Zanzibar Island

Where the safari ends and paradise begins.

After the dust of the savannah and the chill of Kilimanjaro’s summit, Zanzibar is the perfect full stop to any Tanzania adventure. This legendary island sits in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean just 35 kilometres off the coast — a spice-scented, sun-drenched world of white sand beaches, coral reefs, and centuries of Swahili history. Whether you spend three days or ten, Zanzibar has a way of making you want to stay longer.

Flamingo

Tanzania’s Lake Natron is the world’s most critical lesser flamingo breeding site — up to 2.5 million birds nest on its caustic soda flats where alkaline conditions lethal to predators protect the colony.

Secretary Bird

Tanzania’s secretary bird walks 30 km daily across open savanna, killing snakes with stamp-kicks that deliver five times its body weight in force — one of the most powerful strikes in the entire bird world.

Ostrich

Tanzania’s ostriches are the world’s largest and fastest running birds at 70 km/h, with eyes larger than their brains — males incubate at night, females by day, in a shared parental rotation system.

Colobus Monkey

Tanzania’s black-and-white colobus have no thumbs — their hands are pure hook-shaped climbing tools — while the endangered red colobus of Zanzibar exists nowhere else on Earth and is hunted by chimpanzees.

Vervet & Blue Monkey

Vervets use predator-specific alarm calls — a distinct sound per threat type — while blue monkeys live in female-dominated forest groups, with one territorial male calling deep pyow boundary warnings.

Chimpanzee

Tanzania’s Gombe chimps — studied since 1960 by Jane Goodall — were the first animals documented making tools, stripping leaves from sticks to extract termites and reshaping human understanding of intelligence.

Why Visit Zanzibar?

Beaches that genuinely deliver — Nungwi, Kendwa, Paje, and Matemwe are among East Africa’s finest. Powder-white sand, clear turquoise water, and very little else to worry about.
Stone Town — A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of East Africa’s most atmospheric towns. Ancient coral buildings, carved wooden doors, winding alleys, and a history shaped by Arab traders, Persian merchants, and Portuguese explorers.
Incredible marine life — The waters around Zanzibar are home to dolphins, sea turtles, whale sharks, and some of the most vibrant coral reefs in the Indian Ocean.
The Spice Island experience — Zanzibar has grown cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla for centuries. A spice farm tour is a genuinely sensory experience.
Rich Swahili culture — From the call to prayer at dawn to the famous Forodhani night food market, Zanzibar’s culture is warm, layered, and alive.

Best Time to Visit

Season	Months	Conditions
Peak season	Jun – Oct	Dry, sunny, and warm — ideal beach weather
Short rains	Nov	Brief showers, still great for travel
Hot & sunny	Dec – Feb	Excellent conditions, lively atmosphere
Long rains	Mar – May	Heavy rain, some closures, lowest rates

Tip: June to October is the sweet spot — perfect beach weather, calm seas ideal for snorkelling and diving, and comfortable temperatures throughout.

What You'll Experience

Beach relaxation — Let the rhythm of the island slow you down. Nungwi and Kendwa in the north offer stunning sunsets and year-round swimming. Paje in the east is the hub for kitesurfing and water sports.
Stone Town exploration — Walk the maze of alleyways, visit the former slave market, explore the House of Wonders, and end the evening at Forodhani Gardens with fresh seafood and Zanzibar pizza.
Snorkelling and diving — Coral gardens teeming with reef fish, historic shipwrecks, and the chance to swim alongside dolphins off Kizimkazi. Zanzibar’s waters reward every level of diver.
Spice farm tour — A half-day tour through a working spice plantation — touching, smelling, and tasting the island’s famous produce straight from the source.
Dhow cruise — Sail on a traditional wooden dhow at sunset, cold drink in hand, watching the sky turn amber over the Indian Ocean.
Prison Island — A short boat ride from Stone Town, this small coral island is home to giant Aldabra tortoises — some over 100 years old — and a beautiful snorkelling spot.

Getting There

By air from Dar es Salaam — Multiple daily flights connect Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar’s Abeid Amani Karume International Airport. Flight time: 20 minutes.
By air from Arusha — Direct charter and scheduled flights from Arusha make Zanzibar a seamless post-safari add-on. Flight time: approximately 1.5 hours.
By ferry — High-speed ferries connect Dar es Salaam to Stone Town in around 2 hours — a scenic option if you’re already on the coast.

Zanzibar works perfectly as the final chapter of any Tanzania itinerary — fly in after your safari, unwind, and fly home from the island.