Your Complete Zanzibar Travel Guide
We think you should visit Zanzibar soon!
Have you heard of the exotic island Unguja – referred to informally as Zanzibar? This tropical paradise is ~35 km (22 miles) off the coast of Tanzania, East Africa, and a semi-autonomous constituent state of the Union State of Tanzania.
So, why should you visit soon? Because Zanzibar has become a more popular destination in recent years tourism will only increase. To explore the island while it’s still authentic and not overrun with tourists now is your chance. Zanzibar is one of Africa’s most popular beach destinations for good reason!
The Zanzibar Archipelago consists of many small islands and two large ones: Unguja and Pemba. Unguja is over 200 km from north to south and around 100 km from east to west. The capital city of Zanzibar City is located on the island of Unguja and its historic center, Stone Town, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Zanzibar’s main industries are tourism, spices, and raffia. Before the rise of tourism, the spice trade was the most important industry, which is why the Zanzibar Archipelago is also referred to as the “Spice Islands”.
Another important economic activity is fishing and algaculture. Besides the important marine ecosystem, the land ecosystem of Zanzibar is home to the Zanzibar red colobus monkeys, Zanzibar servaline genet, and the rare or now even extinct Zanzibar leopard
The history of the Zanzibar Archipelago has been eventful
Zanzibar played an important role in the trade flows of the Indian Ocean. Persian traders settled in the 10th century on Zanzibar and in the following centuries, Arab influence, especially from Oman, continued to increase. The population is still influenced by these diverse cultures today. The 14th century marked the beginning of European influence when Zanzibar became part of the Portuguese Empire. It remained under the ownership of Portugal for two centuries.
At the end of the 17th century, Zanzibar came under the influence of the Sultanate of Oman. After the Sultan of Oman moved his seat of government to Stone Town in 1832, the city became the most important hub for the slave trade on the East African coast. Farming cloves and coconuts were the other significant economic activity at the time.
Under the rule of Sultan Bargash, the slave trade was finally banned due to the pressure of the British Empire. In the late 19th century Zanzibar became a British protectorate. After a bloody revolution of the black majority population against the upper class of Arab origin, Zanzibar declared itself independent on December 10th, 1963. On January 12, 1964, the People’s Republic of Zanzibar and Pemba was proclaimed. Three months later, Zanzibar and independent Tanganyika initially merged, and in November the republic was renamed the United Republic of Tanzania.
The Zanzibaris
The approximately 1 million inhabitants of Zanzibar are of various ethnic origins and the population consists of ethnic Swahili, Bantu population of sub-Sahara Africans, and also several Arabs, Persians, Somalis, and Indians. The majority of the population is Muslim with a Christian minority as well as other religious groups. The inter-religious body “the Joint Committee of Religious Leaders for Peace” was established in 2005 with representatives from all major religious congregations.
The official languages are Swahili and English. However, the lingua franca in much of East Africa including Zanzibar is Swahili. Arabic is also spoken in many areas. In tourist areas and hotels, other European languages like French and Italian are often spoken as well.
Tourism
Since tourism is economically very important for Zanzibar, the safety of travelers is a top priority for the local authorities. It is also safe to travel alone as a woman as the Zanzibarians are very friendly, helpful, and polite. The Zanzibar International Airport is in Zanzibar City and is relatively small and not very modern. It is easy to find private transportation to the hotel for a reasonable price. The roads are pretty well maintained in the city and larger villages but smaller roads can turn to dirt roads quickly. While it’s possible to rent a car, we would not advise it. Also, the public transportation system (Daladala) in Zanzibar is very cheap and technically connects most towns, but, the buses, or rather old vans, do not run on a set schedule and it’s impossible to book tickets in advance. We would not advise taking the sometimes unreliable and very packed public buses.
Similar to other developing nations, tourism is great for Zanzibar’s economy, however, not necessarily for the general population or ecosystems. Mindful travel is particularly important here to not contribute to the problem. Some things to keep in mind are choosing hotels run by locals rather than large corporations, making sure the excursions operate sustainably and the local communities profit from it as well that the wildlife and nature are protected and not destroyed. And of course, leave no trace. Zanzibar has had problems with increased volumes of trash and no effective waste (recycling) system.
How much does a trip to Zanzibar cost?
Of course, this depends on what kind of accommodation you choose and from where you’re traveling to Zanzibar. Flights from Europe are around around 900 – 1300 Euros (Nov. 2022), with direct flights from Amsterdam and Paris (travel time approximately 9 hrs). Flights from the U.S. are between $1000 – $1500 with 1-2 stops and a total duration of 20+ hours. The pre-pandemic flight prices were around 30-50% lower! Hopefully, we’ll get back to these prices eventually.
Hotel prices start as low as 30 Euro per night with a nice beach resort and the average price for a 3-star hotel is 60 Euro per night. Food, drinks, transportation, and excursions are very affordable and fairly priced. Most hotels offer breakfast or half-board options. There are, of course, also some stunning 5-star hotels available on the island and compared to e.g. the Caribbean usually a very good deal.
How many days do you need in Zanzibar?
We would suggest 10 – 12 days to have enough time to relax and explore the island, particularly because the travel time is on the longer side. However, it is possible to see everything in 1 week. Oftentimes, people visit Zanzibar after a safari in Tanzania and spend another 4-6 days on the island to mostly relax on the beach. The flight from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania only takes about 20 minutes. It’s also possible to take a ferry. Flights from Kenya or inland Tanzania are also possible.
What is the best time to travel to Zanzibar?
Due to its proximity to the equator, Zanzibar has a tropical climate with maximum air temperatures between 29 and 32 degrees Celsius. Even at night, the thermometer does not drop below the 18-degree mark throughout the year. Therefore, Zanzibar is a year-round destination.
The dry season is from July to September and most popular time to visit. The shoulder seasons of June and October are also a great time to visit Zanzibar. The June to October travel period also coincides with the peak season for safaris in Tanzania. April and May are monsoon seasons, and November, December, and March can also see more rain. The hottest month are also November through April.
>>Kindly Note: We can create an Add-On Zanzibar holiday extension with us after your Kilimanjaro climb of safari...
