10 daysSerengeti + Zanzibar
Wildlife & Beach Escape
- Paced for a first safari
- Best Jan–Feb, Jun–Oct
From$6,900approx. ≈ £5,200approx. ≈ CA$9,450approx. ≈ A$10,500approx. ≈ €5,950per person sharing
Zanzibar pairs powder-white beaches and turquoise water with centuries of Swahili, Omani and Indian Ocean history. It's the classic way to unwind after a Tanzanian safari, with dhow sailing, reef snorkeling and spice farms.
Zanzibar's main island, Unguja, lies about 35 kilometers (22 miles) off the Tanzanian mainland, yet it feels like a world of its own. For centuries it was a hub of Indian Ocean trade in cloves and ivory and, tragically, in enslaved people. That history is written in the carved doors of Stone Town, in the ruins of sultans' palaces and in the island's cooking, which blends African, Arab and Indian flavors.
Choosing your coast
Where you stay shapes your trip. The north, around Nungwi and Kendwa, has the gentlest tides, so swimming is possible for most of the day, along with lively beach bars and spectacular sunsets.
The east coast, from Matemwe down to Paje and Jambiani, is quieter and wilder. At low tide the sea pulls back far across the reef, revealing tide pools and the seaweed farms tended by local women, and Paje's steady winds make it a kitesurfing favorite. The Michamvi Peninsula in the southeast offers a rare sunset view across Chwaka Bay.
On and under the water
Zanzibar's reefs offer excellent snorkeling and diving, particularly around Mnemba Atoll, a marine conservation area off the northeast coast, where turtles and dolphins are often seen. Sunset cruises on traditional dhows, sandbank picnics and fishing trips are easy to arrange.
Beyond the beach
Inland, spice farms introduce you to cloves, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg, and Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park protects the Zanzibar red colobus monkey, found nowhere else on Earth. A day in Stone Town is essential, and a night there is even better, when the waterfront food market comes alive.
How we plan Zanzibar
We match your hotel and coast to your priorities, whether that's calm swimming, seclusion, kitesurfing or family facilities, and plan Zanzibar as a standalone escape or a beach finale after the Serengeti, as on our Serengeti + Zanzibar journey.
Highlights
Nungwi and Kendwa
Swim at almost any tide on the northern beaches, then watch the sun sink into the Indian Ocean.
Mnemba Atoll
Snorkel or dive clear reefs in a marine conservation area, with a good chance of seeing sea turtles.
Stone Town
Explore the UNESCO-listed old town's markets, carved doors and rooftop cafés, ideally with an overnight stay.
Spice farm tour
Taste fresh cloves, cinnamon, vanilla and tropical fruit on a guided walk through a working spice farm.
Jozani Forest
Meet the endemic Zanzibar red colobus monkey in the island's national park, and walk a boardwalk through the mangroves.
Dhow sunset cruise
Sail on a traditional wooden dhow as the sky turns gold over the water.
Best time to visit
Best months
- ✓ Jan
- ✓ Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- ✓ Jun
- ✓ Jul
- ✓ Aug
- ✓ Sep
- ✓ Oct
- Nov
- ✓ Dec
Zanzibar is warm all year. The driest, most settled weather usually runs from June to October, when trade winds keep temperatures comfortable, and from late December to February, when it's hotter, calmer and humid.
The long rains typically fall from late March to May, bringing heavy downpours and some seasonal hotel closures, while the short rains in November are usually brief. Kitesurfers favor the windier months on the east coast, roughly June to September and December to February. During Ramadan, the island stays welcoming, though some Stone Town restaurants keep shorter daytime hours.
Getting there
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ), just outside Stone Town, receives flights from mainland Tanzania, Nairobi and several international hubs, including connections via the Middle East.
From the northern safari circuit, scheduled light-aircraft flights link Arusha and some Serengeti airstrips with Zanzibar, typically in one to two and a half hours depending on stops. Fast ferries from Dar es Salaam take around two hours. From the airport, transfers take about 15 minutes to Stone Town and roughly an hour to the beaches of the north and east coasts.
Journeys to inspire you
Use our featured journeys as inspiration. We'll tailor the dates, hotels, activities, pace and budget around you.
10 days
Helpful travel guides
Africa With Kids: Family Safaris and Beach Trips That Work
A family trip to Africa can be the adventure your kids talk about for years. Here's how to choose the right age, destinations and lodges, why a private vehicle changes everything, and how to balance safari days with beach time.
Traveling Responsibly in Africa: A Practical Guide
Travel done well supports wildlife, conservation and local livelihoods. This practical guide covers choosing lodges and guides, ethical wildlife encounters, respectful community visits, shopping, plastic, flights and tipping.
Zanzibar, Mauritius or Seychelles? Choosing Your Indian Ocean Island
All three islands have beautiful beaches, but they feel very different. We compare Zanzibar, Mauritius and the Seychelles on beaches, culture, weather, budget and how easily each pairs with a safari.
Your Zanzibar, designed around you
Tell us how you like to travel and we’ll shape an itinerary — the pace, the places, the stays — around you. No payment to start planning.