Zanzibar Archipelago vacations 2024 & 2025

In the Zanzibar Archipelago you can snorkel on coral reefs, take boat trips to secluded beaches, track monkeys in the rainforest, or explore the rich history and culture of the Zanzibari capital, Stone Town. Zanzibar’s powder-soft beaches and azure seas offer an idyllic backdrop for some time spent relaxing, but you’ll also find this string of tropical islands offers the chance to explore mangroves and coral reefs, see dolphins, sharks, and turtles, or sail on a traditional dhow. You could also tour spice plantations, venture into the thick forests to see rare Zanzibar red colobus monkeys, or explore 2,000 years of spice-trading history among the narrow winding streets of Stone Town.

You can stay in boutique hotels, historic townhouses, rustic beach retreats, or luxurious resorts in the Zanzibar Archipelago. You’ll find the greatest choice of places to stay on Zanzibar Island, where you can bed down in a former sultan’s palace in Stone Town, deluxe cottages on a secluded beach, or in boutique villas overlooking a tranquil lagoon.

Elsewhere, you’ll find stylish seafront and garden villas on Pemba, thatched bandas on a private island retreat, or stilted wooden bungalows on the Mafia Islands.

When choosing where to stay you may want to factor in tides on Zanzibar Island, which can swallow some beaches entirely at high tide and leave the waterline far away at low tide. Take a look at our collection of places to stay in Zanzibar for some ideas, then speak to your specialist about how tides affect local beaches.

Zanzibar is a group of 50 islands, but most visitors head to Zanzibar Island, Pemba Island, or the Mafia Islands. On Zanzibar Island, the largest in the archipelago, you can combine time on pristine beaches lapped by turquoise waters with a visit to Stone Town, the islands’ capital.

Once a hub for spice traders, Stone Town’s maze of narrow laneways are lined by ornate townhouses and palaces, and lead to spice markets, bazaars, small museums, and excellent restaurants.

Outlying islands offer a quieter experience, with lush Pemba Island a great destination for diving and snorkeling, and the Mafia Islands offering dense rainforest and unspoiled barrier reefs.

It takes around 20 hours 30 minutes to fly from the East Coast of the US to the Zanzibar Archipelago.

The time zone in the Zanzibar Archipelago is UTC+3 hours. Daylight Savings Time is not observed here.

The best way to get around the Zanzibar Archipelago is to travel by car while on Zanzibar Island or to take a short flight between islands that are more distant. Zanzibar is a group of 50 islands, of which Zanzibar Island is the biggest. Boats travel between all the islands, but we recommend flying to more remote destinations such as Pemba Island.

American citizens need a visa for travel to the Zanzibar Archipelago. You can apply online in advance on the Electronic Visa Application System.

Speak to your doctor for vaccine advice for the Zanzibar Archipelago. You can check the suggested vaccinations on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, but you should also ensure you’re up to date with the recommended vaccinations for your home country.

If you’re coming from or transiting through a country affected by yellow fever, you may be asked for proof of vaccination against the disease.

The Zanzibar Archipelago is classified as an area of high risk for malaria. You should visit your doctor well in advance of your trip to discuss which antimalarials to take.

You can reduce your risk of contracting the disease by protecting yourself from mosquito bites. Wear insect repellent with a 50% DEET content, cover your arms and legs, and use mosquito nets where provided.

Your passport must be valid for six months beyond the date of your return from the Zanzibar Archipelago and should have two blank pages.