Zanzibar
Top Tips
Diving and Snorkelling
One of the most exciting dive areas in the world, with coral reefs
and plunging walls, colourful shallow-water fish and large
pelagics, including tuna, barracuda, rays, turtles, sharks and
eels. You can book a full PADI course, or just paddle around with
mask and fins.
Sailing
Explore remote islands and dive sites on a catamaran or
yacht, or take a
short cruise on a traditional wooden dhow - many hotels have
their own.
Spice tour
A fascinating half-day or day drive around the thickly wooded
interior of Zanzibar island, showing you where spices come from and
how they are picked.
Shopping
The narrow alleys of Stone Town are lined with craft shops and
souvenir stalls: colourful fabrics, wooden bao boards,
leather sandals, handwoven baskets and jewellery are some of the
things to take home.
Beaches
Zanzibar has some of the longest, whitest, most idyllic beaches
we’ve seen, with swaying coconut palms and warm, turquoise,
tidal waters. The quieter beaches (e.g. on Pemba ) are
covered with wonderful shells – though, sadly, you are not
allowed to take any home.
Sightseeing
The scattered ruins of Sultan’s palaces (Maharubi), slave
chambers (Stone Town / Mangapwani) and Persian baths (Kizimbani)
are the best of the Arab remains in and around Stone Town, which
itself has a decidedly faded grandeur. The evocative, ruined
Shirazi capital of Mafia, Kua, can be visited by boat.
Water-sports
Windsurfing, water-skiing and sea-kayaking are available at the
larger resorts, but only when the tide is in.
Fishing
Deep-sea fishing can be arranged at Fundu Lagoon,
with marlin and tuna the big prizes.
Wildlife
If you’re not gamed out from a mainland safari, you can spot
red colobus monkeys in Jozani forest or swim with dolphins at
Kizimkazi (both feasible as day trips from our hotels in the
southeast of
Zanzibar.
There is excellent birdwatching everywhere – sunbirds,
rollers, herons, egrets and flying foxes.