Come and discover Zanzibar through its routes, activities and excursions. From exciting land excursions to fascinating sea tours, discover the island's history and culture, as well as its flora and fauna. Reach Zanzibar's famous spice farms, ancient ruins, natural treasures, prison island, all the beautiful beaches and much more. For ocean lovers, you can enjoy snorkeling, diving, kayaking, fishing and sailing.
To make sure you get the most out of your trip, be sure to read my article on preparing for your trip to Zanzibar and my detailed itinerary. You can also contact Zanzibar Tailor Made, via this form, to arrange your tailor-made trip, they remain flexible and can adjust the itinerary to suit your interests and requirements.
In this article, you'll find descriptions of the 10 best activities to do in the Zanzibar archipelago, ranked from north to south with the name of the nearest town to take these excursions, and as a bonus, links to book activities at the best rates and prices, with French guides for activities requiring interaction and explanations.
Swimming with turtles at Baraka Aquarium - Nungwi
The must-do activity in the north of the island swimming with the turtles. You need to get there early to avoid the crowds and to enjoy the little sea turtles, which you can feed and swim with. There's also a mini zoo with Nile crocodiles, ostriches, chameleons, tortoises, flying squirrels and monkeys.
Caution : Please take care when interacting with the local wildlife, do not wear sunscreen during this activity, as creams dilute in water and chemical ingredients can cause environmental disturbances for these turtles.
Skydiving - Kendwa
One of the world's most incredible experiences is now available in Zanzibar, along Kendwa beach, it's now possible to enjoy the incredible Skydiving experience above one of the world's most beautiful islands. For novices, you can do a "Tandem Skydive", where you'll be connected to a qualified instructor who will accompany you during the jump. A tandem skydive costs $350, plus an additional $75 for a 5-minute video capturing the whole experience...
Discover the Massai Mara tribe - Mpandeni
An excellent way to discover the history and traditions of the Massai culture. The Village is made up of typical Masai dwellings inhabited by local people. At the center of the village is a circular enclosure for cattle, a large brazier and a statue of the world's tallest Massai. This activity allows you to share a moment with the tribe in their own village, and often ends around the fire with Maasai songs and a typical dance characterized by high jumps.
Swimming with dolphins and fish - Matemwe
THE best activity in the archipelago; dolphins, snorkeling and sandbanks at the reef of Mnemba Island, an incredible experience not to be missed. The Mnemba atoll is a protected ocean area north-east of Zanzibar, near Matemwe, with excellent visibility depths ranging from ten to thirty meters. It includes the small triangular island of Mnemba and one of the most beautiful reef areas in the Indian Ocean. This breathtaking marine ecosystem is famous for the sightings of green turtles and dolphins, which like to join snorkeling and diving tourists, while seasonal migratory humpback whales announce their presence with an occasional splash. An excellent snorkeling experience with various species of coral and fish to discover.
Caution : Please take care when interacting with local wildlife, do not use sunscreen during this activity, as creams dilute in water and chemical ingredients can destroy coral.
Feeding giant tortoises at Prison Island - Stone Town
Around 20 minutes by boat from the Forodhani area lies Changuu, also known as Prison Island. The name is misleading; although the once impressive building, erected in 1893 by Lloyd Mathews under the orders of British administrators, was originally designed as a prison, it never housed criminals. The island was, however, used by an Arab slave trader. Later, it became a quarantine station - but above all it was a well-located leisure spot for wealthier city dwellers. The ruined cells of the former prison are still visible today; they are home to the resident peacocks and giant Aldabra turtles that Sultan Seyyid Said brought back from the Seychelles in the 1820s. The oldest turtle on the island is 196 years old, and the island is also an ideal place to sunbathe, swim, snorkel or simply relax on the white sandy beach.
Go Safari Blue - Stone Town
A full-day cruise on a traditional dhow along the southwest coast of Zanzibar. This magical voyage is an invitation to explore the Indian Ocean, from the fishing village of Fumba to the Menai Bay conservation area. I recommend taking this excursion privately and asking the guides, to do it in the opposite direction to the other boats so you don't end up with a hundred tourists on a tiny sandbank. The day includes :
Resting and swimming on a sandbank with fresh fruit
Snorkeling in the region's magnificent coral reefs (less beautiful than Mnemba Atoll)
Seafood barbecue on Kwale Island, with side dishes and a walk to discover the island's breathtaking nature.
