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Forodhani Gardens, Zanzibar
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ZanzibarTravel Guide

Tanzania5 stories

A spice-scented Indian Ocean archipelago off Tanzania, where the carved doors of Stone Town open onto turquoise water, dhow sails, and some of Africa's most storied beaches.

Is Zanzibar right for you?

When to come

Dry season, June to October

Around 33°C by day in February, 29°C in July — recorded at the local weather station.

What it costs

It depends where you stand. There is a cheap version and an expensive one — the guides below say which is which.

What we've planned, and who for

We publish a multi-day route for this one.

Zanzibar is inWarm in January
When to go
January: around 33 degrees by day, 25 at night, 74 millimetres of rain, some rain.
February: around 33 degrees by day, 24 at night, 51 millimetres of rain, some rain.
March: around 33 degrees by day, 25 at night, 177 millimetres of rain, very wet.
April: around 31 degrees by day, 25 at night, 409 millimetres of rain, very wet.
May: around 30 degrees by day, 24 at night, 298 millimetres of rain, very wet.
June: around 29 degrees by day, 23 at night, 52 millimetres of rain, some rain. We recommend this month.
July: around 29 degrees by day, 22 at night, 31 millimetres of rain, some rain. We recommend this month.
August: around 29 degrees by day, 21 at night, 38 millimetres of rain, some rain. We recommend this month.
September: around 30 degrees by day, 21 at night, 37 millimetres of rain, some rain. We recommend this month.
October: around 31 degrees by day, 22 at night, 116 millimetres of rain, wet. We recommend this month.
November: around 31 degrees by day, 23 at night, 201 millimetres of rain, very wet.
December: around 32 degrees by day, 24 at night, 168 millimetres of rain, very wet.
Cold to hot, by dayDry to wetWhen we would go

Dry season, June to October

Average daily highs, recorded at Zanzibar City (Stone Town), 1991-2020 normals.

Where this comes from

NOAA / Tokyo Climate Center (en.wikipedia Zanzibar City weather box) — Island region; used the Zanzibar City station the article cites. Southern hemisphere - warmest Dec-Mar is correct.

Budget level

Mixed

Typical cost profile for visitors

Combine it with
Plan itWhere to stay in Zanzibarad · Booking.comTours and tickets
On the map

Finding Zanzibar

Open in Google Maps Larger map
The stories

Reading Zanzibar

A traditional Zanzibari dhow under full sail silhouetted against a pink and grey sunset off Nungwi, the sun sitting on the horizon and its light running across flat water towards the camera.
01
Itineraries

Eight Days in Zanzibar: Three Bases, One Tide Table, No Backtracking

Zanzibar rewards just over a week if you split it into three bases and let the tide table, rather than the map, decide what you do each morning.

Tanzania · 10 min
Wooden boats moored in turquoise shallows off a white-sand Zanzibar beach lined with thatched palm-leaf umbrellas
02
The List

The Best Day Trips from Stone Town, Zanzibar, Ranked

Stone Town is where you sleep, but the island's best days happen on reefs, in forests and on sand that only exists at low tide — ranked, costed, and put in the right order.

Tanzania · 11 min
A lone sailor stands on the prow of a lateen-rigged wooden dhow, its sail curved against a rose and orange sky, as the sun drops into the sea off Zanzibar
03
The List

Zanzibar, Ranked: The 7 Experiences You Cannot Miss

From the labyrinth of Stone Town to giant tortoises and dhow sails at sunset — the definitive ranking of what actually matters on the spice islands.

Tanzania · 2 min
A palm-fringed white-sand Zanzibar beach with a thatched-roof pier reaching out over clear turquoise water
04
Hidden Gems

Green Zanzibar: Forests, Gardens and Easy Escapes from the Sand

Beyond the sand lies Unguja's last coastal forest, a coral island run as a reserve, freshwater caves and mangrove channels you can paddle into - here is how to plan the green version of Zanzibar.

Tanzania · 12 min
Aerial view of the Stone Town peninsula with its packed rooftops, sandy spit and turquoise water, Zanzibar, Tanzania
05
Itineraries

Eight Days in Zanzibar, Timed to the Tide

Zanzibar is worth eight days, and the tide table decides their order: three nights in Stone Town, two on the calm northern tip, three on the east coast where the sea walks away every afternoon.

Tanzania · 11 min
In pictures

Zanzibar, framed

Honorable Mentions, Zanzibar
Photo: Yikai Sun / Unsplash
Honorable Mentions, Zanzibar
Photo: Med J / Unsplash
The night grill at Forodhani in Zanzibar, seafood skewers laid out over the coals
Photo: Polly Sadler / Unsplash
A slice of Zanzibar pizza handed over on a paper plate
Photo: Polly Sadler / Unsplash
Our picks

What we'd do in Zanzibar

See and do

Before you go

Practical essentials for Tanzania

Money

Tanzanian shilling (TZS)

Language

Swahili is the national language and English is used in government, higher education and throughout tourism.

Power

Type D/G, 230V 50Hz

Getting around

Daladala minibuses are the local network and take cash from a conductor, but visitors on Zanzibar almost always use taxis, private transfers or a hired car and driver.

Tipping

Around 5-10% in tourist restaurants unless a service charge is already on the bill, with separate daily tips for safari guides and camp staff.

Tap water

Tap water is not safe to drink on Zanzibar or the mainland; stick to bottled, boiled or filtered water, including for brushing teeth.

Driving

Left-hand side; an International Driving Permit covers the mainland, but Zanzibar requires its own locally issued temporary driving permit before you may drive on the island.

Emergency

112 (ambulance 114, fire 115)

Country-level guidance, checked against official sources. Currency, fares and entry rules change — confirm anything time-critical before you travel.

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