Tours in Zanzibar

June to October is the most reliable period, with low humidity, clear skies and minimal rain, and it is the main high season. January and February form a second dry window, hotter and more humid but with the calmest, clearest sea, which suits divers particularly well. April and May bring the heavy long rains, when seaweed collects on the east coast beaches and many hotels and dive centres close for the season entirely.

Fast ferries leave Dar es Salaam several times daily and reach Stone Town in around two hours, which is the most common route and straightforward to book ahead. Flights from Dar es Salaam take about twenty minutes and from Arusha around ninety, and there are direct international services from Europe and the Gulf. Buy ferry tickets at the official terminal counters, as touts outside routinely overcharge visitors. Immigration formalities apply on arrival even for domestic travellers.

The islands are predominantly Muslim, and while beachwear is perfectly normal at hotels and on the sand, visitors are asked to cover shoulders and knees in Stone Town and in villages. Light cotton and linen work best in the humidity, and a scarf or sarong is useful for both sun and modesty. During Ramadan the expectation is stronger still, and many restaurants close during daylight hours. Shoes that slip off easily are useful for entering mosques and homes.

Very good, with Mnemba Atoll off the north-east coast the best-known site, offering reef walls, turtles and frequent dolphin encounters. Visibility is at its clearest in the calm months of January to March and again from June to October. April and May are poor, with rough water and reduced visibility, and many dive centres close. Certification courses are widely available and comparatively inexpensive across the island, particularly around Nungwi and Paje.

It depends on what you want. The north around Nungwi and Kendwa has the best swimming at all states of the tide and the liveliest nightlife. The east coast at Paje and Jambiani has long tidal shifts that expose the reef flat twice daily, which suits kitesurfers but frustrates swimmers. The south-west is quieter with sunset views, and Stone Town suits anyone prioritising history and food over beach time. Many visitors split a week between Stone Town and one beach rather than trying to cover several coasts.

Five to seven nights is the usual recommendation for a proper stay, typically two in Stone Town and the rest on a beach. Three nights works as a short add-on after a safari but leaves little room for spice farms, Jozani forest or a dhow trip. Anyone planning to dive seriously or take a certification course should allow a full week, since courses run over three to four days. Anyone planning to dive seriously or take a certification course should allow a full week, since courses run over three to four days.

Generally yes, and violent crime against visitors is rare. Petty theft and bag snatching occur in Stone Town's narrow lanes and on quieter beaches, so keep valuables secured and avoid walking isolated stretches of sand after dark. Respect for local dress and customs goes a long way. Take care with unlicensed boat operators and agree prices for excursions in advance, ideally through your accommodation. Take care with unlicensed boat operators, and agree prices for excursions in advance, ideally arranging them through your accommodation rather than on the beach.

A good deal. Stone Town alone justifies two days, with the Old Fort, House of Wonders, the former slave market site and the food stalls at Forodhani Gardens. Spice farm tours at Kizimbani and Kidichi explain how the islands built their wealth. Jozani forest holds the endemic Zanzibar red colobus, and dhow trips to Prison Island, Nakupenda sandbank and Mnemba fill the days between. Dhow trips to Prison Island, Nakupenda sandbank and Mnemba Atoll fill the days between comfortably.