Tailor-made Zanzibar Archipelago: Introduction

The fifty islands of the Zanzibar Archipelago lie in aquamarine seas under a blazing equatorial sun. They are hot, sultry, exotic and idyllic. There are tiny coral atolls with tumbling green creepers and turtles’ nests on the beach. Sugar white sandbanks are exposed at low tide, sloping gently to crystal clear waters and perfect for swimming among reefs teeming with life.

The Mafia Islands are covered in rainforest and almost totally undeveloped, with local life proceeding at a sedate pace by the warm water’s edge. On the large islands of Unguja (Zanzibar Island) and Pemba there is mile upon mile of white sand, flanked by tall coconut palms. The azure seas are littered with reefs, with pink sea anemones swaying in warm currents and butterflyfish, angelfish and parrotfish darting between the corals.

Zanzibar has more than just beaches though. Monsoon winds blowing from Persia, Arabia and India have led traders to these islands for over 2,000 years. In Zanzibar’s Stone Town, labyrinth alleys lead to sultans’ residences with thick stone walls and intricately carved doors studded with gold. Inland, there are crumbling palaces and spice plantations where piles of curling cinnamon bark and rich brown nutmegs lie in the sun. Villages shade under papaya trees and the air is filled with the smell of drying cloves. At sunset Zanzibar is spectacular as hundreds of silent dhows set sail for the night, their billowing white sails tinged pink in the sun.

With a warm breeze blowing this is the place to unwind, to relax and enjoy. Just a short flight from some of Tanzania’s wildest parks, Zanzibar is an ultimate finale for any safari.

Selected Highlights

Our specialists have travelled the length and breadth of the country to research the best places to stay and things to do. Here they list a few of their favourite “unmissables”.

Dive and snorkel with whale sharks in the Mafia Islands

Mafia Island is located just south of Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar and is a quiet, traditional and natural place to relax and get away from it all. This is the...  [more]

Snorkel in Chumbe Island Coral Park

The whole of Chumbe Island's land and sea is a nature reserve. Just off the beach is the reef crest (encompassing a spectacular array of hard corals) which...  [more]

Relax on Zanzibar's fabulous white beaches

Zanzibar, an island located just off Dar es Salaam, is blessed with a coastline of picture perfect beaches. There are miles of white sand leading into...  [more]