Photo: Mussi Katz · Public domain
Zanzibar
Spice-island beaches with a UNESCO old town.
Getting there
Tanzania
Suggested length
7–10 nights, or 3 + 7 with a Serengeti safari
From
USD 80
Ideal for
Beach-plus-culture travellers
Zanzibar is the Indian Ocean with character. Alongside the postcard beaches you get Stone Town — a UNESCO-listed warren of carved doors, spice markets and Swahili-Omani history — and a culture that rewards curiosity.
The coast has personalities: lively, tide-friendly Nungwi and Kendwa in the north; quieter, wider beaches and kite-surfing in the east. We match the coast to how you like to spend a beach day, and always anchor first-timers with a night or two in Stone Town.
It pairs naturally with a Tanzanian safari — three nights in the Serengeti and seven on the sand is a classic — and it's visa-free for Botswana passport holders, which keeps the logistics simple.
Highlights
- Stone Town's UNESCO heritage and spice tours
- North-coast beaches at Nungwi and Kendwa
- Mnemba Atoll snorkelling and diving
- Dhow sunset sails and Safari Blue
- Easy pairing with a Serengeti safari
When to go
Peak (dry)
Jun – Oct & Dec – FebSunny and dry — the prime beach window and best for diving.
Rains
Mar – May & NovLong rains in autumn, short rains in November; lower prices and fewer crowds between showers.
Getting there
Fly via Johannesburg (and often Dar es Salaam) to Zanzibar (ZNZ). Visa-free for Botswana passports; other nationalities may need a visa or visa-on-arrival — we confirm and prepare you.
Good to know
More in Indian Ocean Islands
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