Zanzibar

The famous Stone Town and golden beaches

Zanzibar is a tropical island off the coast of Tanzania. There are white sandy beaches, a colourful place called Stone Town, a unique restaurant and there are monkeys in the forest that are not found anywhere else in the world.

Zanzibar beaches

Zanzibar is one of the most beautiful beach destinations on earth. And is therefore a good end to your trip. Accommodation is available in all price ranges; from cheap to extremely pricey. The choice is yours.

A small island off the coast of Zanzibar.

You can holiday for peace and quiet, or for the beaches. Zanzibar is a perfect end to a tour, often involving a safari. The island has pearly white beaches, a colourful town (Stone Town), a unique restaurant in the ocean and rare monkeys. 

Jambiani's mile-long beaches

In the nice fishing village of Jambiani, the beaches stretch for miles at low tide. You can walk on the beach barefoot. The tides of this tropical sea changes drastically. In high tide you have a turquoise ocean to swim in and during low tide this changes to a sandy spit.

Where you can walk for long stretches picking up exquisite seashells.  When I was there, I walked on the beach for hours and watched the waves roll very gently over the sand.

Stone Town

Stone Town on Zanzibar.

Stone town is the capital of Zanzibar. The streets are narrow. The houses are made of limestone, which is actually dead coral that has been crushed. Some bricks still show fragments of coral. The coral gives the stones the characteristic white colour, but sometimes also red.

The town is a colourful melting pot of cultures. If you're walking around the city, look at the decorative doors. Most are made of wood with carvings and ornaments on it. These already show that you are at the crossroads of Africa, but also Arabia, India and Europe. In Stone Town you will come across various markets and bazaars along the way.

Slavery

The Slavery Monument on Zanzibar.

You will see memories of slavery from the past. Including an imposing monument. Which you'll see when you walk through the town. Go early in the morning, when it’s not so hot and you can take good pictures. In the afternoon it is too hot and the town is very quiet. In the evening, life blossoms again.

The Zanzibar Red Colobus

The rare The Zanzibar Red Colobus with a young.

The unique Zanzibar red colobus monkeys live in the forests. This species of monkey is only found on Zanzibar, which is partly why it is critically endangered. The animals are very curious and particularly colourful. There are several projects to save these unique monkeys. You can learn more about this on the island, and you can also support these projects.

Snorkelling and Diving on Zanzibar

The underwater world is also very worthwhile. You can easily explore it with a snorkel mask on. The water is extremely clear and the coral reefs are still in a reasonably good condition. You see an abundance of colourful fish. Sea turtles are also regularly spotted in the waters around Zanzibar. So keep your eyes open.

Divers can also make beautiful dives. With various PADI diving schools, they can go into the water. You have a reasonable chance of seeing sharks in the more remote parts.

Changuu or Prison Island

Prison Island on Zanzibar.

The islet is officially called Changuu, but is best known as Prison Island. It is an uninhabited island off the coast of Stone Town. At the end of the 19th century, a prison was built on the island for rebellious slaves. But the abolition of slavery never put it into use. Giant tortoises can be seen on several locations on the island. They were deported in the 1920s. These animals are descendants from four animals donated to Zanzibar by the Seychelles.

Boat Excursion in a Dhow

As soon as you see the sea, you'll see the dhows. These traditional Arabian wooden boats can be seen in many places. You can take these boats for a ride. It is a picturesque way to see the coast of Zanzibar, but also Tanzania. 

You have a great chance of encountering dolphins on this excursion. These animals are often seen on boat trips in the southern part of the island. Especially around sunset it is exceptionally beautiful because of the soft light. Perfect for photos and for romance.

My Tips

Show all Bucket List Tips on Tanzania

Read My Tips

all 13 articles on Tanzania

Show all articles