Stone Town
The old heart of Zanzibar City and a UNESCO World Heritage Site: carved doors, spice markets and rooftop sunsets. Best for a night or two.
The Zanzibar archipelago
After the dust,
After the dust,
the Indian Ocean
Spice-scented streets, white sand and warm, clear water — the natural finish to a Tanzania safari or a Kilimanjaro climb, a short flight from the Serengeti or Arusha.
Begin a conversationBush and beach
The best end to a safari is a few days of doing very little.
After early starts and long drives, Zanzibar is where the journey settles. We choose places to stay with the same care as safari camps — on quiet stretches of beach, with good food and staff who leave you in peace.
Most travellers spend a night or two in Stone Town, then move to the coast. We can add a day of sailing, a spice farm, snorkelling or nothing at all.
Where to stay
Four sides of the island
Zanzibar changes a lot from coast to coast. We will match the area to what you want from your days.
The north coast
Nungwi and Kendwa, where the tide moves least — swimming all day and sunsets over the water. Livelier, with good dhow sailing.
The east coast
Matemwe, Paje and Michamvi. Long white beaches, dramatic tides, seaweed farms and some of the quietest villas on the island.
Mnemba & the islands
A private island resort, snorkelling on Mnemba Atoll and quiet boat days to sandbanks off the coast.
Experiences
Beyond the beach
01
Stone Town walk
A guided walk through the old town's lanes, the House of Wonders and the old slave market, ending on a rooftop at sunset.
02
Spice farm
The cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon that made the island's fortune, tasted where they grow.
03
Dhow sailing
A traditional wooden dhow at sunset off the north coast, or a full day to the sandbanks.
04
Mnemba snorkelling
Clear water, reef fish, turtles and often dolphins around Mnemba Atoll.
05
Jozani Forest
Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park, home of the rare Zanzibar red colobus monkey.
06
Kitesurf & dive
Steady winds at Paje for kitesurfing, and reef diving off the north and east coasts and Pemba.
Bush, Baobabs and the Coast
Eleven days, plains to ocean
Our signature bush-and-beach journey: nine days of game viewing in Tarangire and the Serengeti, then the crossing to the archipelago. The plains and the Indian Ocean held in a single arc, without rushing either.
Eleven days · From US$6,200 per person sharing.
Enquire about this journey
Questions
Before you ask
How do we get from the safari to Zanzibar?
By light aircraft. Scheduled flights link the Serengeti, Arusha and Kilimanjaro to Zanzibar every day, and we arrange all the connections.
When is the best time to visit Zanzibar?
June to October and December to February are dry and sunny. March to May brings the long rains, and some beach hotels close for part of that period.
How many nights should we stay?
Four to six nights works well — one or two in Stone Town and the rest on the coast.
Is the east coast tide a problem?
Not a problem, but worth knowing. On the east coast the sea goes out a long way at low tide. If all-day swimming matters most, the north coast is a better match.
Begin
Add the coast to your safari.
Tell us your safari dates and we will suggest the best stretch of beach for them.
Start planning