Stone Town
Stone Town is a maze of lanes, mosques, markets and coral-stone houses with carved wooden doors. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. Walk through the Darajani market, visit the Old Fort, the House of Wonders area and the former slave market memorial at the Anglican cathedral, and end the day at the Forodhani Gardens night food market.
Beaches
The beaches of northern Zanzibar at Nungwi and Kendwa have swimmable water at all tides and beautiful sunsets. The east coast is wider and wilder, with huge tidal flats and lagoons, seaweed farms and kitesurfing at Paje. Matemwe faces Mnemba Atoll and has some of the island’s quietest resorts.
On and under the water
- Snorkelling and diving at Mnemba Atoll, a marine conservation area with turtles and coral.
- Dhow sunset cruises off Stone Town or Nungwi.
- Dolphin trips from Kizimkazi in the south.
- Kitesurfing at Paje, best from June to September and December to February.
Spices and culture
A Zanzibar spice tour visits farms growing cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla and pepper, which made the island rich in the nineteenth century. Jozani Forest is home to the endemic Zanzibar red colobus monkey.
Practical tips
- Buy Zanzibar’s mandatory travel insurance (US$44) before you fly; we can arrange it for you.
- Dress modestly in Stone Town and villages, covering shoulders and knees.
- During Ramadan, eat and drink discreetly in public during the day.
Where to stay
Stone Town has boutique hotels in restored merchants’ houses, many with rooftop terraces over the old town. On the beaches, you can choose between large resorts with full facilities, small boutique hotels on quiet stretches of sand, and private islands such as Mnemba for the ultimate escape. North-coast hotels suit families and swimmers; the east coast suits couples and those wanting space.
Tides and beaches
Zanzibar’s east coast has big tides: at low tide the sea can retreat hundreds of metres, revealing rock pools, seaweed farms and lagoons, and swimming is only possible around high tide. The north coast around Nungwi and Kendwa is less affected, so if swimming at any time of day matters to you, choose the north.
Planning your visit
Our 4-day Zanzibar beach holiday works as an add-on to any safari, and the 12-day gorillas and Zanzibar honeymoon combines Uganda’s gorillas with the beach. See also Zanzibar after safari: where to stay.
