Zanzibar
📍 Tanzania
☀️ Best: June–October 💰 $80–250
The Spice Island — Stone Town's UNESCO heritage alleyways, white sand beaches on the east coast, extraordinary snorkelling and diving, and the historic intersection of Arab, Persian, Indian and African cultures.
Zanzibar is the archipelago off the Tanzania coast that combines a UNESCO World Heritage old town, some of the world's finest beaches, and extraordinary spice and seafood culture into one of Africa's most compelling island destinations. Stone Town — the old city — is a labyrinth of narrow lanes, carved wooden doors, coral-stone houses, and mosques that reflects the island's layered Swahili, Arab, Persian, Indian and British colonial history. The east coast beaches (Paje, Jambiani, Nungwi) deliver white-sand perfection with turquoise water and offshore sandbanks that appear at low tide. For Australians, Zanzibar is reached via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam, making it a natural extension of a Kenya/Tanzania safari.
June–October is the dry season — the best beach weather (27–30°C), low humidity, and the calmest seas. July and August are peak months. The southeast trade winds keep temperatures manageable.
December–February: The short dry season — excellent weather and lower prices than the June–October peak. A very good alternative to peak season.
March–May: The long rains — heavy rain, high humidity, and some accommodation and operations close. Not recommended.
Compare fares from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. Set a price alert to catch sales.
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Stone Town is one of Africa's most remarkable cities — the old slave market (now the Anglican Cathedral), the House of Wonders (the first building in East Africa with electric lighting and a lift, now a museum), Darajani Market (extraordinary morning fish and spice market), and the labyrinthine lanes where getting lost is the point. Self-guided with a decent map or guided tour (AUD $25–40). Evening: the Forodhani Gardens night food market — Zanzibar pizza (an egg-and-meat stuffed flatbread, AUD $2–3), grilled seafood (AUD $5–10), and fresh sugar cane juice.
Zanzibar was called the "Spice Island" for its cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, black pepper and vanilla plantations that once supplied much of the world. A spice farm tour (AUD $20–30) visits working plantations, tastes and smells the raw spices, and typically includes a fresh coconut and a spice-infused lunch. The most authentic tours visit family-owned farms rather than commercial operations — ask your accommodation to recommend.
The north tip of Zanzibar has the best year-round swimming (the tide differential is minimal compared to the east coast, where the tide exposes mudflats for hours). Nungwi village retains a genuine dhow-building industry. The beach is lined with guesthouses and restaurants. Snorkelling off Mnemba Atoll (day boat trip, AUD $60–100) is world-class — sea turtles, reef sharks, and extraordinary coral.
Hotels, apartments and villas. All prices in AUD — book with free cancellation where available.
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Day tours, skip-the-line tickets, cooking classes and sunset cruises — book ahead in peak season.
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Zanzibar is generally safe for tourists. Stone Town: the narrow lanes require awareness at night — stick to the main lit areas and use your accommodation's recommended routes. Beach safety: Zanzibar's east coast has significant tidal variation — check tide charts before swimming (low tide on the east coast can leave water too shallow to swim for several hours). Malaria prophylaxis is strongly recommended.
Explore Stone Town: Old Fort, House of Wonders, Anglican Cathedral and slave chambers, Darajani Market morning. Afternoon dhow cruise at sunset. Evening: Forodhani Gardens night market. Day 2: spice farm tour. Prison Island (giant tortoises, AUD $15). Afternoon: depart for beaches.
Nungwi for swimming, Mnemba snorkelling day trip, sunset dhow. Or Paje/Jambiani for kitesurfing and the extraordinary low-tide sandbar walks. Fresh seafood at beach restaurants every evening.
Exclusive offers from our affiliate partners — book with confidence.
The world's largest accommodation affiliate program with over 28 million listings. High co…
Get Deal →One of the biggest travel brands. Access to 3 million+ properties, 500 airlines, car renta…
Get Deal →Earn on hotel clicks — no completed booking required! Up to 80% during promotions. Join …
Get Deal →Affiliate disclosure — we may earn a commission on bookings at no extra cost to you.