Zanzibar

Zanzibar is an archipelago off the Tanzanian coast. The main island, Unguja, is what most people mean by Zanzibar; Pemba lies to the north and is quieter again.

Stone Town is its historic centre and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed in 2000 as a fine example of the Swahili coastal trading towns of East Africa. Centuries of African, Arab, Indian and European exchange are visible in a single street.

Beyond the town, the island is beaches, reef, spice farms and one national park. Most trips to Tanzania end here, because a few days on the coast after a week of early starts and rough roads is the natural shape of the trip.

Why visit Zanzibar

It is the counterweight to a safari. After days of early starts and long drives, the coast is where a trip stops being a schedule.

Stone Town is worth a day in its own right, and unlike most beach destinations it gives a trip a second kind of interest: history, architecture and a working port rather than only sand.

The reef is genuinely good. Snorkelling and diving are accessible to beginners and to people who have never been in the sea from a boat before.

Wildlife you see here

Jozani Chwaka Bay is the only national park on Zanzibar and protects the Zanzibar red colobus, a monkey found nowhere else on earth. The population is small, roughly a thousand animals, and they are easily seen.

Offshore, the reefs hold the usual Indian Ocean fish life, turtles and, seasonally, dolphins. Humpback whales pass the archipelago during their migration.

The mangroves and the Jozani forest floor are good for birds and for the red colobus. This is not a big game destination and should not be sold as one.

Best time to visit

June to October is dry, clear and the most reliable, which is also when it aligns with the best safari months.

December to February is hot and mostly dry, and busy over the holidays.

The long rains fall roughly from March to May, when some hotels close and diving visibility drops. Short rains usually fall in November. The island is still open in the rains and much cheaper, and the rain often comes in short heavy bursts rather than all day.

How to get there

By air is normal. Direct flights connect Zanzibar with Dar es Salaam in about twenty minutes, with Arusha and the safari airstrips, and with a number of international cities.

By sea, fast ferries run from Dar es Salaam to Stone Town in around two hours.

Zanzibar is part of Tanzania but runs its own immigration desk. You pass through it on arrival even on a domestic flight, so carry your passport and your yellow fever certificate if one applies to your route.

Where to stay

The decision is which coast. The east has the long white beaches and the biggest tidal range, so at low tide the sea can retreat a long way. The north around Nungwi and Kendwa has less tidal variation and swimming at most states of the tide. The south west is quieter. Stone Town suits one or two nights at the start or end.

Accommodation runs from simple guesthouses to large resorts. Ask what the tide does in front of a hotel before booking, because it changes the days more than the room does.

Travel tips

Zanzibar is predominantly Muslim. Away from hotel beaches, covering shoulders and knees is the respectful choice and is noticed.

Alcohol is available in hotels and licensed restaurants rather than everywhere.

Ramadan changes opening hours and the atmosphere in Stone Town. It is still a good time to visit, but plan around it.

Take the tide tables into account for snorkelling trips and for swimming on the east coast.

Things to do

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