Skip to content
EmpyreanTravel · Est. 1984

Africa · East Africa

Zanzibar Travel Guide: Beaches, Stone Town & Safari Add-Ons

Plan Zanzibar after safari: which coast to stay on, Stone Town, Mnemba, spice farms, the best months and entry rules, plus easy flights from the Serengeti.

Plan Zanzibar with Gigi 310-480-5832

Quick answer

Reviewed · 4 min read

Zanzibar is the easiest beach add-on to an East African safari: a short flight from the Serengeti or Arusha lands you on an island of white sand, turquoise water and Swahili history. Spend a night or two in UNESCO-listed Stone Town, then three or four on the beach. June–October and December–February offer the best weather.

Researched and maintained by Empyrean Travel · How we research

Empyrean Travel · Boarding Pass
Best for
Post-safari beach time, honeymoons, history and culture
Best time
June–October and December–February
Ideal stay
4–6 nights (1–2 Stone Town, 3–4 beach)
Getting there
Light aircraft from Arusha or Serengeti airstrips; Gulf and European hubs to Zanzibar (ZNZ)
Pairs well with
Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda
Plan Zanzibar with Gigi

Why add Zanzibar to a safari?

After days of early starts and dusty tracks, Zanzibar offers the opposite: warm Indian Ocean water, slow mornings and seafood lunches. It is a short light-aircraft hop from Arusha and the Serengeti, so no long transfer eats into your holiday, and it works just as well after a Kenya safari.

It is also more than a beach. Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a maze of carved doors, merchant houses and markets that reflect centuries of Swahili, Arab, Indian and European trade.

Which part of Zanzibar should you stay in?

Zanzibar’s tides are dramatic, and they shape the beach experience more than anything else. Choose your coast with that in mind.

  • North (Nungwi & Kendwa): the least affected by tides, so swimming is easy at most times of day, with great sunsets.
  • Northeast (Matemwe): quieter beaches facing Mnemba Atoll, the island’s best snorkeling and diving.
  • East & southeast (Paje, Jambiani, Michamvi): wide beaches where the sea retreats far out at low tide, revealing seaweed farms and tide pools; Paje is a kitesurfing hub.
  • Private islands: &Beyond Mnemba Island is a long-established barefoot-luxury private island off the northeast coast.
  • Stone Town: boutique heritage hotels for one or two nights at the start or end of your stay.

What is there to do on Zanzibar?

Beyond the beach, take a guided Stone Town walk that includes the site of the former slave market, now the Anglican cathedral; a spice farm tour; a sunset dhow cruise; and a visit to Jozani Forest to see the endemic Zanzibar red colobus monkey. Boat trips run to Prison Island’s giant tortoises and to sandbanks for snorkeling.

Divers and snorkelers head to Mnemba Atoll, where turtles and dolphins are often seen. Pemba Island, to the north, offers deeper, wilder diving for experienced divers.

When is the best time to visit Zanzibar?

The most comfortable months are June to October, when it is warm rather than hot, and December to February, which is hotter and more humid with calm seas. The long rains, roughly March to May, bring heavy downpours, and some resorts close for part of that period. November’s short rains are usually brief showers.

Zanzibar is a largely Muslim island. During Ramadan, whose dates shift each year, tourism continues, but dress more conservatively in Stone Town and expect some restaurants to close during daylight hours.

What do you need to know before visiting Zanzibar?

Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, so a Tanzanian visa covers it. As of 2026, Zanzibar also requires foreign visitors to hold a government inbound travel insurance policy; buy it in advance through the official Visit Zanzibar portal to save time on arrival. Confirm current rules before you travel.

Cover shoulders and knees in Stone Town and villages, and keep beachwear for the beach and your resort. Plastic bags are banned, so pack reusable ones.

Zanzibar highlights

  • Stone Town

    UNESCO World Heritage

    Wander carved doorways, the Old Fort, merchant houses and the evening food stalls of Forodhani Gardens with a local guide.

  • Mnemba Atoll

    Northeast coast

    Zanzibar’s best snorkeling, with clear water, reef fish and frequent turtle sightings.

  • Spice farm tour

    Central Zanzibar

    See and taste cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla and cardamom — the crops that built Zanzibar’s fortune.

  • Jozani Forest

    Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park

    Walk among endemic Zanzibar red colobus monkeys and along a boardwalk through the mangroves.

  • Sunset dhow cruise

    Stone Town or Nungwi

    A traditional wooden sailing boat is the classic way to end a Zanzibar day.

  • Prison Island tortoises

    Changuu Island · near Stone Town

    A short boat ride to meet giant tortoises, with snorkeling on the way back.

Frequently asked questions

How do you get from the Serengeti to Zanzibar?

Scheduled light aircraft fly from Serengeti airstrips and Arusha to Zanzibar, sometimes with a stop or two along the way; the direct hop from Arusha takes a little over an hour. You can also connect through Dar es Salaam, including by fast ferry to Stone Town. With good timing, you can often leave camp after a morning game drive and reach the beach the same day.

Is Zanzibar good for swimming?

Yes, but the tides matter. The east coast has a very large tidal range, so at low tide the water can be hundreds of meters out. The north around Nungwi and Kendwa is far less affected, making it the best choice if you want to swim at any time of day. Check tide tables when choosing your dates and coast.

Do you need travel insurance for Zanzibar?

Yes. As of 2026, Zanzibar requires foreign visitors to hold a mandatory government inbound travel insurance policy, bought online in advance or on arrival, and mainland Tanzania added a similar requirement in 2026. It provides basic cover only, so you still want comprehensive travel insurance with medical evacuation. Confirm current rules through official sources before you travel.

When is the rainy season in Zanzibar?

The long rains usually fall from about March to May, with April typically the wettest month, and some beach hotels close for part of that period. A shorter rainy spell, usually lighter showers, comes around November. For the most reliable sunshine, plan for June to October or December to February.

Is Zanzibar safe for tourists?

Zanzibar is generally welcoming and relaxed for visitors. Use normal precautions: keep valuables secure in Stone Town, avoid deserted beaches after dark and book transfers through your hotel. It is a conservative, largely Muslim society, so dress modestly away from the beach and ask before photographing people. Check the State Department’s current Tanzania advisory before you go.

Official sources

Rules, fees and schedules change — confirm the latest details at the source before you travel.

Keep exploring

Ready when you are.

Tell Gigi where you're headed — she responds personally within one business day.

Plan a Trip Corporate Travel Desk