Zanzibar Travel Guide | Stone Town Guide
Zanzibar Travel Guide | Zanzibar Safaris and tours | Top Zanzibar Safari | Tanzania National Parks | Stone Town tour | Zanzibar Lodges and Camps | Hotels in Zanzibar| Where to Stay in Zanzibar | Tanzania Travel Guide
Zanzibar Travel Guide
Zanzibar Travel Guide – Zanzibar is a Tanzanian archipelago off the coast of East Africa. The largest of all the islands in the archipelago Zanzibar Island (Unguja) is 80 kilometers long and 30 kilometers wide. It is covered in coconut plantations, spice farms and lush vegetation .On its main island, Unguja, familiarly called Zanzibar, is Stone Town, a historic trade center with Swahili and Islamic influences. Its winding lanes present minarets, carved doorways and 19th-century landmarks such as the House of Wonders, a former sultan’s palace. The northern villages Nungwi and Kendwa have wide beaches lined with hotels.
When to go to Zanzibar
The best time to visit the Zanzibar Archipelago is from July to September — the dry season. However, travel is good at most times of the year, due to frequent sunshine and balmy temperatures of 82°F to 93°F. The only time when rain would affect your trip is during April and May, the peak of the long rains. The short rains in November and December are less disruptive, with downpours followed by blue skies. The short rains are starting and the temperature is hotter. The showers are usually short-lived, allowing you to retreat to the bar or for a massage before coming back out when the sun returns.
Getting to Zanzibar
By air is the only feasible method for reaching Zanzibar from outside East Africa. There are very few direct flights, but from Dar es Salaam it is not too difficult to book a short hop flight to Zanzibar or Pemba, or there are frequent ferries (some old and slow and worryingly un-
Where to Stay in Zanzibar?
There are a variety of hotels on Zanzibar that can offer differing amounts of luxury that can cater for anyone’s budget. There are more affordable options such as Breezes Beach Club which we view as excellent value for money and perfect for families. Compare that to the luxurious Zuri Zanzibar (a favourite of ours) which exudes glamour and style. It is a medium sized hotel and has several options that can cater for most budgets. If you are after a truly intimate and personal experience then The Palms offers unbeatable service is located on one of the most beautiful beaches which makes it one of the most romantic destinations you could visit: a honeymooners dream
Zanzibar Travel Guide Highlights
Pristine white sand beaches, colorful coral reefs, endless spices, a varied culture and name that commands curiosity – Zanzibar is an East African island full of beautiful contrasts. If in search of total relaxation at the end of a Tanzania safari, a timeless detox beach holiday or an enchantingly romantic honeymoon, The Zanzibar Island allows you to reconnect with the treasures of nature and feel lost in its laid-back island rhythm.
Zanzibar Archipelago
A group of islands and islets some 25 miles off the Tanzanian coast, the Zanzibar Archipelago is headlined by Unguja (often referred to simply as Zanzibar) and Pemba. Once a separate nation, Zanzibar has a long history of trade with the Arab world, dating back to at least the 11th century.
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Best time to go to Zanzibar
The best time to visit Zanzibar is during the archipelago's dry season, from July to September, which is a very popular time to travel. However, it's worthwhile travelling at most times of year, with balmy temperatures between 28°C and 34°C and sunshine the norm. Though you can enjoy the luxury of Zanzibar Hotels any time of the year.
Guide to Zanzibar Beaches
If planning a break on Zanzibar for the first time, the biggest dilemma occurs which beach on Zanzibar to choose. Should you stay North or rather choose (North / South) East coast of Zanzibar? What are the differences between Zanzibar beaches? Click the photo to read more about Zanzibar beaches.
Top Activities in Zanzibar
Zanzibar offers amazing beaches, a great nightlife, restaurants and many other fun activities. This article is very comprehensive and will cover most of the key attractions and things which make Zanzibar such and amazing place to visit. Click the Photo to read more about activities in Zanzibar.
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Getting to Zanzibar
A visa is required to enter tanzania/zanzibar -- Island for all non-east african nationals. this can be arranged in advance at the tanzanian high commission in your country of origin or at your port of entry into tanzania/zanzibar. Or you Can do this online. Click the Photo above to read more about getting in to Zanzibar.
Zanzibar Airport Transfers
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport is the main airport in the Zanzibar island. It is about 5 kilometres south of Zanzibar City, the capital of Zanzibar, and has international and regional flights to East Africa, Europe, and Asia. Click the photo above to read more about Zanzibar Airport transfers.
Zanzibar Travel Guide Maps
Zanzibar & Beaches
Stone town Zanzibar
Zanzibar & Safari Extension
Combine your stay in idyllic Zanzibar with a safari on the mainland of Tanzania. Thé way to discover the other Tanzania!
Just 1.5 hours by boat or a 20-minute flight from the tropical island of Zanzibar, you will find the most beautiful wildlife parks in the world. Break your beach holiday for a few days and join us on an unforgettable adventure and marvel with a Tanzania safari about the natural beauty and the countless animals in one of the wildlife parks on the mainland of Tanzania.
