Zanzibar Island has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and is known as Africa’s tropical paradise. There are miles and miles of white sand beaches with palm trees all around. The water is clear blue from the Indian Ocean.

Along with Pemba Island and a lot of other smaller islands, Zanzibar is part of the Zanzibar Archipelago. Zanzibar Island has a laid-back beach lifestyle as well as a lot of different things to do, a rich culture, and a long past. You can go on a tour of spices or check out the beautiful coral reefs and play with tropical reef fish. Zanzibar Island has everything you need for a great vacation. Here are our personal picks for the best three places to stay and the best things to do on Zanzibar island.

This is how you stay!

On the island of Zanzibar, there are beaches and villas facing all four directions. There are many things to do in Zanzibar, but our favorite is the east coast because of its beautiful and peaceful beaches, wide range of places serving different types of food, and many activities. Our travel experts say that this side of the island is the best place to visit in Zanzibar generally. There are a lot of resorts and lodges to choose from, so we put our three picks into three price ranges.

For the Silver category, we suggest the Fun Beach hotel, which has 42 rooms with views of the pool or beach and modern conveniences to make you feel at ease. For our Gold group, we recommend Next Paradise, a small resort with 25 rooms that face the ocean and serves delicious food. There are different types of rooms, and each has its own unique features.

Last but not least, the Qambani Luxury Resort is in our Platinum category (drum roll). This resort has the most beautiful and luxurious rooms in Zanzibar, and the service is second to none. Each of the six houses has a different theme. Each house has its own story to tell, but it still feels like a home away from home thanks to the fine details and beautiful art that are used throughout. When it comes to comfort and luxury, Qambani has it all!

A long and interesting past

It’s called the Spice Islands because of the long history of spice trade and the many spice farms that are there. The ancient Stone Town has a great mix of different cultures. You can see interesting places like the Sultan’s Palace, the House of Wonders, and the Darajani or Forodhani food markets if you like both food and culture. There are really a lot of options here!

Trips and things to do in Zanzibar

Tour of spices:

Spice farms are places where fruit, pepper, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg grow. You can walk through them with a guide.

For kitesurfing:

along the beaches of Paje, Kiwengwa, and Nungwi.
Mountain biking trip

Trip to Stone Town:

Take a walk through the busy town’s narrow streets and stop by some of the market places and the site of a former slave market.

Trip to Prison Island:

Take a 30-minute boat ride to get to this island, which used to be a jail where slaves were kept. Now it’s a nature area where you can see giant tortoises and the ruins of what used to be a prison.

Safari in Blue:

On this trip, you’ll go to three islands where you can swim, fish, and have a BBQ.

Go to Jozani Forest:

It’s fun to walk through the last native forest on Zanzibar, where you might see rare red colobus monkeys and other monkeys.

At one of the many great areas, you can snorkel and scuba dive.

Tour of culture:

This trip gives you a look into how the locals live.

Tour of Mnemba Island:

A trip to Zanzibar’s most famous snorkeling spot.

Time to get to Zanzibar

It doesn’t take long to fly from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar. You can also do a safari on the island and then go to Zanzibar. About 420 kilometers separate the safari city of Arusha from Zanzibar.

It costs €285 to go from Arusha to Zanzibar.
It costs €90 to go from Dar Es Salaam to Zanzibar.
It costs €350 to go from Kilimanjaro to Zanzibar.
When is the best time to kitesurf in Zanzibar?
People who want to do great kitesurfing should go to Zanzibar. When is the best time to kitesurf?

December through March
From June to October