the historic alleyways of Stone Town, and explore spice plantations; our guide covers island hopping, cultural tours, water activities, and essential travel logistics.

2000

Stone Town inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage

1,000+

Years of continuous Swahili trading history

2

Main islands — Unguja & Pemba

Tanzania's spice islands

Zanzibar is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, roughly 25–40 km off the Tanzanian mainland coast, made up of the main island of Unguja (commonly just called “Zanzibar”), the smaller island of Pemba, and a scattering of islets. Semi-autonomous within the United Republic of Tanzania, Zanzibar has its own government, flag, and centuries-deep identity distinct from the mainland.

At its heart is Stone Town, a Swahili trading settlement inhabited for over a thousand years and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. Its maze of coral-stone alleys, elaborately carved wooden doors, and landmark buildings like the House of Wonders and Old Fort reflect a fusion of African, Arab, Persian, Indian, and European influences built up over centuries of Indian Ocean trade — including, most solemnly, Zanzibar’s history as one of East Africa’s principal slave-trading ports before abolition in 1873.

Beyond Stone Town, Zanzibar is famous as the “Spice Island” for its clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and pepper plantations, and as a beach destination in its own right — powder-white sand, warm turquoise water, and coral reefs ringing the coastline from Nungwi in the north to Kizimkazi in the south.

The islands through the seasons

Tap a season on the loop to see how Zanzibar's weather and seas change through the year.

December – February

The Kaskazi monsoon — peak season

Hot, dry, and calm, with gentle winds and clear seas — the busiest, most expensive months, and the classic postcard conditions.

Good to know: Zanzibar is a predominantly Muslim island — modest dress is expected in Stone Town and away from resort beaches, and it’s worth packing a light cover-up even for beach days.

What you'll find in Zanzibar

From a UNESCO-listed trading town to spice farms, tortoise sanctuaries, and coral reefs, Zanzibar packs an unusual range of experiences into a single small archipelago.

Stone Town

Spice Farms

Prison Island

Jozani Forest

Mnemba Atoll

Historic district

Stone Town

—

A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000, its coral-stone alleys and carved wooden doors reflect over a thousand years of Swahili, Arab, Persian, Indian, and European history.

Cultural experience

Spice Farms

—

Guided tours through working plantations growing cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and pepper — the trade that gave Zanzibar its historic nickname, the Spice Island.

Wildlife sanctuary

Prison Island (Changuu)

—

A short boat ride from Stone Town, home to giant Aldabra tortoises and a former slave-holding depot turned quarantine station and now a visitor sanctuary.

Endemic primate

Zanzibar Red Colobus

Piliocolobus kirkii

Found only on Unguja island, this endangered monkey is the star attraction of Jozani Forest, Zanzibar’s largest remaining indigenous forest.

Marine site

Mnemba Atoll

—

A small coral atoll off the northeast coast, ringed by some of Zanzibar’s best snorkelling and diving.

Marine wildlife

Bottlenose & Humpback Dolphins

Tursiops truncatus

Regularly encountered on boat trips off Kizimkazi, on the island’s south coast.

Beach area

Nungwi & Kendwa

—

The island’s northern tip, known for powder-white sand, minimal tide swing, and a lively beach-bar scene.

Beach area

Paje, Bwejuu & Michamvi

—

The east coast’s long, dramatic tidal beaches, a global hub for kitesurfing thanks to the reliable Kusi monsoon winds.

Landmark

House of Wonders

—

Built in 1883 for the Sultan of Zanzibar, this was the first building in East Africa to have electricity and remains one of Stone Town’s most iconic landmarks.

Cultural site

Old Slave Market & Anglican Cathedral

—

Built on the site of Zanzibar’s former slave market, the cathedral and its underground holding chambers offer a sobering, essential look at this history.

Excursion

Safari Blue (Menai Bay)

—

A full-day sailing and snorkelling excursion through Menai Bay’s sandbanks, mangroves, and coral gardens, typically ending with a fresh seafood lunch.

Evening tradition

Forodhani Gardens Night Market

—

A waterfront park beside the Old Fort that transforms each evening into a bustling street-food market of grilled seafood, Zanzibar pizza, and fresh sugarcane juice.

Four faces of Zanzibar

The archipelago divides into distinct areas — pick a base depending on what kind of trip you’re after.

