Zanzibar Islands

Zanzibar Island is an historic Island off the coast of Tanzania in the Indian Ocean, situated very close to the Equator Zanzibar Island has a warm sunny climate with the waters surrounding Zanzibar being warm all year. The beaches around Zanzibar Island are picture postcard soft white sand leading into azure blue waters. Zanzibar really is an Island Paradise. Perfect for Honeymoons, romantic escapes, family holidays, watersport lovers and anyone in need of total relaxation.

Planning your holiday to Zanzibar

1/ Area Guide: Information on each area of Zanzibar Island, what accommodation and activities are available.
2/ Accommodation Guide: All the accommodation choices on Zanzibar Island
3/ Flights and Transfers: Flight schedules for Dar es Salaam and Johannesburg to Zanzibar and transfer information around Zanzibar Island.
4/ Tours and Activities: Different tours you can enjoy, Diving and Activity Centres around Zanzibar Island.

Zanzibar Island - Area Guide - Where To Go

Zanzibar Island is approx 65km long and 30km at its widest point, Zanzibar can be split into five rough areas: South West Coast | South East Coast | North East Coast | North Tip - Nungwi | Zanzibar Stone Town.

Zanzibar South West Coast

Fumba to Kizimkazi and a handful of small Islands such as Chumbe Island

The quiet undeveloped coast of Zanzibar Island, only a couple of places to stay and becoming famous for the dolphin trips that run to the bay around Kizimkazi.

Kizimkazi is a small fishing village made up of two villages: Kizimkazi Dimbani and Kizimkazi Mkunguni. The beautiful white sandy beaches are quiet and uncrowded and for those in search of a no fuss peaceful quiet relaxing time this is the place.

Accommodation: There are four places to stay - Swahili Beach Resort, Unguja Lodge, Fumba lodge and on Chumbe Island.

Snorkelling trips, dolphin cruises and diving can all be arranged.

Zanzibar South East Coast

Paje, Bwejuu

Keeping a very relaxed Island feel this beautiful stretch of coastline has developed a great balance between tourism and Island life, with a variety of accommodation options dotted along the kilometres of beautiful white beach.

It really is a fantastic place for beach lovers, sun seekers, divers, snorkellers fishing and perfect for weddings and honeymoons.

Accommodation: Breezes, The Palms, Barazzar, Echo Beach, Sunrise Lodge, Arabian Nights and a new dive accommodation centre opening soon.

Zanzibar North East Coast

Pongwe to Matemwe and Mnemba Atoll and Mnemba Island

A little more developed than the south it still has a charming Island feel and some claim the best beaches on the Island, although all the beaches around Zanzibar are so beautiful it is difficult to put a best tag on any of them !

The best place for snorkelling and diving around the Mnemba Atoll and some wonderful places for weddings, honeymoons and family holidays, lodges vary from resort style - great for families and active holidays to exclusive quiet hideaways.

Accommodation in this area has to be selected carefully as some hotels have been developed exclusively for the Italian Market with Italian food and Italian speaking staff, great if you are Italian….

For Resorts and Lodges in North East Zanzibar click here

Accommodation: (excludes all Italian resorts)
Pongwe beach, Bluebay, Sultan Sands, Ocean Paradise, Zamani Zanzibar Kempinski, Matemwe beach, Mnemba Island Lodge.

Activities: Snorkelling, diving, fishing, kayaking, sailing, sunbathing, swimming, day trips.

Zanzibar North Tip

Nungwi

The area of Zanzibar that started beach tourism on the Island, is getting a little busy but has kept a fun chilled out feel. For those who want a more active holiday with lots going on this is a great area of Zanzibar.More suitable for younger people who want to chill by the pool all day with an occasional dip in the warm ocean and then experience some local colour and music into the warm starry nights.

The beaches are great and sandy bays offer sheltered swimming in azure waters with soft sandy bottoms. The locals are very relaxed about the tourists and love to interact with visitors from all over the world.

Accommodation: Sunset Bay Hotel and Ras Nungwi

Zanzibar Stone Town

Zanzibar Capital on the central west side of Zanzibar

Stone Town is the cultural and historic heart of Zanzibar Island, a combination of North Africa, Arabia and Indian Ocean life with a labyrinth of narrow twisting streets dotted with bustling bazaars, small shops and grand Arabic mansions. During the 19th Century Zanzibar was the most important commercial centre along the East Africa coast, where most trade passed through from Africa to Asia including slaves, ivory, tea, cloth, spices, gold, silver and more.

Slaves and Tea were the big money makers and most of the grand buildings around Stone Town are built around these by the Sultans who profited so handsomely. These have now become historic museums and hotels and are well worth a visit to get a feel of the old days. Palace Museum, The House of Wonders, The Omani Fort, The Slave Market, Anglican Cathedral and Persian Baths.

Several tea houses have become hotels and restaurants, most notably are Beyt al Chai (house of Tea) and Hurumzi hotel (Hurumzi means free man).

Also it may interest many that Freddie Mercury from Queen was born on Zanzibar which explains the presence of a café called Mercury that is dedicated to the late singer.

Accommodation: Hurumzi house, Serena Zanzibar Inn, Beyt Al Chai, Tembo house hotel, Dhow palace.

