Adding a Zanzibar Beach Break to Your Safari

After days of early starts and dusty game drives, few things feel better than warm Indian Ocean water and a hammock in the shade. Zanzibar is the classic way to finish a Tanzania safari, and it’s easy to reach: you can fly straight from Arusha or even from a Serengeti airstrip. Here’s how to plan it.

Start in Stone Town

Stone Town, the historic heart of Zanzibar Town, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site shaped by centuries of Swahili, Arab, Indian and European trade. Spend at least one night to explore its maze of lanes, carved wooden doors, markets and rooftop restaurants. A guided walk brings the history to life, including the sobering former slave market site, now marked by a memorial and the Anglican cathedral. In the evenings, head to Forodhani Gardens on the seafront for street food at sunset.

Good places to stay include Emerson Spice, a boutique hotel in a restored merchant’s house; the seafront Tembo House Hotel; and the waterfront Zanzibar Serena Hotel and Park Hyatt Zanzibar.

Choosing your coast

• North (Nungwi and Kendwa): lively, with sunset views and less dramatic tides, so swimming is easier through the day. Popular and busier.
• North-east (Matemwe and Kiwengwa): long white beaches, a protective reef and a quieter feel. Good access to Mnemba for snorkelling.
• East and south-east (Paje, Jambiani, Michamvi): wide beaches with a big tidal range, excellent for kitesurfing and seeing the seaweed farms at low tide. Sea swimming depends on the tide.
• South (Kizimkazi): a fishing area known for dolphin trips. Choose an operator that keeps its distance and doesn’t chase the animals.

On the east coast especially, the sea can retreat a long way at low tide. Many visitors love walking the exposed sandbanks and rock pools; if daytime swimming matters most to you, the north is the safer bet.

Beyond the beach

If you’d like a break from the sun lounger, Zanzibar has plenty to offer. Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park, in the centre of the island, protects forest and mangroves and is the best place to see the Zanzibar red colobus, a monkey found only on the island. A spice farm tour shows you where cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla grow, and why the island was once known as the Spice Island. Snorkelling trips, sunset dhow cruises and cooking classes are all easy to arrange from most hotels.

Best time to go

• June to October: dry, sunny and slightly cooler, which fits perfectly with the peak safari season.
• Late December to February: hot, humid and generally dry. Great beach weather, and it pairs well with calving season in the southern Serengeti.
• March to May: the long rains, usually heaviest in April and May. Some hotels close, and those that stay open often offer lower rates.
• November: the short rains, usually brief afternoon showers.

Getting there from your safari

Several domestic airlines, including Coastal Aviation, Auric Air, Regional Air and As Salaam Air, link the northern safari circuit with Zanzibar.

• From Arusha: scheduled flights run several times a day and take roughly 1 hour 15 minutes.
• From the Serengeti: there are daily flights from airstrips such as Seronera, taking roughly 1 hour 45 minutes direct, or longer with stops.
• From Kilimanjaro Airport: scheduled and larger domestic flights also connect to Zanzibar.
• From Dar es Salaam: short flights or a ferry of about two hours.

Schedules and routes change with the seasons, so we’ll book the flight that connects best with your last game drive.

Practical tips

• Luggage: light aircraft have strict weight limits, usually in soft bags. We’ll confirm the allowance for your airline.
• Insurance: Zanzibar requires visitors to buy its own mandatory inbound travel insurance, on top of your usual policy. We’ll confirm the current requirement and cost when you book.
• Dress: Zanzibar is largely Muslim. Swimwear is fine on hotel beaches, but cover shoulders and knees in Stone Town and villages.
• How long: three to five nights is ideal: one or two in Stone Town and the rest on the beach.
• Want it quieter? Consider neighbouring Pemba Island, famous for diving and far fewer visitors.

Find out more on our Stone Town, Zanzibar page and our honeymoon ideas. Tell us how you like to unwind, and we’ll match you to the right coast, the right hotel and the right flight from the bush to the beach.