Stone Town

The historic, UNESCO-listed heart of the archipelago — essential for history, culture, and a base for day trips to Prison Island and the spice farms.

BEST FOR: HISTORY · CULTURE

North Coast — Nungwi & Kendwa

Zanzibar's liveliest beach scene, with minimal tidal swing, sunset bars, and easy access to Mnemba Atoll's snorkelling and diving.

BEST FOR: BEACH NIGHTLIFE · SNORKELLING

East Coast — Paje, Bwejuu & Michamvi

Long, dramatic tidal beaches and reliable winds make this stretch a global kitesurfing destination, alongside quieter, more relaxed resort options.

BEST FOR: KITESURFING · QUIET BEACHES

South Coast — Kizimkazi & Jozani

Home to Zanzibar's dolphin-watching boats and Jozani Forest's red colobus monkeys, this quieter southern stretch pairs wildlife with fewer crowds.

BEST FOR: DOLPHINS · RED COLOBUS MONKEYS

When to visit

Zanzibar is a year-round destination, with the two monsoon seasons offering distinctly different beach and water conditions.

Season	Months	Conditions	Highlights
Kaskazi monsoon / peak	Dec - Feb	Hot, dry, and calm.	The busiest, most reliable beach weather of the year.
Warm transition	Mar	Still mostly dry, with occasional early showers.	Good value ahead of the long rains, with fewer crowds.
Long rains / low season	Apr - Jun	The wettest, most humid months of the year.	The quietest, most affordable time to visit.
Kusi monsoon	Jul - Sep	Cooler and windier, with choppier seas.	Prime kitesurfing conditions on the east coast.
Short rains	Oct - Nov	Brief, often light showers.	A quieter shoulder season with good value rates.

Getting there & getting around

By air

Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ), just outside Stone Town, receives direct international flights as well as short hops from Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, and the Serengeti/Arusha area airstrips.

By sea

Fast ferries connect Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar in around 2 hours, a popular and inexpensive alternative to flying for those already on the Tanzanian mainland.

Getting around the islands

Stone TownCentral hub, airport, seaport, and starting point for most excursions
North / East / South Coast hotelsReached by road transfer from the airport or seaport, roughly 45–90 minutes depending on the coast

Excursions

Most island excursions (Stone Town, spice tours, Prison Island, Jozani Forest, Safari Blue, and more) are bookable as half-day or full-day trips, priced per person and generally cheaper for larger groups.
See the Zanzibar activities and rates table below for full details.

Etiquette, at a glance

Local customs

Zanzibar is predominantly Muslim — modest dress (shoulders and knees covered) is expected in Stone Town, villages, and away from resort beaches.
Alcohol is available at most tourist resorts but is best avoided in Stone Town and local communities out of respect for local customs.
Ask before photographing people, and always ask permission before entering someone’s home or shop to take photos.

Reef & marine etiquette

Never touch, stand on, or collect coral while snorkelling or diving.
Reef-safe sunscreen is strongly recommended to help protect Zanzibar’s coral reefs.
Keep a respectful distance from dolphins on boat excursions; follow your guide’s lead at all times.

Where to stay

Accommodation ranges from boutique Stone Town guesthouses to full-service beach resorts along the north, east, and south coasts.

Select

Zanbluu

Zanbluu offers comfortable, all-inclusive beachfront accommodation, a relaxed base for combining Stone Town excursions with beach time on the same trip.

Reserve

Lodge TBC

Reserve-tier lodge for Zanzibar not yet finalised.

Private Collection

Lodge TBC

Private Collection lodge for Zanzibar not yet finalised.

Zanzibar activities & rates

The excursions below cover Stone Town, the spice farms, island trips, and water activities — rates are per person in US dollars and vary depending on which coast your hotel is on.

