Zanzibar Beach Holidays

About This Destination

Zanzibar is the classic finish to a Tanzania safari, an Indian Ocean archipelago of powder-white beaches, turquoise water, and centuries of Swahili, Arab, and Persian history layered into its streets and cuisine. After days spent tracking wildlife across dust and savanna, Zanzibar's beaches and slower pace are the natural counterpart, and the island has long been paired with mainland safaris as a two-part Tanzania itinerary.

Highlights

Stone Town, Zanzibar's UNESCO-listed old quarter, is a maze of narrow alleys, carved wooden doors, spice markets, and rooftop restaurants that trace the island's history as a hub of the Indian Ocean trade. Beyond the town, Zanzibar's spice farms offer guided tours through plantations of clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla that once made the island one of the world's most valuable trading posts. The east coast beaches around Paje, Jambiani, and Kendwa are known for their fine white sand and clear shallow water, while the surrounding reefs make Zanzibar one of East Africa's better snorkeling and diving destinations, with regular chances to swim alongside dolphins off the southern coast.

- UNESCO World Heritage Stone Town, with its markets, mosques, and historic architecture

- Spice farm tours through clove, nutmeg, and vanilla plantations

- White-sand beaches on the east and north coasts, ideal for swimming and water sports

- Snorkeling, diving, and dolphin encounters along the surrounding reefs

Best Time to Visit

Zanzibar's dry seasons, June to October and late December to February, offer the most reliable sunshine and calmest seas for swimming and diving. The long rains from March to May are quieter and less expensive but bring heavier, more frequent showers, which is worth planning around for a beach-focused stay.

Getting There

Zanzibar is reached by a short flight from Arusha, Kilimanjaro, or Dar es Salaam, typically under an hour and a half, making it easy to fly directly from the Serengeti's airstrips into a beach stay at the end of a mainland safari.

[6 Days Zanzibar Beach Holiday](https://mackafricasafaris.com/en/safaris/6-days-zanzibar-beach-holiday)

Six days split between Stone Town and the north coast: the old town and Prison Island, a spice farm, snorkelling at Mnemba Atoll and a sunset dhow cru...

[7 Days Zanzibar Honeymoon Escape](https://mackafricasafaris.com/en/safaris/7-days-zanzibar-honeymoon-escape)

A slow-paced week for couples: two nights in a boutique hotel in Stone Town, then four nights on the east coast with a Safari Blue day at sea, a priva...

[Stone Town and Prison Island Day Tour](https://mackafricasafaris.com/en/safaris/stone-town-and-prison-island-day-tour)

A day in and around Zanzibar's old capital: a guided walk through Stone Town's UNESCO-listed streets and markets, then a boat trip to Prison Island to...

[Zanzibar Safari Blue Day Trip](https://mackafricasafaris.com/en/safaris/zanzibar-safari-blue-day-trip)

A full day sailing Zanzibar's Menai Bay on a traditional dhow: snorkelling on coral reefs, a swim at the Kwale sandbank, a natural lagoon among the ma...

[10 Day Wildlife Safari & Zanzibar Beach Holiday](https://mackafricasafaris.com/en/safaris/10-day-wildlife-safari-and-zanzibar-beach-holiday)

Six days on Tanzania's northern safari circuit – Tarangire, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater – followed by a flight to Zanzibar for three nights on...

[Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti & Zanzibar Beach Getaway](https://mackafricasafaris.com/en/safaris/ngorongoro-crater-serengeti-and-zanzibar-beach-getaway)

Twelve days combining Tarangire, three days in the Ngorongoro highlands and crater, the Serengeti, a Hadzabe visit at Lake Eyasi and a Zanzibar finish...

[14 Days Tanzania Safari and Zanzibar](https://mackafricasafaris.com/en/safaris/14-days-tanzania-safari-and-zanzibar)

Two weeks in Tanzania: Tarangire, Lake Manyara, three days in the Serengeti and two in the Ngorongoro Crater area, then four nights on Zanzibar with S...

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