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
Fantastic! It exceeded my expectations. We had done the "same" snorkeling activity at Mnemba Island a few days earlier with another company, and I absolutely recommend doing it with Captain Barbana; it was spectacular. Ibrahim and the rest of the crew were super attentive and friendly, ensuring our safety at all times. They even managed to get everyone to swim with dolphins—wonderful! Afterwards, we enjoyed a relaxing swim on a sandbar with fresh fruit and water—a beautiful spot. And the snorkeling was fantastic.
Ibrahim made this experience perfect. Very attentive to everyone and very serious about his work. I would definitely recommend!
Seeing so many dolphins swimming beside you was incredible... at first, it was hard to find them since the sea conditions weren't the best, but they didn't stop until we could see them, and the experience was amazing... you can't come to Zanzibar without enjoying this excursion. Thank you, guys.