Rates from Stone Town hotels

Excursion / Tour	Duration	1 pax	2 pax	3 pax	4 pax	5-20 pax	20+ pax
City Tour	Half day	$60	$35	$30	$28	$26	$22
Spice Tour	Half day	$68	$45	$40	$30	$25	$23
Prison Island	Half day	$70	$55	$50	$40	$30	$35
Jozani Forest	Half day	$95	$70	$60	$50	$45	$40
Dolphin Tour	Half day	$120	$70	$62	$55	$50	$45
City + Spice	Full day	$100	$58	$50	$38	$40	$35
City + Prison	Full day	$110	$60	$55	$40	$50	$44
Spice + Prison	Full day	$100	$60	$55	$50	$45	$40
Safari Blue	Full day	$140	$110	$100	$85	$80	$75
Jeep Tour	Full day	$140	$110	$90	$80	$70	$65
Fishing (Local)	Full day	$190	$130	$110	$100	$95	$85
Snorkelling (Mnemba)	Full day	$150	$75	$65	$55	$45	$40
Nakupenda Island Trip	Full day	$130	$100	$90	$88	$80	$78

Rates are per person, in US dollars. Larger groups pay a lower per-person rate.

Rates from North, East & South Coast hotels

Excursion / Tour	Duration	1 pax	2 pax	3 pax	4 pax	5-20 pax	20+ pax
City Tour	Half day	$110	$60	$55	$50	$45	$30
Spice Tour	Half day	$100	$55	$45	$40	$32	$30
Prison Island	Half day	$120	$65	$60	$55	$50	$45
Jozani Forest	Half day	$110	$75	$70	$60	$50	$45
Dolphin Tour	Half day	$140	$100	$70	$60	$55	$50
City + Spice	Full day	$130	$80	$65	$60	$50	$45
City + Prison	Full day	$130	$80	$75	$60	$55	$50
Spice + Prison	Full day	$130	$80	$65	$60	$50	$45
Safari Blue	Full day	$150	$120	$100	$90	$80	$75
Jeep Tour	Full day	$150	$110	$90	$80	$70	$65
Fishing (Local)	Full day	$200	$180	$150	$100	$90	$80
Snorkelling (Mnemba)	Full day	$150	$70	$65	$60	$50	$45
Nakupenda Island Trip	Full day	$150	$130	$100	$90	$85	$80

Rates are per person, in US dollars. Larger groups pay a lower per-person rate.

Ground Transfers (per bus, one way, in USD)

Route	1-6 pax	7-14 pax	15-25 pax
Seaport → Any Stone Town Hotel	$10	$20	$30
Airport → Any Stone Town Hotel	$10	$30	$35
Airport/Seaport → Any North Coast Hotel	$50	$88	$121
Airport/Seaport → Any East Coast Hotel	$50	$88	$121
Airport/Seaport → Any South Coast Hotel	$50	$88	$121
Airport/Seaport → Any Central Hotel	$50	$80	$100

Rates are net, per bus (not per person), and subject to periodic review.

Good to know: excursions typically cost more when booked from North, East, or South Coast hotels than from Stone Town itself, since transfer distances are longer — factor this into where you choose to stay.

Before you go

A few practical notes to help you prepare for a Zanzibar visit, from what to pack to what to expect on the ground.

What to pack

Lightweight, breathable clothing, plus modest options for Stone Town and village visits.
Reef-safe sunscreen and a rash guard for extended snorkelling.
Comfortable walking shoes for Stone Town’s uneven, cobbled alleys.
A light cover-up for beach days near local communities.
Cash in small denominations for markets, tips, and smaller excursions.

Health & documents

A yellow fever vaccination certificate may be required depending on your travel history — check current Tanzanian entry requirements before you fly.
Malaria is present on the islands; consult a doctor about prophylaxis well before departure.
A valid passport and Tanzanian visa, arranged in advance or on arrival depending on nationality.
Travel insurance that explicitly covers water-based activities is recommended if you plan to dive or snorkel extensively.

Money & connectivity

Tanzanian shillings and US dollars are both widely accepted; larger hotels and resorts generally take international cards.
Mobile signal and Wi-Fi are generally reliable in Stone Town and along the main resort coasts.
Tipping guides, boat crews, and hotel staff is customary; ask your operator for typical local guidance.

Getting the most from a visit

Spend at least one full day in Stone Town before heading to the beach — rushing it does the history a disservice.
Book Safari Blue or a Mnemba Atoll snorkelling trip for the best marine experiences on the islands.
Time an evening at Forodhani Gardens night market for grilled seafood and a genuine local atmosphere.
Combine a Serengeti or Ngorongoro safari with a few beach days here for a classic bush-and-beach Tanzania itinerary.