Zanzibar Vacation

Zanzibar Vacation Overview

Zanzibar is a group of islands off the coast of Tanzania, with a long Arab and Indian Ocean history and a slow, easy pace. It is only a 15 minutes flight from the mainland. The main island is one of East Africa’s best beach destinations, ringed by coral reefs, with white beaches and tall palm trees. Zanzibar beaches go well with a safari on mainland Tanzania. You could also turn it around and add a short safari to your Zanzibar holiday, since the Selous is less than an hour away.

Choosing where to stay in Zanzibar can feel like a lot. There are many hotels and quite a few tourist traps, so it helps to talk to someone who knows the island and can find the beach lodge that suits you. We have visited the island’s best spots again and again over the years, and we can point you to the right places. Many visitors spend a night or two in Stone Town, the island’s lively old capital. The main reason to come, though, is the white coral sand beaches and the very good snorkelling and diving. Tourism has overtaken the spice trade as the main source of income. Even after the building of the last decade, the islands still feel rural and African. Zanzibar has a character all its own and is well worth a visit.

Zanzibar: the Spice Island

A Zanzibar vacation package is a good way to end your Tanzanian safari, on the tropical shores of “the Spice Island.” You get cobbled streets, old stone houses and white-sand beaches in one place. It suits couples on a romantic break, beach lovers and honeymooners looking for a relaxed escape in Africa.

Stone Town: a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Start your Zanzibar trip in Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a long history. In the early 19th century it was the centre of the slave and spice trades. Today it is a busy mix of cultures. As you walk its narrow streets you see Swahili, Arab, Indian, Persian and European influences side by side. Make time for a traditional spice tour, where the smells of cinnamon, clove and nutmeg tell you a lot about the island’s past.

Beach time

From Stone Town, head to the coast for some beach time. Lie in the sun on white sand, take a sunset dhow cruise, or get into the clear water to snorkel and dive. The coral reefs off Pemba and Mafia islands are full of marine life, from bright reef fish to big whale sharks swimming in the deep blue water.

Nature on the island

Zanzibar is not only about beaches. Jozani Forest is the only national park where you can see endangered red colobus monkeys living wild in thick forest. On a tour of Prison Island you meet giant Aldabra tortoises, the island’s best-known residents, which have their own long history.

Best Time to Visit

For the best diving visibility, plan your Zanzibar vacation between July and August or February and March, when the water is clearest. It is warm all year. The dry season (June to October) is cooler and comfortable, good for spending time both on land and under the water.

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