Region
Zanzibar
Base 4–5 nights: 1–2 in Stone Town, then 3 on one beach coast — north for tide-free swimming, east for tides and kite surf.
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Key facts · Tanzania
- Currency
- Tanzanian shilling
- Language
- Swahili (national)
- Plugs
- D · G · 230 V
- Time zone
- East Africa Time
Rules in force · 9Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Carry the yellow fever certificate on every leg of a mult…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- East Africa ↗Carry the yellow fever certificate on every leg of a multi-country trip: Uganda and Burundi check it for all arrivals, and a stop in Kenya or Ethiopia makes the next border ask for it.
- East Africa ↗Advice for Ethiopia, Somaliland, Eritrea, Somalia, South Sudan and the Congo border areas can change within days; read your government's page the week you fly and before every regional flight.
- East Africa ↗Price park, reserve and permit fees before comparing lodges: they are charged per person per day, often with VAT, and are fixed whatever bed you choose.
- Tanzania ↗Apply for the Tanzania e-visa only on the official immigration portal; Zanzibar and, from 1 October 2026, mainland Tanzania each require their own US$44 inbound insurance bought from the state insurer's site.
- Tanzania ↗Carry a yellow fever certificate if you arrive from or connect through a risk country such as Kenya or Ethiopia; see a travel clinic about malaria several weeks ahead.
- Tanzania ↗Plastic carrier bags are banned; leave shop and duty-free plastic bags behind before you arrive.
- Tanzania ↗Light aircraft between parks and to Zanzibar have strict baggage limits, usually soft-sided bags only and a low total weight (often around 15 kg); confirm the limit with your operator.
Zanzibar is one island with two different beach products. The north (Nungwi, Kendwa) swims at any tide and has the nightlife; the east (Paje, Jambiani, Matemwe) has the wide flats, kite surfing and the tides that decide your day. Stone Town is a half-day to full-day walking stop, not a beach base. Pick one coast, do the other as a day trip, and keep Stone Town for the start or the last night before the airport.
Where to sleep
- Stone TownCity guide
UNESCO old town, ferry port, 15 min from the airport; 1–2 nights.
Best Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb
JFMAMJJASOND - NungwiCity guide
North tip; bars, busiest beach; check tide conditions for swimming.
Best Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb
JFMAMJJASOND - KendwaCity guide
Next to Nungwi; swims at low and high tide, quieter, full-moon parties.
Best Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb
JFMAMJJASOND - PajeCity guide
East coast; kite surfing, huge tidal flats, village feel.
Best Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb
JFMAMJJASOND - JambianiCity guide
East coast south of Paje; long beach, seaweed farms, low-key.
Best Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb
JFMAMJJASOND - MatemweCity guide
Northeast; Mnemba Atoll diving, quiet resorts, big tides.
Best Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb
JFMAMJJASOND
Plan the nights
How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags
Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags
Night sequences
- 4 nights
- Stone Town 1 + north coast 3 (Nungwi or Kendwa) — matches the parent country's 3–5 Zanzibar nights
- 5 nights
- Stone Town 1 + one coast for 4 beach nights; adding a second coast costs a half-day of transfer
- 7 nights
- Stone Town 2 + north 2 + east 3 — longer than the parent country's 3–5 night recommendation
- Tides rule the east coast: at low tide the water can be hundreds of metres out, so plan swimming around the tide table.
- Sea urchins on the east and northwest flats — wear something on your feet at low tide.
- Roads are narrow and unlit; avoid driving after dark.
- Touts at the Dar es Salaam ferry terminal and in Stone Town sell inflated tickets and fake tours — buy at the operator's own office.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Town | Nungwi | 90 min | unknown | Taxi about 1 h 30; do it as a full day, not an evening. |
| Paje | Stone Town | 60 min | unknown | Taxi about 1 h; dala-dala is far cheaper but slow with bags. |
| Jozani Forest | Paje | 30 min | unknown | Red colobus monkeys; entry about US$8 including the mangrove walk. |
| Kizimkazi | Stone Town | 75 min | unknown | Dolphin boats leave early morning; south tip of the island. |
Bags between cities
No luggage forwarding on the island; taxis and private transfers move bags. Agree the fare before you load.
