The perfect way to end a safari
Perfect contrast
Trade dawn game drives for slow mornings and warm water — the dust of the savannah for salt air.
One trip, two worlds
Same visa, same currency, one simple internal flight — no separate holiday to plan.
We handle the logistics
Flights, transfers and hotel booked as part of your itinerary. You just show up and unpack.
Zanzibar in pictures
Which beach suits you
The island is small, but the coasts are very different. Tides matter more than most visitors expect.
North
Nungwi & Kendwa
The only beaches where you can swim at any state of the tide. Liveliest part of the island, most hotels and restaurants, best sunsets.
Best for: first visit, swimming, nightlife
South-east
Paje & Jambiani
Wide lagoon, strong tides and steady wind — the kitesurfing coast. Quieter, younger, more relaxed than the north.
Best for: kitesurfing, long walks, value
East & South
Matemwe & Kizimkazi
Matemwe faces Mnemba atoll, the best snorkelling on the island. Kizimkazi is where the dolphin boats leave from.
Best for: snorkelling, diving, quietAbout the tides: on the east and south-east coasts the sea withdraws several hundred metres at low tide and swimming is not possible for part of the day. It is not a problem — it is simply how the island works — but if swimming whenever you like matters to you, choose the north.
Excursions worth doing
Stone Town
A UNESCO World Heritage site: carved doors, the old slave market, the Forodhani night food market. Half a day with a local guide.
Spice tour
The plantations that gave the island its name: cloves, vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon, tasted straight from the tree.
Safari Blue
A full day by dhow: sandbanks, snorkelling, a seafood lunch on Kwale island and mangrove channels.
Jozani Forest
The last habitat of the red colobus monkey, found nowhere else on earth. Two hours, easily combined with the south coast.
Mnemba atoll
The island's best snorkelling and diving, reached by boat from Matemwe.
Prison Island
Giant Aldabra tortoises, some of them well over a century old, and a short boat ride from Stone Town.
When to go
June – October
December – February
March – May
November
7-Day Safari + Zanzibar
5 nights safari across the northern circuit, 2 nights unwinding in Zanzibar, internal flight included.
Practical notes
Entry requirements
Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, so the same visa applies. Since 2024 an insurance policy issued by a Zanzibari-approved provider is also required on arrival; it costs around US$44 and we can arrange it with your booking.
Dress and customs
Zanzibar is predominantly Muslim. Swimwear is fine on the beach and at your hotel, but cover shoulders and knees in Stone Town and the villages. During Ramadan many restaurants outside the resorts close during daylight.
Getting there from the safari
A direct flight from the Serengeti airstrips takes about 1 hour 30 minutes; from Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airport, around an hour. We book these internal flights as part of your itinerary.
Malaria
Zanzibar is a malaria area. Prophylaxis is recommended — ask your doctor or travel clinic — and use repellent at dusk. Drink bottled or filtered water.
Common questions
Three nights is the minimum to feel like a holiday rather than a stopover. Four to five gives you time for a beach day, one excursion and Stone Town without rushing.
No, it is an optional extension. We quote it separately alongside your safari so you can see exactly what it adds, including the internal flight.
Nungwi or Kendwa in the north — swimmable at any tide, the most hotels and restaurants, and the easiest introduction to the island.
No vaccinations beyond what is required for mainland Tanzania. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended, and the local insurance policy is compulsory on arrival.