Zanzibar Archipelago
A thousand years
of trade winds
spice islands of the Indian Ocean
after the dust and thrill of the bush, there's nowhere better to slow down. zanzibar is powder-white sand, warm turquoise water, and the spice-scented lanes of stone town — the perfect, gentle ending to any safari. we pair it seamlessly, so the only thing you plan is when to swim.
3 islandsIn the archipelago
1,666 km²Combined land area
1.7 millionInhabitants
UNESCOStone Town heritage
Year-roundBeach season
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where to begin
one name,six very different places
"going to zanzibar" can mean six very different holidays. it can mean three days wandering the alleys of unesco-listed stone town, eating grilled seafood at the forodhani night market and watching dhows from a rooftop bar. it can mean a week on the swimmable beaches of nungwi, with sundowner cocktails and dolphin snorkel trips. it can mean five days of world-class wall diving on pemba, the wild northern island most travellers never reach. it can mean swimming alongside whale sharks off mafia. it can mean kitesurfing in the lagoons of paje, where the trade winds blow reliably for half the year.
these aren't interchangeable. the east coast of unguja has dramatic tides; the north doesn't. pemba is wetter and greener than mafia. stone town is a working city; the beaches are pure resort. choosing the right zanzibar for your trip — and ideally weaving in two or three — is the most important decision you'll make.
below, we've grouped the destinations by region. read through and see which one calls you. most of our travellers pair stone town with one beach on unguja, or with mafia or pemba for something further off the beaten path.
01
the city
stone townwhere it all begins
the unesco-listed historic capital — a thousand years of indian ocean trade, woven into stone, doors and spices.
02
the beaches
unguja'sfamous coastlines
the main island offers two very different beach experiences — the swimmable north coast and the kitesurf-friendly east coast.
02
Beach
3-5 nights
northern coast · unguja
nungwi & kendwawhite sand, no tides
nungwi and kendwa, on zanzibar's northern tip, are the island's most photogenic beaches — and the only ones the dramatic tides don't touch. swimming, snorkelling, sunset bars, dhow trips, dolphin tours. for travellers who want classic tropical resort life.
- Snorkelling at Mnemba Atoll
- Sunset dhow cruise
- Kendwa Rocks full moon party
03
Beach
4-6 nights
east coast · unguja
paje & jambianikitesurfers' paradise
paje and jambiani on the east coast are the kitesurfing capitals of east africa, and the bohemian alternative to nungwi's resorts. long stretches of white sand, dramatic tides, palm-thatched bars, and a more real, local feel.
- Kitesurfing lessons or rentals
- The Rock restaurant
- Sea-grass tour with local women
03
the other islands
pemba & mafia,the quieter alternatives
beyond unguja lie two islands most travellers never visit — both offering a very different, and ultimately deeper, side of zanzibar.
04
Outer islands
5-7 nights
outer islands · tanzania
mafia islandthe diver's island
mafia island sits 160 kilometres south of unguja — quieter, less developed, and home to east africa's only year-round resident whale sharks. for divers, marine lovers, and travellers who want zanzibar without the crowds.
- Swim with whale sharks
- Diving in Chole Bay
- Chole Mjini ruins
05
Outer islands
5-7 nights
outer islands · northern zanzibar
pemba islandspices, reefs, silence
pemba is unguja's quieter, hillier, greener sister — fifty kilometres north of stone town, with the world's finest clove production, exceptional wall diving, and a tropical forest interior that feels nothing like the postcard zanzibar.
- Wall diving in the Pemba Channel
- Misali Island day trip
- Spice plantation tour
how to combine them
the zanzibarthat fits you
six classic itineraries. each can be stretched, shortened, or mixed together. think of them as starting points.
5 nights
quick island taste
Stone Town × Beachtwo nights in stone town for history and culture, three at a beach for the rest. the smallest zanzibar worth doing.
7 nights
the classic
Stone Town × Nungwi or Pajetwo nights stone town, five at a beach of your choosing. the most common zanzibar trip — and for good reason.
10 nights
two beaches
Stone Town × Nungwi × Pajetwo nights stone town, four in nungwi (swimming, snorkelling), four in paje (kitesurfing, quiet). both sides of the island.
7 nights
the diver
Stone Town × Pembatwo nights stone town, five on pemba. for divers and travellers after the road less travelled.
7-8 nights
whale shark special
Mafia × Stone Townfive nights on mafia for the whale sharks (october–march), two or three in stone town for the history. a focused trip with a clear purpose.
14 nights
big five & beach
Safari + Zanzibareight nights on the northern circuit, two in stone town, four on the beach. tanzania's ultimate combination.
plan your zanzibar
where do youwant to wake up?
tell us what kind of zanzibar moves you — heritage, swimming beaches, kitesurfing, whale sharks, wall diving. we'll shape the rest.