Return cruise on a traditional Dhow sailboat
Discover the spice farms - Stone Town
The spice tour takes us on an authentic olfactory and gustatory visit to the heart of the world of spices. Zanzibar is historically known as the "spice island", thanks to its large plantations in the central part of the island, home to a vast production of spices including cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, vanilla, ginger, cumin, saffron and more. During this excursion, you can visit one or more of Zanzibar's most traditional farms, which manage the sowing and production of various products. The guide will explain how the various spices are harvested, how they are worked, and their food and medicinal uses. The tour is not limited to spices, but also covers a wide range of fruits such as mangoes, pineapples, papayas, bananas, passion fruit, sabas comerensis and many others. The soul of Zanzibar is to be found in these plantations. Zanzibar's cuisine is rich in aromas and flavours, such as the cardamom used in rice and meat dishes. The tour ends with a tasting of local fruits, a demonstration of coconut harvesting accompanied by local song, and plant accessories as gifts for participants.
Visit the monuments of the main town - Stone Town
Stone Town is a lively place where you'll find a mix of Arab, African, Indian and European cultures living comfortably together. Strolling through the maze of streets too narrow for cars to pass, you can see mosques, churches and temples side by side. As you stroll through the city, the guide will take you on a historical and cultural journey through the old slave market, the Darajani market square, the House of Wonders, the Old Fort and the Sultan's Palace.
See the monkeys of Jozani Forest - Pingwe
Jozani Forest is Zanzibar's last remaining area of indigenous forest and is part of the Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park. It is home to around a third of the endemic Kirk's red colobus monkeys, one of Africa's rarest primates, and many other species of animals and plants. The 44 km² Jozani Forest, around 3% of the whole island, includes groundwater forests, coastal forests and grasslands, as well as mangroves and salt marshes on the coast. It provides habitat for a wide variety of birds, butterflies and mammals, such as bush babies and small antelopes. The reserve has excellent nature trails for observing wild animals in their natural habitats. A walk through this impressive flora and fauna is one of Zanzibar's highlights.
See the sunset at Kae Beach bar - Michamvi
Drive along the east coast on a traditional dhow or overland by car to reach the island's best beach bar. Go there around 5 p.m. to watch the incredible sunset, accompanied by great local music and a homemade cocktail. Stay after sunset to party around the fire until the end of the night. Kae Beach Bar is THE place to be for partying on the island. If you're making the outward journey by sea, be aware that excursions also include a 15-minute stop to observe the mangroves.
👉 Contact Abdullah on Whatsapp: +255 777 473 480 for departures from Pingwe
Another popular activity with tourists is snorkeling with dolphins at Kizimkazi, in the south of the island; I chose not to include this activity for the respect and preservation of the Menai Bay area. The supposedly responsible dolphin tour turned out to be the worst case scenario for anyone who cares about marine animals. It's complicated to organize this tour in a sustainable way, as the operators don't respect the conservation area's guidelines...To conduct this tour ethically, there are a number of necessary precautions that are clearly not being taken (for now) at Kizimkazi:
Limit the number of boats allowed in the water near the animals at any one time. More boats equals more noise and disturbance, which is known to stress dolphins. What's more, more boats mean more risk of collision.
Good boating practice. This includes keeping a safe distance from animals, always keeping a safe distance from animals and disengaging the propeller, preferably the engine too, whenever the boat is in close proximity to animals.
Limit the time that boats and guests remain in the vicinity of animals.
If guests are allowed to enter the water, this must be done at a distance from the animals, and guests must not touch or grab the animals under any circumstances.
If guests are allowed to enter the water, they must be briefed on appropriate behavior around the animals.
Want to travel like me?
Here are some of my favorite travel tips and resources:
🛫 Flights: I prefer to use Ulysse Travel to book my flights. A French flight comparator with responsive customer service. Get €10 off your flights with my code.
🏩 Accommodation: Expedia.fr is my favorite site for finding great hotel deals, otherwise I also search local sites in the destination country for small local accommodations.
💰 Cashback: I always activate iGraal before booking flights, hotels and car rentals, and also before doing my daily shopping online. 3€ are offered upon registration.
🚣 Activities: I love going on excursions to explore destinations like a local, I book everything in advance on reference sites GetYourGuide and Viator.
💳 Credit card: I use the free N26 bank card for free payments and withdrawals abroad, in all world currencies. A mobile bank with no hidden fees and no paperwork.
📸 Camera equipment: I use my iPhone 11 pro max with a DJI Osmo 3 stabilizer and a DJI Mavic mini 2 drone (the only DJI drone you can take in the cabin, because it weighs less than 250 grams).
💼 Baggage: My suitcases and my storage bags are from Tekmi. My cases are rigid and unbreakable, made entirely of Polycarbonate.