For Hotels in Zanzibar Stone Town click here

Activity and Diving centres
on Zanzibar Island

There are many places and people offering snorkelling trips, dives and dolphin trips all over the Island, in contrast there is only a handful of operators running safe, controlled ecologically sound trips, we encourage all visitors to use officially licensed centres, this is for your own safety and the future of coral and marine life around Zanzibar Island. They may charge a little more than the man on the beach with his boat but will provide a safer and better experience.

Good Zanzibar Island Operators include:
One Ocean, Breezes dive centre, Safariblue, Swahili dive centre.

For more information on Zanzibar Diving and Activities click here...

Getting to Zanzibar Island

From:
Europe – Most capitals throughout Europe.
Middle East - Dubai
Kenya - Nairobi
Tanzania - Dar es Salaam, Arusha,
South Africa - Johannesburg O R Tambo
Mozambique - Pemba
United States –
Australia – best via Johannesburg South Africa

From South Africa to Zanzibar Island

Good news, we now have a twice weekly flight direct from Johannesburg O R Tambo to Zanzibar Island, no stop in Dar es Salaam any more ! A Gentle 4 hour flight takes you from Johannesburg to Zanzibar Island airport just outside Stone Town.

South Africa to Zanzibar Timetable and prices click here...

South African Airways still fly to Zanzibar Island Via Dar es Salaam.

From Dar Es Salaam to Zanzibar Island

There are several daily flights from Dar to Zanzibar on a variety of small airlines including
Zanair (click here for Zanair schedules and prices). Some of the bigger airlines have specials that are available when buying an intercontinental flight ticket from Europe, America and the Middle East (BA, Emirates, SA and KLM).

Help us Preserve Zanzibar's Magic

Zanzibar is unspoilt by the unpleasant effects of mass tourism - the number of visitors to the island is still low, but has been on the rise. It is our hope that increases in tourism do not impact adversely on the magic of Zanzibar, and we humbly ask all visitors to follow a handful of guidelines, ensuring they will not offend the traditional values of the local people or harm the environment in any way. It is typical of the Zanzibaris' friendly nature that they will not harass you for infringing these guidelines, but you should be aware that this is merely politeness, and is not an excuse for ignoring them!

• Please ensure that you dress modestly when off the beach. Women should not expose too much leg and chest, and topless sunbathing is also strongly discouraged.
• If you have children and are bringing them to Zanzibar, please make sure that they don't display their expensive toys in front of their Zanzibari contemporaries. This may instill a false sense of values in the local children, whose parents are unlikely to be able to afford such luxuries.
• If you are diving or snorkelling, you may be tempted to collect some pretty shells from Zanzibar's many coral reefs. Please do not, as this kills entire reefs, the devastating effects of which can be seen in the well-trodden areas of East African coast. Although there are shell sellers, you are asked not to buy shells from them, as it simply encourages this harmful industry.
• Zanzibar is an amazingly photogenic place, but if you want to take photographs of people, please ask their permission first out of courtesy.
• If you are non-Muslim, then please do not enter any of Zanzibar's many mosques.

Zanzibar is still the best-kept secret in the Indian Ocean, with its fascinating historical Stone Town and magnificent beaches.

Zanzibar's Indian Ocean offers world class water sports including scuba diving, snorkelling, deep sea fishing , kayaking, windsurfing, water-skiing and sailing on traditional local dhows

Zanzibar is an archipelago made up of Zanzibar and Pemba Islands, and several islets. It is located in the Indian Ocean, about 25 miles from the Tanzanian coast, and 6° south of the equator. Zanzibar Island (known locally as Unguja, but as Zanzibar internationally) is 60 miles long and 20 miles wide, occupying a total area of approximately 650 square miles. It is characterised by beautiful sandy beaches with fringing coral reefs, and the magic of historic Stone Town - said to be the only functioning ancient town in East Africa

There are no large wild animals in Zanzibar, and forest areas such as Jozani are inhabited by monkeys, bush-pigs and small antelopes. Civets - and rumour has it, the elusive Zanzibar leopard! Various species of mongoose can also be found on the island. There is a wide variety of birdlife, and a large number of butterflies in rural areas. The coral reefs that surround the East Coast are rich in marine diversity, and make Zanzibar an ideal location for snorkelling and scuba diving.

Zanzibar Stone Town

It may not have a particularly romantic name, but Stone Town is the old city and cultural heart of Zanzibar, little changed in the last 200 years. It is a place of winding alleys, bustling bazaars, mosques and grand Arab houses whose original owners vied with each other over the extravagance of their dwellings. This one-upmanship is particularly reflected in the brass-studded, carved, wooden doors - there are more than 500 different examples of this handiwork. You can spend many idle hours and days just wandering through the fascinating labyrinth of narrow streets and alleyways.

Zanzibar Stone Town was recently and deservedly declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. More information can be found at the UNESCO website.

Most of the houses that can be seen today were built in the 19th century when Zanzibar was one of the most important trading centres in the Indian Ocean region. The coraline rock of Zanzibar was a good building material, but it is also easily eroded. This is evident by the large number of houses that are in a bad state of repair. Several buildings have already been renovated and the Stone Town Conservation Authority has been established to co-ordinate the restoration of the town to its original magnificence. As a result of sensible policy, nearly all of the major hotels built in Stone Town are housed in renovated buildings.

As you walk through the town, please remember that Stone Town is very much a real community, where real people live and work. It is not a museum piece or theme park created for tourists, and sensitivity should be shown to the local people.

If you want to learn more about Stone Town, there are various ways to do it. You can either wander through the narrow streets by yourself armed with a map, or you can embark on a tour with one of the local tour operators.