Visit Zanzibar: Best Time, Travel Guide & Top Reasons to Go

Even after exploring 43 countries and countless honeymoon destinations, my Zanzibar trip still stands out as one of my top five unforgettable experiences. This tropical island in East Africa, part of the semi-autonomous region of Tanzania, offers everything from fine white sands and clear turquoise waters to historic Stone Town and world-famous spice farms.

The ocean blues of Zanzibar

The blues of Zanzibar out by the sand dunes in the middle of the ocean

Zanzibar dolphin watching

If you’re planning your first trip to the Zanzibar Archipelago, here’s a complete travel guide filled with tips, highlights, and good reasons to make this your next dream vacation.

Best Time to Visit Zanzibar

The best time to visit Zanzibar depends on what kind of beach holiday you want:

• Dry season (June–October): The most popular time of year with sunny days, cooler evenings, and calm seas. This is the high season, so expect more crowds and higher prices.

• Short trip in April/May: If you’re flexible, visiting right before the long rains can mean fewer tourists, lower hotel prices, and surprisingly good weather conditions (we had no rain and plenty of sunshine).

• Summer months (December–February): Hotter and more humid, but still a good time if you love the sun.

Arrival: Abeid Amani Karume International Airport

Your first stop will likely be the Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, just outside Zanzibar City, the capital of Zanzibar.

Tips for arrival:

• Visa costs: $50 USD on arrival (but check if it has increased since) — bring cash (USD cash for this) and a pen for paperwork. And don't be surprised if you're going from one desk to the other, it's a true organized chaos at the arrivals, but it works! 

• Credit cards and Cash: Cards are not always accepted, especially in smaller places or local villages. Cash is essential. Have plenty of cash on you (US Dollars) as not all ATMs will always have cash in them.

Where We Stayed: East Coast of Zanzibar Island

We stayed on the East Coast in Pongwe at an all-inclusive resort (Azao Resort and Spa). Choosing a resort on this part of the main island was the perfect place for a peaceful escape:

• Low tide & high tide: Twice daily, the ocean reveals stretches of powdery white sand and smooth beaches.

• Hotel room: Simple but with ocean views — waking up to sunrises over the Indian Ocean was unforgettable. The price we paid for what we got was completely acceptable and fulfilled everything that we wanted.

• Local life: Guards patrol the properties for safety, and nearby local villages offer glimpses of local culture. You'll also see a monkey or two roaming around in the trees! 

• Other hotels: There are plenty of hotels and resorts in the area of all price points (as we had a chance to go to a few, either for a coffee or to stop by the pool). It really depends on how much you want to spend, but at the end of the day, they all offer some of the most amazing views of the Indian Ocean if you are staying on the east side of Zanzibar.

Sunset from Azao resort and spa in Zanzibar

Zanzibar rock resort during high tide

Tulia Zanzibar unique beach resort pool during sunrise

Things to Do in Zanzibar

Here are the unforgettable experiences that made our Zanzibar trip so special:

1. Explore Historic Stone Town

• Wander the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Stone Town, full of local culture, bustling markets, and old forts

• Stop by the Forodhani Gardens for street food and sunset views

2. Take a Spice Tour

• Visit a spice farm like Dole Zanzibar and discover why this is called the Spice Island

• Even ingredients from perfumes like Chanel No. 5 can be found here

Spice Farm of Zanzibar

An ingredient in Chanel5 perfume found on the Spice Farm in Zanzibar

Pepper, one of the spices found in the Spice Farm in Zanzibar

3. Sandbanks & Mnemba Island

• During low tide, take a day trip to sandbanks near Mnemba Island, a small island with beautiful coral reefs and chances to spot green turtles

• Boats often offer fruit platters and plenty of photo ops in the middle of the blue waters

• Tip: This was probably the part with the most beautiful waters, and would take the boat out again to experience it again and again

Standing in the middle of the Indian Ocean on a sandbank

Sea urchins found in the middle of the Indian Ocean

Starfish found in the middle of the Indian Ocean near the sandbanks

4. Dolphin Swimming & Snorkeling

• Slide into the water alongside pods of dolphins — one of the most unforgettable experiences of my travels. Yes, you can actually get into the water with the dolphins as they are swimming by your little boat. There will be many other boats all looking for the dolphin pods, and there will most likely be 10 boats gathered in a circle with the dolphins swimming around them 

• Snorkel through the vibrant coral reefs and see colorful fish in some of the best beaches of the Zanzibar Archipelago

• Tip: I've seen dolphins in many places throughout the world on boat tours, but this is a different experience that can't be explained. The fact that you get so close and can simply hop into the water is not something you can get in many other places

  
  

  Dolphin swimming in Zanzibar

5. Biking Adventures

• Resorts often have bikes to explore different areas of the coast

• Ride across (or walk across) sandbanks at low tide to reach a small island for coffee at a secluded beach bar

6. Cultural & Local Experiences

• Explore local villages, learn a few phrases in the local language (Swahili), and embrace the hakuna matata lifestyle

• If you have the opportunity to bring colored pencils, coloring books, etc., in your suitcase, bring some for a local orphanage (ask your hotel or someone you meet throughout the trip if there is an orphanage that you could help out -- the children will be more than happy that you thought of them) 

• Remember common sense and modest dress when visiting during Ramadan or in town 

Things to Remember 

• Mosquitos: We were advised to bring mosquito spray, but when I was there in April, there was not a single mosquito (never even touched my mosquito spray), but at night in the hotel, they do put out the mosquito net around your bed

• Vaccines: make sure you are aware of any vaccines that you may need before heading to Zanzibar (especially if you are heading to Tanzania afterwards) 

• eSims and internet: At your hotel or resort, you'll more or less be able to get decent wifi, but if you want to make sure that you can connect while you're out and about, make sure to purchase an eSim before your travels.

Other Good Reasons to Visit Zanzibar

• Take a boat to Pemba Island (north of Zanzibar), part of the Zanzibar Archipelago, for more tropical paradise vibes

• Ride a local dala dala for a true taste of local life (the bus transportation between the villages and towns - if you see people hanging of the back of a mini bus, then that's a dala dala) 

• A sunset boat ride with drummers in the north in Nungwi for a different experience 

Final Thoughts

Could we have explored more? Absolutely. But even with just a few days, Zanzibar was fulfilling and magical. The beautiful island, palm trees, and endless blue waters make it a place I’d return to a million times over. There are a few places that I've cried because the views were absolutely beautiful, and this was one of them.

If you’re dreaming of a beach holiday with unforgettable experiences, visit Zanzibar — it’s a tropical paradise like no other.

Not on a honeymoon, just honeymooning with the ocean until next time!