Zanzibar Beach Holidays on the Spice Island

Powder-white beaches, warm turquoise water and the old streets of Stone Town, all on one island. Spend a whole holiday in Zanzibar, or fly in for a few slow days by the sea after your safari.

Zanzibar Holiday Packages

Our Zanzibar packages range from a few nights on the beach to a full island trip with Stone Town, a spice farm and a day on the reef. Hotels and transfers are included, and we adjust every package to your dates and travel style. Coming from the parks? Our safari and Zanzibar holidays pair the Serengeti or the southern parks with the coast, and the 6-day Zanzibar extension adds the island to any trip.

Travel Time
417

Tailor Your Zanzibar Holiday

Tell us your dates and the kind of beach you dream of, and we'll plan the island around you.

Fahamu Safaris fleet

Why Visit Zanzibar

Zanzibar is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, about 35 km off the coast of mainland Tanzania. Most visitors stay on the main island, Unguja, which people simply call Zanzibar. Centuries of trade between Africa, Arabia and India shaped its food, its music and its old town. Today it pairs easy beach days with culture you won't find on a typical resort island. Looking for somewhere quieter? See Tanzania's beaches beyond Zanzibar, such as Mafia and Pemba.

Beaches for Every Style

In the north, around Nungwi and Kendwa, the tide changes less, so you can swim most of the day and watch the sun set over the sea. The east coast, from Matemwe down to Paje, has wide tidal lagoons, seaweed farms and steady winds that kitesurfers love. On the Michamvi peninsula in the south-east, sheltered bays face west for calm water and sunsets.

Stone Town and the Spice Island Story

Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a maze of narrow alleys, carved wooden doors and busy markets. Walk past the Old Fort, try grilled seafood at the Forodhani night market, and hear how cloves and the spice trade made the island rich. Join a Stone Town walking tour, then taste fresh cinnamon, vanilla and nutmeg on a spice farm tour.

Adventures On and Under the Water

Go snorkelling at Mnemba Atoll among turtles and bright reef fish, or sail at sunset on a traditional dhow. Meet the giant tortoises on Prison Island, or walk through Jozani Forest to see the rare red colobus monkeys found only on Zanzibar. Every trip can be timed around the tides and your beach days.

Beaches for Every Style
Stone Town and the Spice Island Story
Safari lodgeTented camp

Where You'll Stay in Zanzibar

We match your stay to your budget, your dates and the way you like to travel, from simple beach bungalows to luxury resorts. Many guests split their time, with a night or two in Stone Town before heading to the coast.

  • Stone Town: boutique hotels in old merchant houses, many with rooftop terraces.
  • North coast: beach resorts around Nungwi and Kendwa, including all-inclusive options.
  • East coast: eco-lodges and bungalows on the quieter beaches from Matemwe to Paje.
  • Private villas: space for families and friends, and privacy for couples on our honeymoon safaris.

With You From Arrival to Departure

From the moment you land, we take care of the details:

  • A meet-and-greet at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport and a private transfer to your hotel.
  • Flights from the safari parks booked for you, so you can go from the bush to the beach in a single day.
  • Excursions with local guides, timed around the tides and your beach days.
  • Our team in Tanzania on hand for the whole holiday, if plans change or you need help.

You enjoy the island, and we stay with you until your flight home.

Good to Know Before You Go

Zanzibar is a relaxed, welcoming island. It is mostly Muslim, so cover your shoulders and knees in Stone Town and the villages; swimwear is fine on the beach and at your hotel. For practical tips, read how safe Zanzibar is, and see our visa guide for Tanzania and Zanzibar for the entry rules.

Plan Your Zanzibar Holiday

Tell us your travel dates, the beach you have in mind and what you'd love to do. We'll send a tailor-made plan and a clear quote, with no obligation to book.

Start Planning
What Our Guests

Testimonials

TripAdvisor wordmarkTripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards 2025

Tanzania Travel Guide

Helpful ideas before you start planning your safari.

Tanzania Travel Guide

Helpful ideas before you start planning your safari.

Best Time to Visit

Understand Tanzania's seasons, wildlife movement, and the Great Migration windows.

National Parks

Compare Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, and other safari highlights.

What to Pack

A practical packing guide for game drives, bush camps, and changing safari weather.

Safari & Zanzibar

Plan the perfect balance between wildlife adventure and Indian Ocean relaxation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The dry, sunny months are June to October and December to February. The long rains fall from March to May, when some hotels close, and November brings short, passing showers. For rain and temperatures by month, see our Tanzania weather and rainy season guide.

Four to seven days is ideal: a night or two in Stone Town and several days on the beach. Even three nights by the sea after a safari is enough to relax and swim.

The north coast, around Nungwi and Kendwa, is best for swimming at all tides and for sunsets. The east coast, from Matemwe to Paje, has wide lagoons and big tides, which suit beach walkers and kitesurfers. The Michamvi peninsula has sheltered bays with calm water.

On the east coast the sea can pull back hundreds of metres at low tide, leaving shallow pools and sandbanks to walk on. Swimming is best around high tide there. In the north, around Nungwi and Kendwa, the tide changes much less, so you can swim most of the day.

Yes. A direct flight from Arusha takes just over an hour, so you can finish your safari in the morning and be on the beach the same afternoon. We book the flights and transfers for you.

Yes. Foreign visitors must buy Tanzania's official inbound travel insurance before arrival, even if they already have their own policy. Since 1 October 2026 the rule covers mainland Tanzania as well as Zanzibar, and one policy covers the whole trip: if Zanzibar is your first stop, you buy it from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation.

Light, breathable clothes are best. Swimwear is fine on the beach and at resorts, but cover your shoulders and knees in Stone Town and the villages. A light scarf is handy. Our safari and Zanzibar packing list has the full list.