Luxury Safari 12-Day Luxury Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar
Arusha · Tarangire National Park (2) · Lake Manyara National Park · Ngorongoro Crater · Central Serengeti (2) · +2 more
Explore Destination · Tanzania
Zanzibar
Zanzibar island: Zanzibar is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean about 35 km off the Tanzanian coast. The main island, properly called Unguja, is.
- CountryTanzania
- Best timeJune to October is dry, sunny and a little cooler, and lines up with t...
- Trips7 sample trips
- Destinations nearbySaadani National Park, Dar Es Salaam
Zanzibar island: what to know
Zanzibar is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean about 35 km off the Tanzanian coast. The main island, properly called Unguja, is where most visitors stay, and it is the usual way to finish a safari: a few days of warm sea and doing very little after a week of early starts.
What to know before you go
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Choosing a beach
The coast you pick shapes your stay, mainly because of the tide.
- Nungwi and Kendwa (north): the smallest tidal range on the island, so you can swim at any hour. Lively, with wide sunsets.
- Paje and Jambiani (south-east): long, shallow lagoons that empty at low tide. The centre of kitesurfing on the island, with a relaxed village feel.
- Matemwe and Kiwengwa (north-east): quieter, with small lodges and boats to Mnemba Atoll for snorkelling and diving.
- Michamvi and Bwejuu: calm and uncrowded, suited to couples.
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Beyond the beach
Stone Town, the old quarter of Zanzibar City, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and deserves at least a day. Inland, spice farms show how clove, nutmeg, vanilla and cinnamon are grown. Jozani Forest is the home of the Zanzibar red colobus, a monkey found only on this island. Dhow trips run to sandbanks and to the Menai Bay conservation area.
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Getting to Zanzibar
Flights from Arusha take a little over an hour, and there are direct flights from Serengeti airstrips. From Dar es Salaam it is a 20-minute flight or a two-hour ferry. Zanzibar is predominantly Muslim, so cover shoulders and knees away from the beach.
When to visit Zanzibar
June to October is dry, sunny and a little cooler, and lines up with the main safari season. December to February is hot and dry with calm seas, good for diving. The long rains fall from mid-March to May, when some hotels close; November brings shorter showers.
Where It Is
Zanzibar and the other places we travel to nearby.
Zanzibar
Trips that include Zanzibar
Sample itineraries. Every trip is private, so we change the days, lodges and pace to suit you.
Luxury Safari 
Wildlife Safari 15-Day Tanzania & Zanzibar Holiday
Arusha (3) · Tarangire National Park · Central Serengeti (3) · Ngorongoro Crater (2) · Zanzibar (4) · +1 more
Honeymoon Safari 12-Day Tanzania & Zanzibar Honeymoon
Arusha · Tarangire National Park · Central Serengeti (2) · Ngorongoro Crater (2) · Zanzibar (4) · +1 more
Wildlife Safari 18-Day Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Holiday
Arusha (4) · Tarangire National Park · Central Serengeti (3) · Ngorongoro Crater (2) · Zanzibar (6) · +1 more
Great Migration 12-Day Mara River Crossing Safari & Zanzibar
Arusha · Tarangire National Park · Ngorongoro Crater · Central Serengeti · Northern Serengeti (2) · +2 more
Wildlife Safari 13-Day Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Holiday
Arusha (4) · Tarangire National Park · Central Serengeti (2) · Ngorongoro Crater · Zanzibar (3) · +1 more
Wildlife Safari Popular 11-Day Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Beach Holiday
Arusha · Tarangire National Park · Central Serengeti (2) · Ngorongoro Crater (2) · Zanzibar (3) · +1 more
Plan Your Safari to Zanzibar
Our team in Arusha answers in English, French, German and Spanish.
Questions about Zanzibar
How many days do you need in Zanzibar after a safari?
Four or five nights is a good balance: one night in Stone Town and three or four on the beach. Three nights works if time is short.
Which side of Zanzibar is best for swimming?
The north, at Nungwi and Kendwa, where the tide moves least and you can swim all day. On the east coast the sea retreats a long way at low tide.
Do I need a visa for Zanzibar?
Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, so a Tanzanian visa covers it. Zanzibar also requires visitors to buy its own mandatory travel insurance before arrival. Check current rules before you travel.
Is Zanzibar safe for tourists?
Zanzibar is generally safe and used to visitors. Take normal precautions with valuables, use registered taxis at night and dress modestly in towns and villages.
Shall we plan your trip?
Tell us your dates and what you would like to see. A specialist in Arusha sends a route and a clear proposal within 24 hours.
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