When to go
Months and weather
Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Town | go | go | ok | × | × | go | go | go | go | go | ok | go |
| Nungwi | go | go | × | × | × | go | go | go | go | go | ok | go |
| Kendwa | go | go | ok | × | × | go | go | go | go | go | ok | go |
| Paje | go | go | × | × | × | go | go | go | go | go | × | go |
| Jambiani | go | go | × | × | × | go | go | go | go | go | ok | go |
| Matemwe | go | go | × | × | × | go | go | go | go | go | ok | go |
| Tanzania (country-wide) | go | go | ok | × | ok | go | go | go | go | go | ok | ok |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Climate strip
| Zone | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zanzibar islandwhole island | hot | hot | wet | wet | wet | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | wet | hot |
- Zanzibar island
- Long rains March–May (the three wet months); short rains in November (the single wet month). June–October is drier and cooler; December–February is hot and humid. The east coast is windier and better for kite surfing June–September.
Best months are also the busiest: June–October and the December–February window fill the north-coast resorts, so book beach beds weeks ahead.
Getting in and passes
Arrival times and regional passes
Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes2 partsGet in · Passes
Get in
| From | To | How | p50 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZNZ (Abeid Amani Karume International) | Stone Town | Taxi | ~15 min | About 5 km (3.1 mi) south of the city; fares are negotiable. A dala-dala runs outside the gate for a few hundred shillings with a backpack only.About 3.1 mi (5 km) south of the city; fares are negotiable. A dala-dala runs outside the gate for a few hundred shillings with a backpack only. |
| ZNZ (Abeid Amani Karume International) | Nungwi / Kendwa | Taxi or pre-booked transfer | ~1 h 30 | Airport-to-Nungwi fares run around TSh 65,000; agree before departure. |
| Dar es Salaam | Stone Town ferry port | Fast ferry (Azam Marine and others) | ~2 h | Non-resident fares around US$35 one way; several morning and afternoon sailings. Arrive 30 minutes early for immigration and bag checks. |
| Arusha / Kilimanjaro (JRO) | ZNZ | Domestic flight | ~1 h 15 | A common safari-to-beach hop; small aircraft, so check the baggage allowance. |
Regional passes
Ferry ticket classes
skipFirst class costs about US$5 more and puts you in a cold cabin; economy or the sundeck is fine for 2 hours.
Shared taxi (Zanzibus)
checkAbout US$10 per person anywhere on the island, booked online in advance; cheaper than a private cab if your timing is flexible.
Dala-dala
buyAny route on the island for under TSh 2,000; slow, crowded, no luggage space, and you change in Stone Town to cross the island.
Car hire
checkA small 4x4 with driver-delivery can cost about US$30 one way; you need a temporary Zanzibar driving permit (about TSh 16,000) and police checks are frequent.
Eat and move on
Regional food and where to go next
Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next
Regional food
| Dish | Where | Timing / trap |
|---|---|---|
| Pilau, biryani and urojo (Zanzibar mix) | Stone Town: Forodhani Gardens and the lanes behind the seafront | Forodhani stalls fire up around sunset; eat where locals queue. |
| Grilled fish and octopus curry | Nungwi, Kendwa, Jambiani | Beach restaurants cook what came in that day; agree the price per fish before it hits the grill. |
| Spice-farm lunch | Kizimbani and the central farms | Half-day tours include fruit tasting and lunch; book through a hotel or a known operator, not a street tout. |
| Sugarcane juice and fresh coconut | Island-wide, roadside stands | Cheap and safe; ice in drinks is the usual caution. |
Go next
Tanzania travel guide
Ferry or flight back to the mainland
Sort the e-visa and the 2026 insurance before the safari leg.
Arusha and Kilimanjaro
Flight ~1 h 15 to JRO
Northern-circuit gateway if you are doing beach first.
Arusha
Flight to JRO, then road transfer
One night before the parks.
Pemba and the Southeast region guide
plannedFlight or boat north
Quieter island, wall diving; plan it as a separate stay.
Planning aids
Built from this guide's own data
Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…
Region in numbers
- Where to sleep
- 6 bases
- Day trips
- 4, 30 min to 1 h 30
- Nights suggested
- 4–7 nights
- Ways in
- 4 listed
- Best months
- No month rated best
Going in…
Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.
Pick a month.
Deep dive
Photos, reading and every source
Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources
Ask about Zanzibar
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