Zanzibar - Tour Highlights and Travel Tips
A trip to Zanzibar will open your senses to idyllic sand beaches filled with palm trees, the rich aromatic air of the spice markets, and a chilled atmosphere to take things pole – meaning slowly in Swahili. Plan a holiday to Zanzibar to take advantage of its warm tropical waters for an underwater adventure, curvy alleys to witness unique architecture representing its culture, or be lost in the jungles to catch sight of Red Colobus Monkeys, one of the rarest primates in Africa. There isn’t a single moment to lose!
Tour Highlights
- Eat some of East Africa’s best street food at the Forodhani Gardens after sunset
- Get lost in the winding streets of Stone Town, Zanzibar’s cultural and historic centre
- Explore the coral reefs of the Indian Ocean
- Take a trip to Prison Island (also called Changuu Island) to visit the giant tortoises
- Tour a spice farm and indulge in the rich scents of everything from lemongrass to chilli
Travel Tips
- While Zanzibar is the name of the country, it is also the name of one of the country’s smaller (uninhabited) islands. Chances are you will spend most of your time on Unguja, the biggest island in the Zanzibar archipelago.
- Get ready to eat some of the spiciest food in the world! Popular as “the spice island”, Zanzibar was a spice plantation in the 18th century and continues to heavily flavour its dishes.
- Think you know how to tell time? Think again. Zanzibar operates on Swahili time, which begins to be counted as the sun rises. This means that the 7:00 am you’re used to is in fact, 1:00am in Zanzibar (as the sun typically rises at 6:00am), and so on.
- Speaking of time, those in Zanzibar like to take things pole pole - the Swahili term for slow. Relax, don’t rush, and do as the locals do.
- Tea drinking is a way of life in Zanzibar. Be sure to try ginger chai (tangawizi), best if purchased from a roadside tea stand.
Check out our Tanzania guide for inspiration on destinations to include on your Tanzania trip itinerary along with a Zanzibar trip. You can also contact our local tour specialists to plan a customized trip to Tanzania.
