It’s popular to combine a Kilimanjaro trek with a visit to Zanzibar Island or a safari – or both. Due to limited vacation time, I had to choose between the two and opted for Zanzibar. There were a couple of reasons I chose Zanzibar:
- After eight days of climbing a mountain, relaxing on the beach and enjoying unstructured time felt like the best way to unwind and recover.
- I went on safari in South Africa in 2019, so Zanzibar sounded like a more unique experience.
These were the logical reasons. But really, I don’t understand why anyone wouldn’t want to visit Zanzibar. It’s a gem in the middle of the Indian ocean off the coast of Tanzania. White sand beaches leading to clear, turquoise water, delicious seafood and a unique culture.
Zanzibar Island is a semi-autonomous region in Tanzania. It has a unique blend of African, European, Middle Eastern and Indian culture. You can see this melting post of culture across the island, especially in architecture and food.
While Zanzibar has gorgeous beaches, there’s so much more to the island. In this post, I’ll share some important things to know before visiting Zanzibar Island.
1 – The Good Beaches are on the East coast of Zanzibar Island
If you’re looking for a nice beach vacation, you have to head straight to the east coast of Zanzibar Island. While Stone Town is the cultural heart of the city, it’s not where you’re going to go if you’re imagining lying on the beach and frolicking in the ocean
The east coast is long, and it can still be tough to figure out which beach is best for you.
It can be tough to figure out which beach is best. Here are some things to consider:
- Northern Beaches (Kendwa & Nungwi): The beaches in the north are the most popular. These beaches have pristine white sand. They also don’t have long hours of low tide or as much seaweed in the water. This area really caters to tourists and has more accommodation and dining options, including more resorts.
- Eastern & Southeastern Beaches: As you move south down the east coast of Zanzibar Island, there are plenty of beaches to explore. These beaches, especially as you travel south are very popular for sports like windsurfing. They are also subject to low tide and more seawood during the off season that locals farm and harvest. While there are fewer resorts, there are still plenty of accommodations and delicious local restaurants serving curries and fresh seafood. Plus, there are still white sand beaches.
I chose an Airbnb right on the beach in Jambiani. It was great to swim in the ocean here during high tide, and to watch the seaweed harvesters at low tide. Plus, there was a great local restaurant serving super fresh seafood right next to our accommodation.
Really, though, you can’t go wrong with any of these beaches.
2 – Stone Town is where to go for history
After getting your fill of beach life, I recommend heading to the other side of the island for culture and history in Stone Town. Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the historical heart of Zanzibar Island. You can get lost wandering down the winding narrow alleyways of the old city, marveling at the architecture. I recommend taking time to admire the intricately carved doors, with symbolic decorations like locks to mark security.
Stone Town is also filled with historical buildings and museums. One of the most interesting is the museum describing the details of the old slave trade, a key part of Zanzibar’s complex history. Here, you can learn more about the mix of cultures on Zanzibar as it passed from Portuguese to Omani to British rule, then achieved independence and freedom.
Another must-see in Stone Town is the night market on the edge of the water. Here, you can get all types of local foods, including the famous Zanzibar pizza.
I’ll talk more about my visit to Stone Town in a later post.
3 – Islam is widely practiced on Zanzibar Island, so dress modestly
Although Tanzania is technically a secular country, Islam is widely practiced, especially on Zanzibar. In fact, you’ll hear the Call to Prayer throughout Stone Town. The women in Zanzibar dress modestly, so it’s respectful to also ensure you’re properly covered when you’re not at the beach. In Stone Town and in local villages, keep your shoulders and knees covered to respect local norms.
Even when you’re on the beach, make sure you’re wearing a bathing suit. Consider leaving super revealing suits like thong bikinis and speedos at home. Also consider a cover up if walking down the beach.
Before visiting Zanzibar, I read reports of modesty police who would serve fines for people dressed immodestly. From what I can tell, this threat appears to largely be a myth. I didn’t see anyone trying to enforce a dress code, at least. Still, it’s respectful to dress more modestly in destinations where locals prefer or expect it.
4 – Beware of the intense equator sun
I’m a summer girl through and through. I love the heat and sun and sometimes, even the humidity. I also tend to tan pretty well and don’t burn easily burn. Even still, the intensity of the sun at the equator surprised me.
Ensure you bring plenty of sunscreen and other sun protection like sleeved shirts, sunhats and sunglasses to keep yourself safe. If you’re someone who has a particularly hard time with the sun, consider bringing extra protection like an umbrella.
Additionally, when you’re walking around the island, particularly in small villages or towns like Stone Town, ensure you’re wearing light and breathable clothing. Although it’s good practice to stay well covered from shoulders to knees, you can stay relatively cool with cotton clothing and light scarves.
5 – Traffic is intense, and it takes awhile to get anywhere
While Zanzibar itself isn’t too big, there are only a few roads to get around the island. A lot of them are a bit bumpy with tons of traffic. Be aware that if you’re driving anywhere on the island, it’s going to take much longer than it looks on the map. This rule goes for whether you’re in a taxi, on a dala dala or riding a bike.
If you prefer to drive in Zanzibar, be aware that you need a local permit issued by Zanzibar authorities in addition to an international drivers license. Also be aware that driving may be uncomfortable.
