Your must-dos in Zanzibar are: exploring Stone Town, taking the spice tour, seeing the red colobus monkeys in Jozani Forest, swimming with turtles in Nungwi, and sailing on a traditional dhow.
Zanzibar is famous for its white sand beaches and turquoise waters, for being the birthplace of Freddie Mercury, and for its capital, Stone Town, a stone labyrinth declared a World Heritage Site. It's also famous for its spice plantations and impressive coral reefs.
The best times to visit are from June to October (the dry and cool season) and between January and February. Avoid April and May, as this is the rainy season and many hotels close for maintenance.
To enjoy the beaches and get to know the basics, we recommend at least 5 days. If you want to combine relaxation with cultural and nature day trips, the ideal length of stay is between 7 and 10 days.
U.S citizens require a multiple-entry visa to enter Zanzibar. It costs approximately 100USD and is valid for 12 months, however you can only stay for a maximum of 90 days. UK citizens require an e-Visa, which can be applied for online before traveling, or can be obtained at the airport upon arrival. It costs approximately 50USD and is valid for 90 days. If you are a citizen of a different country, we recommend checking whether or not you need a visa at the country's official government website before traveling. In all cases, your passport but have at least 6 months of validity left on it upon entry to Zanzibar.
If you're traveling directly from the U.S. or the UK, there are no mandatory vaccinations, although the yellow fever vaccine is recommended. However, if you have a layover of more than 12 hours in a country with a risk of transmission (such as Kenya or Ethiopia), you will be required to have a yellow fever vaccination certificate.
Yes, it's a very safe destination for tourists. As a tip, avoid walking on deserted beaches at night and always keep an eye on your belongings in Stone Town. As it is a predominantly Muslim culture, remember to dress respectfully (covering your shoulders and knees) when leaving hotel complexes.
Don't leave without trying the “Zanzibar pizza” (a very popular stuffed crepe found at night markets), octopus curry with coconut milk, and urojo soup. Food in Zanzibar is an explosion of flavors thanks to the island's cloves, cinnamon, and pepper.
Latest reviews
It was a wonderful activity, where we learned about authentic local life while driving our own quad bike. We toured through rice paddies and sugar plantations before arriving at a typical village. There, we learned about their way of life, their houses, how they cook, and more. We finished with a delicious fruit lunch at their local restaurant. Highly recommended.
Excellent, very attentive at all times and very respectful of the dolphins. Highly recommended excursion, Ramos and his captain were excellent.
The activity was great, and the staff was super attentive and very organized. However, Civitatis didn't inform us that they wouldn't be picking us up from our hotel, and we had to arrange a taxi ourselves, which cost us $55. We only found out they wouldn't be picking us up when we contacted the local tour organizer.