Zanzibar excursions: what to do? Zanzibar is an exotic island that is famous for its lovely coral reefs and white sand beaches. But Zanzibar has a lot more to offer than just relaxing on the beach and doing water sports. It has a rich past and culture as well.

The old Stone Town has a great mix of different cultures. People who like both food and culture can go to the Sultan’s Palace, the House of Wonders, and the Darajani or Forodhani food markets. You can take a Spice Tour or swim with tropical reef fish in the beautiful coral reefs. There are a lot of options. We chose 4 great trips for you to take when you go to Zanzibar.

Beach at Nakupenda

The Nakupenda Beach is a big piece of sand in the ocean. This “island” is only 20 minutes from Stone Town and hasn’t been touched by anyone. To get to the beautiful white-sand beach with clear water and tropical views, take a boat ride. A great spot to unwind, soak up some sun, swim, fish, and explore the world below the surface. You might even see dolphins if you’re lucky. A lot of companies also serve tasty seafood for lunch on the beach.

The Cheetah’s Rock

Cheetah’s Rock is a one-of-a-kind place where wild animals can get help. In this natural setting, you can learn about and connect with animals. The woman who runs the center is very interested in wildlife and has spent her whole life trying to protect them. All of the animals are well taken care of, live in big areas where they can run around, and are not put to sleep with tranquilizers. This is the place to go if you love animals and want to get close to a cheetah, lion, hyena, bush baby, or dikdik. The tour is well worth the price, even though the visit is pricey.

Hey, look at the humpback whale.

Zanzibar is a great place to watch humpback whales and a real paradise for dives and snorkelers. Late in July, the whales start coming to the seas around Zanzibar on their way south. You can see them there until November. The nodules and long legs of a humpback whale make it easy to tell it apart from other whales. These big guys can grow up to 55 meters long. If you’re going to Zanzibar at this time of the year, you should definitely go on a trip to see whales. You might even see them while swimming or scuba diving if you’re lucky.

Divers often see sea turtles and different kinds of dolphins nesting near Zanzibar. Lucky diving divers might even see a manta ray or whale shark.

A paddleboard is a great way to see the mangrove woods.

Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) through the mangrove forest. This trip might be fun for you if you like outdoors, water, and exciting new experiences. Mangrove forests can only be found in tropical places close to the equator and along the coast. Seeing those thick tangles of roots that look like trees floating above the water is a unique sight. You can also see a lot of different birds and fish in the marshes.

You should feed the big turtle on Prison Island.

A half-hour boat ride from Zanzibar Island takes you to Prison Island, which is an empty island. In the past, it was a place where slaves were kept. Later, it was turned into a place where people with dangerous diseases could stay until they got better.

A lot of people go to Prison Island these days to unwind and enjoy the peace and quiet of the white sand beach. You can fish, swim, or lay out in the sun there. There are the remains of an old prison and about one hundred giant land tortoises that were brought in from the Seychelles in the 1800s. This turtle is one of the biggest in the world, and you can feed it in the natural area where it lives.