Almost every safari we design ends with a few barefoot days on the Indian Ocean, so the first question is always the same: which island? Zanzibar, the Seychelles and Mauritius each pair beautifully with a safari, but they suit different travelers.
Here, then, is the comparison we give our own guests.
Zanzibar vs Seychelles vs Mauritius at a glance
In short, Zanzibar is the natural finish to a Kenya safari or Tanzania safari, the Seychelles is the honeymoon island, and Mauritius is the resort choice for families. Flight time from your last camp is the practical deciding factor, and the island combination is priced as part of your one proposal.
| Island | Flight from the safari | Best months | Style | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zanzibar | One to one and a half hours from the Serengeti or Arusha; about 1.5 hours from Nairobi. | June to October and December to February, while the heaviest rain falls March to May. | Boutique beach hotels, private villas and Stone Town. | Couples, families and anyone watching the budget, since Zanzibar costs less than the Seychelles. |
| Seychelles | About four hours from Nairobi on a direct flight; about five from Johannesburg. | April to May and October to November are calmest, although it is warm all year. | Private-island and villa luxury; granite coves. | Honeymoons and milestone trips. |
| Mauritius | About four hours from Johannesburg; four and a half from Nairobi. | May to December is dry and cooler, while January to March is cyclone season. | Grand resorts, golf, kids’ clubs and spas. | Families and travelers who want resort polish. |
Island guides: Zanzibar, Seychelles and Mauritius; safari pairings by island are on beaches and islands.
Zanzibar: closer, more affordable and more cultured than the Seychelles
Zanzibar is the natural finish to a Kenya or Tanzania safari: a short direct flight, powder-white beaches on the east coast, and, above all, something neither rival has. That is Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage old city of carved doors, spice markets and Swahili history.
It suits honeymooners and families alike, and your dollar goes noticeably further than in the Seychelles or Mauritius. The trade-off: tides are dramatic on some beaches (pick your coast carefully; we do this for you), and it is less polished than Mauritius.
- —Best for: safari pairings, culture + beach, value
- —Flight: ~1.5 hours from Arusha/Kilimanjaro, about 1.5 hours from Nairobi
- —Season: June–October and December–February are driest
Seychelles: the drop-dead-gorgeous honeymoon
Granite boulders, jungle-green hills falling into turquoise water, giant tortoises: the Seychelles look like nowhere else on earth, and the private-island resorts (North Island, Fregate, Six Senses) are also among the world’s most exclusive.
It is the most expensive of the three and the longest connection from East Africa (usually via Nairobi or Addis Ababa), but for a once-in-married-life honeymoon it is hard to beat. Island-hop between Mahé, Praslin and La Digue if you want variety.
- —Best for: honeymoons, privacy, natural drama
- —Flight: ~3–5 hours from East Africa with connection
- —Season: year-round warm; April–May and October–November are calmest seas
Mauritius: polish, resorts and families
In contrast to Zanzibar and the Seychelles, Mauritius is the most developed of the three, in the best sense: world-class resorts with kids’ clubs, golf, spas and superb food (a French-Indian-Creole mix), all inside a protective reef that keeps lagoons calm and swimmable.
It also pairs most naturally with a South Africa safari (direct flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town), and it is the easiest choice for multigenerational trips where everyone needs something to do.
- —Best for: families, resort lovers, South Africa pairings
- —Flight: ~4 hours direct from Johannesburg
- —Season: May–December is cooler and drier; avoid cyclone season (Jan–Mar) if you can
Our shorthand: Zanzibar vs Seychelles vs Mauritius
East Africa safari + culture + value: Zanzibar. Honeymoon of a lifetime and budget to match: Seychelles. Family comfort or a Southern Africa safari: Mauritius. And if you cannot decide, a safari plus two islands (Zanzibar and the Seychelles, say) is entirely possible; we plan the flights so it feels easy.
Written by NndeeAfrika ·