6 – Consider taking a tour
While I only stayed on Zanzibar Island for five days, there are plenty of ways to stay occupied for longer. There is a lot of history and natural beauty all over the island, which can easily be seen via tours.
Some tours that seem especially popular include:
- Spice Farm Tours: Zanzibar is known as the Spice Island. Tons of spices like vanilla, cloves and more grow here. You can take a tour to any of the spice farms, with some including a cooking class at the end.
- Safari Blue: It’s really popular to go snorkeling or diving on Zanzibar. One particular snorkeling tour I saw was called Safari Blue – this company takes you on a group or private tour to snorkel around the island even have lunch and drinks on a private sand bar.
- Jozani-Chakwa National Park: This national park is the only one in Zanzibar. It’s home to the unique red colobus monkey. You can enjoy some nature trails and view the wildlife and plants throughout this park.
Prison Island is a popular tour as well, but I was warned beforehand that it wasn’t really worth seeing, especially as the price had recently gone up significantly.
7 – The seafood is delicious
You might have already guessed because Zanzibar is an island, but the seafood on Zanzibar is incredible. And not just fish, but also squid, prawns and more. Every piece of seafood we ate was fresh and had the perfect curries and sides to accompany it.
I ate a lot of seafood from a local restaurant near where I stayed in Jambiani Beach. It was cooked fresh to order every time. After ordering, I watched one of the employees leave the restaurant and return a few minutes later with a giant fresh fish and fresh coconuts. Their spice fish samosas were the best samosas of my life. I also had the best grilled calamari of my life here.
8 – People are constantly trying to sell you something
Whether you’re just hanging out on the beach, or walking through Stone Town, you’ll hear a common refrain:
“Hello, friend.”
This greeting is usually followed up with a few questions and polite chit-chat about where you’re from, how many days you’re staying on Zanzibar Island, etc. Then, you’ll be hit with the sell.
It can kind of feel like locals are trying to sell you things all over Zanzibar Island. On the beach, they sell things like coconuts, handicrafts and massages. In Stone Town, you’ll get offers primarily for goods and tours – boat tours and city walking tours. There are also people posted outside of every restaurant and jewel store trying to convince you to pay a visit.
You have to appreciate the hustle. Which means you also have to try to avoid getting too annoyed with the near-constant sales pitch. People don’t typically spend too long trying to convince you after saying no, so a polite “No, thank you” is really all you need.
If any touts are more persistent, you can claim you already have or have done whatever they’re selling. For example, if someone tries to sell you a tour to Prison Island, tell them you’ve already been. If they try to sell you vanilla, tell them you’ve already bought too much vanilla, etc.
Logistics:
Interested in visiting Zanzibar Island? Here are some logistics for staying there.
Zanzibar Island Safety:
You’re probably wondering if Zanzibar Island is safe to visit, and the good news is yes! Zanzibar is considered very safe, and you can even walk around at night. You want to take normal tourist precautions like ensuring you don’t keep your wallet in your front pocket in crowded places like the Stone Town night market. It can obviously be a little uncomfortable with people trying to sell you things all the time, but they’re not going to harm you.
Best Time of Year to Visit Zanzibar Island:
The best time of year to visit Zanzibar Island is during the dry season between June and October. This time of year is technically winter, which means the weather will be cooler. Plus, if you’re staying on a more southern part of the island, you’re out of seaweed season.
I visited in the off season in January, and it was nice to be among smaller crowds. The weather was still nice, with mostly sunny skies and warm ocean water. But it was definitely hot.
Getting to Zanzibar Island:
There are two main options for reaching Zanzibar Island from mainland Tanzania:
- Flight: There are daily flights to Zanzibar Island from the mainland. If you’re planning to fly from Kilimanjaro Airport, know there are only two direct flights per day – early in the morning and late at night. Otherwise, you’ll be stopping in Dar es Salaam.
- Ferry from Dar es Salaam: There are regular ferries to Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam, but people report that the ride is rough through choppy water. I read it’s a bad idea if you’re easily seasick, so I flew.
Getting around Zanzibar Island
There are three main ways you can get around Zanzibar Island:
- Taxi: There are taxis that can help take you all around the island, but be aware that they are relatively expensive. Our Airbnb helped us secure a taxi from the airport to our accommodations for $35, and it was cheaper than what drivers were trying to quote at the airport. When we arrived, there were people standing outside trying to find ways to split rides and save on costs.
- Local bus: Also called dala dala, these local, privately-owned mini buses take passengers around the island. There is no set schedule – rather they leave when they are full. So it’s best only to take them if you’re flexible on time and possibly route.
- Bike: If you don’t have to go for too long of a distance, you can go by bike. Many accommodations offer bikes for rent as well. This can be a good option if you want to venture into one of the small towns or villages on the east coast of the island.
If you book any tours on the island, the organizers will often offer pickup. Know that the roads across the island generally aren’t very good, so it takes awhile to travel longer distances even if they don’t look too far on the map.
Combining with Kilimanjaro:
Some Kilimanjaro tour operators also offer packages to combine a trek with a Zanzibar visit. If you’re looking for a company to plan your entire trip, you can likely find an operator who can help. I wanted to plan the Zanzibar trip myself and didn’t want to stay in a resort, so this wasn’t a priority for me when choosing an operator. However, several I reached out to noted they offered this option.
Would you visit Zanzibar Island?
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