Things to Do in Zanzibar

Zanzibar delivers a rare combination that few destinations can match: pristine white-sand beaches, a UNESCO-listed historic city, coral reefs among the richest in the Indian Ocean, and a spice-scented culture shaped by centuries of Swahili, Arab, Persian and Portuguese influence. The things to do in Zanzibar span a remarkable range — from wandering the labyrinthine alleys of Stone Town at dusk to floating above a coral garden alive with sea turtles off Mnemba Atoll.

Stone Town — Zanzibar’s Historic Heart

Stone Town is where most Zanzibar trips begin. The old quarter of Zanzibar City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best-preserved Swahili trading towns in East Africa — a dense, atmospheric grid of coral-stone buildings, carved wooden doors, mosques, hammams and narrow lanes where the smell of cardamom, cloves and grilled seafood mingles with the sea breeze. Give it at least a full day, ideally two.

Key sites within Stone Town include the House of Wonders, the Old Arab Fort, the Slave Market memorial and Anglican Cathedral, and the street where Freddie Mercury was born in 1946. The Forodhani Night Market, set along the seafront each evening, is the single best place to eat in Zanzibar — stalls grilling fresh octopus, lobster, kingfish and Zanzibar pizza at genuinely local prices.

Nungwi and Kendwa — The North Coast Beaches

Zanzibar’s north coast is where the postcard images come from. Nungwi village sits at the northern tip of the island on a wide arc of white sand where the water stays swimmable at all tidal stages. The beach at Nungwi fronts a traditional dhow-building yard, active most mornings.

Kendwa Beach, a twenty-minute walk west of Nungwi, is slightly calmer and better for swimming. It hosts the famous full-moon beach parties and the reef just offshore makes it a reliable spot for snorkelling from the beach.

Mnemba Atoll — Snorkelling and Diving

Mnemba Atoll, a circular reef system off the northeast coast of Zanzibar, is the island’s finest underwater destination. The reef shelters an extraordinary density of marine life: hawksbill turtles, spinner and bottlenose dolphins, humphead parrotfish, giant moray eels and large schools of fusiliers moving in formation across the coral.

Day trips to Mnemba run from most beach hotels on the northeast coast by traditional outrigger dhow. Visibility commonly reaches 20–30 metres. Certified divers can access deeper sites including a wall drop-off and several cleaning stations.

Spice Farm Tour

Zanzibar’s historic role as the “Spice Island” of the Indian Ocean is still very much alive. A half-day spice farm tour involves seeing, smelling and tasting spices at various stages of growth and processing — cloves, nutmeg, vanilla, cinnamon, pepper, cardamom, turmeric and ylang-ylang. The guides are knowledgeable and often entertaining, drawing connections between the spices and the Arab, Indian and Portuguese traders who brought them to Zanzibar.

Tours typically combine with a visit to a local village and sometimes include a cooking demonstration. Prices run around USD 20–35 per person. Combine it with Prison Island in the afternoon for a full day away from the beach.

Prison Island and the Giant Tortoises

Prison Island (Changuu Island) sits about thirty minutes by boat from Stone Town. Its main draw is a colony of giant Aldabra tortoises, introduced from the Seychelles in the late 19th century, which now number over a hundred and roam the island’s shaded grounds freely. Visitors can feed and photograph them at close range. The island also has a small beach with reasonable snorkelling on the reef immediately offshore.

Dolphin Tours at Kizimkazi

The shallow channels off Zanzibar’s south coast are home to resident pods of humpback and bottlenose dolphins, visible year-round. Kizimkazi village is where most dolphin tours depart — typically leaving at sunrise when the pods are most active close to shore. The village also has the oldest mosque on the island, dating to the 12th century.

Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park

Jozani Forest, in the centre of the island, is the last significant patch of indigenous forest on the island and home to the Zanzibar red colobus monkey, a subspecies found nowhere else in the world. Troops of 30 or more are encountered on almost every visit along the well-maintained forest trail. The forest also supports blue monkeys, bushbabies, monitor lizards and over 50 bird species.

Sunset Dhow Cruise

A sunset cruise on a traditional Zanzibari dhow is one of the most atmospheric things to do in Zanzibar. Most depart from Stone Town’s seafront in the late afternoon, sail along the coast with views back to the old city at golden hour, and include sundowner drinks, grilled seafood and occasionally a live taarab music performance. The combination of the dhow’s silhouette against a crimson Indian Ocean sky is a genuinely memorable experience.

The East Coast — Paje, Jambiani and Bwejuu

The east coast of Zanzibar is a different kind of beautiful to the north — longer, wilder and emptier beaches backed by coconut palms and small fishing villages. Paje is the kitesurfing capital of the island. Jambiani and Bwejuu are quieter still and attract travellers looking for a genuinely unhurried pace.

Zanzibar Food and Where to Eat

Zanzibari cuisine is an extension of the spice culture — coconut milk, cardamom, cloves and tamarind appear in everything. Beyond the Forodhani Night Market, look for the Darajani Market for fresh produce and street food at breakfast time, and Lukmaan Restaurant for traditional Zanzibari home cooking at local prices.

Practical Tips for Visiting Zanzibar

• Getting there: Daily flights connect Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam (25 minutes), Nairobi (1 hr 15 min) and Kilimanjaro Airport. A high-speed ferry from Dar es Salaam takes around 2 hours.
• Visa: Most nationalities require a Tanzania visa — obtain the East Africa Tourist Visa online at eservices.immigration.go.tz (USD 100).
• Currency: US dollars are widely accepted. Tanzanian Shillings are useful for local markets and transport.
• Dress in Stone Town: As a predominantly Muslim city, modest dress (covered shoulders and knees) is expected and respectful.
• Best time: June to October (dry, cooler). December to February is also dry and warm. Avoid April–May (long rains) and November (short rains).

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days do you need for things to do in Zanzibar?

Five to seven days covers Stone Town (2 nights), the north coast beaches (2–3 nights) and at least two full-day excursions. Ten days allows for the east coast and dolphin tours.

Is Zanzibar safe for tourists?

Zanzibar is generally safe and welcoming to visitors. The main precautions are the same as any popular destination: watch belongings in crowded areas, use licensed taxis after dark, and avoid isolated beaches at night.

Can I combine a Tanzania safari with Zanzibar?

Yes — a Tanzania safari and Zanzibar beach combination is one of the most popular itineraries in East Africa. Superfine Safaris builds these itineraries regularly and can tailor them around the Great Migration calendar.

What is the best beach in Zanzibar?

Nungwi is the most consistently good all-round beach — swimmable at all tides, lively without being overrun, with good snorkelling nearby. For isolation, the east coast around Jambiani is hard to beat. For kitesurfing, Paje is the clear choice.