In the north you can witness the annual migration of countless wildebeest and zebras in the Serengeti, spot the Big Five (leopard, lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino) in the Ngorongoro crater and see tree climbing lions in the Lake Manyara National Park . Or go on an adventure (by jeep, boat or on foot) with one of our experienced guides in the spectacular Ruaha National Park in the south of Tanzania.
The closest to Zanzibar Island is Nyerere National Park & Selous Game Reserve, home to more than half of all Tanzanian elephants. This area still breathes the atmosphere of the past and timeless Africa.
Top Safari Iteneraries from Zanzibar
Northern Circuit Safari
The Northern Safari Parks Circuit of northeast Tanzania covers an area that is stupefyingly rich in natural features, wildlife and historical association, from the snows of Kilimanjaro and the fires of Ol Doinyo Lengai, to the hominid excavations at Olduvai Gorge, part of the Ngorongoro and Serengeti ecology to the fishing waters of Lake Victoria leading up to Rubondo Island.
Southern Circuit Safari.
Mikumi is Tanzania’s fourth largest National Park, adjoining with Nyerere Park - Selous Reserve in the south forming one enormous ecosystem abutting the Udzungwa and Uluguru Mountains, the both latter highlands considered one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, the “Galapagos of Africa”, because each separate hilltop has flora and fauna unique in the world.
Western Circuit Safari.
Equally remote western national parks, only accessible by air and boat, Mahale and Gombe lie on the coast of Lake Tanganyika. Best known for their chimpanzee communities, they offer different and alternate primate safari experiences in Tanzania. At Gombe, Jane Goodall spent 50 years studying the Kasakela chimps, discovering their social hierarchy and their intelligent use of tools.
Zanzibar Travel Frequently asked Questions
Zanzibar Island FAQ
Zanzibar Island is well known as the Spice Island due to the farming and processing of aromatic spices like cloves, turmeric, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemongrass and black pepper. Visit spice plantations to learn about the process and history of these crops, their medicinal and culinary uses.
Yes, you can drink alcohol in Zanzibar, but be discreet. If you drink in the appropriate places and respect the local Muslim culture, having a few drinks is fine.
The average price of a 7-day trip to Zanzibar is $2,386 for a solo traveler, $4,285 for a couple, and $8,034 for a family of 4. Zanzibar hotels range from $38 to $217 per night with an average of $64, while most vacation rentals will cost $20 to $400 per night for the entire home.
Zanzibar is regarded as a safe and welcoming destination for travellers. As everywhere else, of course, there have been instances of violent crime, this is, however, extremely rare.
A minimum of three days should be what you allocate for your Zanzibar holiday. There is so much that you can do and enjoy in Zanzibar, from simply walking on fine white sand beaches to scuba diving in the Indian Ocean as well as the spice tour among so much more.
The language most widely spoken is a highly Arabicized form of Swahili (Kiswahili).
Safari & Zanzibar FAQ
The answer is not only yes, but we have for 18 days we can have extra time to acclimatize and give you the best possible chance of success to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro. You will also have time for safari adventures and to enjoy your time at the lodges and camps, and plenty of time to walk along the beaches of Zanzibar.
Going into lands of raw beauty that haven’t changed for eons, seeing animals in their natural, unscripted state, and feeling the wind at your face as you drive through the Serengeti. You never know what you are going to see, hear, and experience. An African safari is about as great as a travel experience as one could have to add to their own great life story.
Travel changes us. It could be a great source of inspiration for your life and for others you bring with you. The contrast of experience between climbing the highest mountain in Africa, seeing the vast expanse on the open plains and the bountiful wildlife of the Serengeti, and the beauty of Zanzibar, is life-changing. The gentleness, joy, and hospitality of the people puts everything into perspective and provides a new way to look at the way we lead our lives back home.
Many of our clients have said it is the first time in their adult life that they didn’t have to worry about a thing and could completely decompress. Leaving our busy lives behind to get recharged and gain a fresh perspective on life. A sense of accomplishment. Spending such uninterrupted quality time with family and/or friends, meeting personal challenges, and coming back having gone through such an enlightened experience is life-altering.
“I hope you have an experience that alters the course of your life because, after Africa, nothing has ever been the same” – Suzanne Evans
Just 1.5 hours by boat or a 20-minute flight from the tropical island of Zanzibar, you will find the most beautiful wildlife parks in the world. … Or go on an adventure (by jeep, boat or on foot) with one of our experienced guides in the spectacular Ruaha National Park in the south of Tanzania.
Short Safaris from Zanzibar prices
| 2 Persons | 4 Persons | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Days Mikumi safari from Zanzibar | USD 780 | USD 640 |
| 3 Days Safari from Zanzibar to Northern Tanzania | USD 1,395 | USD 1,115 |
| 4 Days Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater & Lake Manyara | USD 2,146 | USD 1,815 |
| 5 Days Southern Safari from Zanzibar | USD 1,499 | USD 1,208 |
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