Uncover Zanzibar Guide

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Want to explore the ‘Spice Island’ but skip the crowds and tourist traps? Check out our Off-Grid guide to the lesser-known gems on Zanzi 🌶️

When to Go? 📆

  • Peak season is Xmas to the end of 1st weekend in Jan
  • High season runs from June to October – Expect more tourists and higher prices
  •  We recommend visiting during shoulder seasons: Early Dec, Nov, Feb & Early March 👌
  • 🌧️ Rainy season is late March to May  – Best to avoid ❌

Getting there ✈️

Zanzibar International Airport is well connected via:

  • Doha (Qatar Airways)
  • Nairobi (Kenya Airways)
  • Addis (Ethiopian Airlines)
  • Dar es Salaam (Air Tanzania)

Getting Around 🚙

Rent a Motorbike or Car from top-rated local outfit Sunset Car Rental & Scooters. They deliver vehicles to the airport and can also arrange your mandatory local driving license ($10) ahead of time.

Approx $40 per day for a Toyota Rav4 + Insurance

Where to Stay? 🏖️

If you want to get away from the crowds, here are our top 5 secluded beaches:

1. Pongwe – Pristine white sand beach with few hotels and beach bars

2. Bwejuu – Located on S. Eastern coast and known for smaller boutique hotels and a slower pace

3. Michamvi – On a west-facing peninsula so you’ll get rare sunset views, lush nature and tranquil surroundings

  • Stay at Zawadi Hotel (5* Luxe)
  • Private villa from $1175 per night on All-Inclusive

4. Jambiani – A tranquil, laid-back fishing village with authentic Swahili culture (and food!) Watch locals farm seaweed and take long uninterrupted walks

  • Stay at Be Zanzibar (4* Boutique)
  • Double room from $350 p/n on B&B   

5. Matemwe – Situated in the Northeast, much less crowded than neighbouring Nungwi and Kendwa – Excellent diving nearby on the Mnemba Atoll reefs

Best for Kitesurfing 🌬️

Paje lagoon is shallow, flat and crystal clear, can get busy during Kaskazi season (Dec – Mar). Paje Kite Surfing school is top-rated, IKO certified and has multi-lingual instructors. Jambiani is a quieter, longer and more relaxed – Perfect for beginners and mid-level kiters looking for more space – Lucky Kite is a top rated school 

Best for Diving 🤿

Zanzibar boasts dozens of world-class snorkeling and scuba diving spots: 

  • Mnemba Atoll – Northeast coast
  • Tumbatu Island – Northwest coast
  • Kizimkazi & Menai Bay – South coast
  • Pemba island – North coast

Spanish Dancer Divers are a top-rated outfit.

More top dive sites here

Off-Grid Adventures 👀

  • Uzi Island Mangrove Kakaying – A hidden paradise only accessible at low tide via a 2km coral rock road. Kayak through silent emerald waters, spot rare birds & monkeys, then feast on local swahili dishes in a traditional fishing village.   
  • Dive The Great Northern Wreck – Explore this British ship that sank off Bawe Island on NYE 1902. A spectacular, spooky artificial reef that’s only 10m deep.
  • Dhow Cruise to Pungume Sandbank – Another low-tide-only gem! Sail aboard a traditional Swahili dhow, snorkel pristine shallow reefs and eat freshly caught seafood on a beach BBQ on this disappearing sandbank.
  • Explore Tumbatu Island – A largely untouched island village 30 mins off Zanzi’s North coast. Ancient 11th century ruins, ancestral Swahili culture, dhow building and sacred 900 year-old baobab trees – You’ll need a local guide to be granted access.  
  • Forodhani Night Market – Opens every evening from 6pm at the seafront gardens in Stone Town. Feast on authentic Swahili streetfood – Try the Urojo, mishkaki skewers, mahamri and vitumbua. Do a quick lap first to spot the best stalls, skip the reheated skewers.
  • Seaweed Harvesting and Dhow Building – For a free and truly un-staged experience, head to villages like Matemwe or Jambiani at low tide to watch seaweed harvesting and dhow building
  • Jaws Corner –  A crossroads near the Old Fort where locals gather around an outdoor television to drink cardamom-spiced coffee and watch football. No sign, no menu, no tourist pricing.

Tourist traps worth skipping ❌

  • Overbooked & unsustainable quad bike, turtle and dolphin tours.
  • Organised ‘local village’ performances.
  • The Rock Restaurant on Pingwe (just as pretty from the outside)

💡 Pro Tips

  • eVisas can be purchased upon arrival or in advance to save time at the airport ($50)
  • Mandatory Health Insurance – This is non-negotiable, even if you have your own private insurance. It’s $44 per person and can be purchased in advance 
  • Plastic Ban  – Don’t bring any plastic bags with you, they’ll be removed!
  • Keep an eye on Tides: Zanzibar’s East and South coasts have huge tidal shifts which can leave you stranded / swimming! Pack some reef shoes and check high tides before long beach walks. 
  • Driving Etiquette: Drive on the left side of the road. Police checkpoints are common; your clients just need to smile, be polite, and show their rental paperwork and the Zanzibar driving permit.
  • Dress Culturally Respectful: When walking through local villages or Stone Town, clients should cover their shoulders and knees. On the beach resorts, swimwear is totally fine!
  • Cash is King: Most hotels and some restaurants accept cards, but fuel stations, markets, dive shops and vendors prefer Tanzanian Shillings (TZS) or US Dollars (printed after 2006).

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