Zanzibar is the perfect end to a Tanzania safari — a short flight from the Serengeti to powder-white sand, turquoise water and centuries of Swahili, Arab and Indian history.
Wander the labyrinth of UNESCO-listed Stone Town, tour a spice farm, then unwind at a barefoot-luxury resort on the north and east coasts.
Highlights of Zanzibar
Stone Town
A UNESCO World Heritage maze of history, spice markets and carved doors — tour it with a local guide.
The north coast
Nungwi and Kendwa — the best swimming beaches, tide-free waters and famous sunsets.
Spice farm tours
Walk the clove, vanilla and cinnamon plantations that gave the Spice Island its name.
Mnemba Atoll snorkeling
Zanzibar’s finest reef — turtles, dolphins and coral gardens by traditional dhow or speedboat.
Sunset dhow cruises
Sail a hand-built wooden dhow into the sunset with champagne — the classic Zanzibar evening.
Jozani Forest & kitesurfing
Meet the endemic red colobus monkeys, then ride the trade winds at Paje — one of Africa’s best kite beaches.
Recommended lodges & camps in Zanzibar
Where you stay shapes your whole safari. These are properties we know personally and return to again and again — chosen for their location, their guiding and the way they make you feel. Tell us which appeal and we’ll build your journey around them.
&Beyond Mnemba Island
A barefoot-luxury private island ringed by coral reef — just twelve bandas, world-class diving and snorkeling, and total seclusion.
Zuri Zanzibar
A Design Hotels member on Kendwa’s swimmable beach — contemporary bungalows, a spice garden and the island’s best sunsets.
Baraza Resort & Spa
An all-villa, all-inclusive resort styled like a Swahili palace — arches, brass lanterns and private plunge pools on a powder-white beach.
Zawadi Hotel
Twelve villas on a low cliff with sweeping ocean views and steps down to a private beach — intimate, quiet and honeymoon-perfect.
Tulia Zanzibar
A small luxury resort on secluded Pongwe beach — 16 bungalows, a glass-sided pool and genuinely personal service.
Zanzibar White Sand Villas
Relais & Châteaux villas with private pools behind Paje’s kite beach — barefoot luxury with the island’s best watersports on the doorstep.
Xanadu Villas & Retreat
Nine individually designed villas with butlers and a retreat-style calm — one of Zanzibar’s most personal small hideaways.
Zuri Zanzibar
A design-led resort on Kendwa’s powder beach — vibrant villas, a coral-reef house reef and some of the island’s best sunsets.
The Residence Zanzibar
Spacious private-pool villas set in tropical gardens along a quiet stretch of beach — a polished, all-suite retreat for a relaxed finish.
Xanadu Villas & Retreat
An intimate adults-and-family boutique of thatched villas on the quieter east coast, with a strong eco ethos and warm, personal service.
These are a few of our favorites — we work with many more across every price point. Have a specific lodge in mind? Tell us in your enquiry and we’ll secure it.
Know before you go
The practical details we handle for you — flights, entry, health and money — summarized here so nothing surprises you. Requirements can change, so we confirm everything when you book.
Getting there from the USA
Qatar, Turkish and KLM connect US cities to Zanzibar with one stop — or hop over from a Tanzania safari in about 90 minutes from Arusha.
Visas & entry
US citizens need a Tanzania visa ($100, multiple entry) — apply online before travel. Zanzibar also requires mandatory visitor insurance (about $44), bought online before arrival.
Health
Malaria prophylaxis is recommended. Stick to bottled water and you'll be fine — the resorts are well run.
Money & tipping
USD is accepted almost everywhere (bills printed 2009 or later). Tipping is at your discretion — about $20–25 per person per day is a generous benchmark, less at beach resorts.
Best time to visit
Cool, dry and sunny — the prime beach season.
Hot and dry, ideal for diving and watersports.
Planning & cost
Zanzibar beach extensions from $450 per person per night, all-inclusive.
Fly into Zanzibar (ZNZ), a short hop from the Serengeti or Kilimanjaro. US travelers need Tanzania’s multiple-entry eVisa ($100, valid 12 months), applied for online.
Every journey is private, all-inclusive and tailor-made — your own guide and vehicle, the finest lodges, and a specialist on call throughout.
Zanzibar FAQs
A short scheduled or light-aircraft flight links the Serengeti and Kilimanjaro directly to Zanzibar, making the safari-to-beach transfer effortless.
June to October is cool, dry and ideal for the beach; December to February is hot and dry and best for diving. Avoid the long rains of April–May.
Three to five nights is ideal after a safari — time to explore Stone Town and a spice farm, then fully relax on the coast.
Let’s design your Zanzibar journey.
Tell us how you like to travel and our experts will craft your private, tailor-made itinerary — no obligation.
Enquire now