Zanzibar travel guides
We book this island every day, so these guides are the answers we give guests on the phone, written down. No filler, no affiliate padding, just what changes your trip.
The best time to visit Zanzibar, month by month
June to October is the most reliable window: dry, warm days around 28C, calm sea and low humidity. December to February is hotter and just as dry but costs the most. April and May bring the long rains and the lowest rates of the year.
7 min read
Where to stay in Zanzibar: every beach compared
Nungwi and Kendwa for swimming at any tide and nightlife, Paje and Jambiani for kitesurfing and a young budget crowd, Matemwe and Pongwe for quiet high end beach, Michamvi for sunsets, Stone Town for history and your first or last night.
8 min read
Zanzibar airport transfers: what it costs and how long it takes
A private transfer from Zanzibar airport costs from about 15 USD to Stone Town and 60 to 80 USD to the far north or east coast, for the whole car rather than per person. Drive times run from 20 minutes to 1 hour 40.
5 min read
Things to do in Zanzibar, ranked by what guests actually enjoy
The four tours almost every guest is glad they did: Safari Blue for a full day on a dhow and sandbank, Mnemba atoll for the best snorkelling, a spice farm for the island's history, and Stone Town on foot with a guide who knows the doors.
6 min read
Zanzibar travel tips for a first trip
Most nationalities get a visa on arrival for 50 to 100 USD in cash, Tanzania requires an inbound travel insurance certificate, cards are unreliable outside big hotels so carry USD and shillings, and outside the beach you should cover shoulders and knees.
6 min read
Planning a Zanzibar honeymoon
For a honeymoon, stay north at Kendwa or Nungwi if you want to swim at any tide, or east at Matemwe, Pongwe or Michamvi for quiet privacy. June to October and January to February give the best weather, and 7 to 10 nights is the right length.
6 min read