Zanzibar: Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting

You’ve seen pictures but I promise you this, nothing prepares you for how absolutely beautiful the beaches of Zanzibar are. Turquoise blue ocean, white sands and stunning underwater which’s visible from the surface.

I’ve experienced Zanzibar and I believe everyone should do too,so here’s a comprehensive post on all you need to know about a trip to Zanzibar. By the way have you read my motivation or how I went to Zanzibar in 2021? Here’s the link to read now if you haven’t. Please click on it .

So where’s Zanzibar?

Zanzibar is a coastal town in Tanzania 🇹🇿, Africa ! Yes Zanzibar is in Africa. 

It’s a Tanzanian archipelago off the coast of East Africa. On its main island, Unguja, familiarly called Zanzibar, is Stone Town, a historic trade center with Swahili and Islamic influences. Itswinding lanes present minarets, carved doorways and 19th-century landmarks such as the House of Wonders, a former sultan’s palace. The northern villages Nungwi and Kendwa have wide beaches lined with beautiful hotels.

Flight options:

I used Ethiopian airlines because they’re less expensive and reliable and I generally have had a good flying experience with them. I can agree not a lot of people have had same , however it worked for me because as a frequent flyer, I’ve seen worse and that’s made me very open minded . The silver lining is, they’ve got a lot of leg room even for the economy class.

It’s a 5hr 30min flight to Addis Ababa, a sleep over, and a 2 hour, 30 minute flight to Zanzibar the next day .

Other flights options are:

1.A Kenyan Airways layover to explore Nairobi if you decide to fly Kenyan airways (definitely do 48hrs). It’s also visa free for Ghanaian passport holders so please do a layover and do the safari tour. 

2.Qatar Airways 

Pre departure details:

1. A yellow fever card 

2. A negative Covid-19 PCR test 72hrs before your flight (they haven’t joined the fully vaxxed system yet but hey you know how travel regulations keep changing with Covid-19 and travel so please do well to keep updated via the government website)

1.Fill the passenger locator form which’s just checked at KIA and not even when you get to Zanzibar. Lol .  The link is here

2.If you’re flying with Ethiopian airlines please do well to collect your transit hotel form at the boarding gate here in Accra. This form with your hotel details on it is what you present to the immigration officer at the airport.

 

Arrival in Zanzibar :

The airport at Zanzibar is a shocker at best but you quickly get over it because what’s a tent airport when you’re looking forward to turquoise blue seas and drinking endless cocktail’s.

When you get inside the arrival hall, pick two (2) forms , fill and present to the immigration officer. They then finger print you, stamp the passport and voila you’re officially in Zanzibar! 

 Yes, as a Ghanaian passport holder it’s visa free, as in free and not paying a dime! Nothing! Zilch !

Visa free travel is the truth!  

Where to Stay :

 Zanzibar is set up in two ways : the pristine white beaches and the historical town .

Nungwi and Kendwa have the pristine white beaches (there are other places like these two but for proximity sake, the best places to stay are these two locations).

Then there’s Stone Town which is the capital of Zanzibar. So imagine James Town or if you grew up in Takoradi imagine Sekondi Baka Ano or European Town, this is basically Stone Town.

No trip would be complete without a stay in town (I didn’t say a visit, I said stay).

To experience Stone Town fully, you need to more than pass through .

The town comes very alive in the night especially around the Forodhani Gardens which has the most amazing ambiance and vibes.

The town is also a World Heritage Site filled with history, culture and cuisine (the best place to experience Zanzibar cuisine honestly).

Hotels I would recommend in Stone Town :

1. Tembo House Hotel

2. Emerson Spice Hotel

3. Upendo House

4. Double tree by Hilton Hotel

 

Hotels I will recommend in Nungwi or Kendwa

1. Kendwa Rocks Hotel

 2. Mèlia Hotel in Kiwengwa is also very beautiful! Strongly recommend.

We booked our two hotels via Trip Advisor. I’m a staunch apostle of Trip Advisor. I tooth comb through ALL the reviews (yes I’ve that much time) of the places I plan to stay or activities I plan to do . I leave absolutely nothing to chance because I hate surprises and I believe in putting my money into places where I get my money’s worth.

A list of some activities to in Zanzibar:

 👩‍🌾 Spice Farm Tour 

 🏝 Prison Island

🌳 Jozani Forest 

🚤 Book a private safari blue tour  

🐢 swim with the turtles at Mnarani Turtles Conservation  

🛶 Private Sunset Cruise 

 🪄 Wodoo Tour

  Do a starfish tour  

🪂 Skydiving  

🐎 Sea horse ride 

  🏖 Nakupenda sandbank

🏖 Mnemba Island  

  Village tour 

🏊‍♀️ Swim inside the Cuza cave  

🍽 Dine at the Rock restaurant  

🍽 Dine at Emerson Secret Garden 

Spend an evening at Forodhani Gardens (try Mr Mangoe’sZanzibar pizza and the fresh sugar cane juice ) 

💃 Go dancing at Cocobello – great island vibes (peaks from 1am ) and please try their shawarma , tastes amazing .

 Some of these activities can be combined and done in a day, just talk to your tour guide. We did the swim with the turtles, star fish tour, Mnemba  Island and Nakupenda sandbank tour all on the same day.

 

How many days should you stay in Zanzibar?

 I recommend  a maximum of 7-8days. 

Do 5 days on the beaches and 3 days in Stone town. you’re gonna get your money’s worth plus experience with these number of days.

Essentials To Note :

1. Definitely get a tour guide/taxi driver to help you plan your activities and also move you around. This is essential actually! I highly recommend my tour guide Sam. He was amazing, trustworthy and reliable! This is his IG page here and contact details, you need a Sam in Zanzibar guys! Please you do. (And his number is +255672683635 )

2.  Get a SIM card with data! Absolutely don’t rely on the Wi-Fi from your hotels. Sam got us one and gave it to us when he picked us up from the airport. 

3.  All you really need for footwear is flip flops 🩴 or chalewote and yes I packed some other footwear but never wore them because Chale wote is the most sensible thing to wear on the island. You can still add the sandals and slippers too, for the photo ops 😂.

4. Cash is king in Zanzibar not card, so have more cash on you than on the card. The card will just be for emergencies. I hardly change currencies at the airport but Zanzibar was an exception because the rate at the airport was cheaper so yeah please change from 💵 to shillings at the airport. Also do well to download the XE currency Converter App. That app is a lifesaver. Real time and accurate conversion. Here’s the link.

5. A Covid-19 PCR test is $80. Best to do it 48hrs before your flight departure to be safe. We did ours 24hrs before our departure but they delivered it on time. I read reviews where others weren’t so fortunate.

6. Zanzibar is very family friendly so yes you can take the whole family including the kids. The kids will love the sea and all the activities that comes with it.

Words and phrases that will help you interact with the locals :

You going to hear Hakuna Matata so many times during your stay in Zanzibar, it’s a form of greeting but it means no worries

Jambo – hello 

Mambo – what’s up

Habari – how are you? 

And you respond Inzuri- I’m fine.

Karibu- You’re welcome 

Asanté -thank you 

Asanté saana – thank you very much 

sawa sawa – same or agreed

pole pole – slowly slowly

Best time to travel to Zanzibar:

 Please note that the indigenes are primarily Muslims so the best time NOT to travel to Zanzibar is during the Ramadan period. Don’t travel during the Ramadan period. No, the hotels aren’t closed or anything but activities are kinda slow and you know we’re going for maximum experience. So more like the month of April. It’s best not to go to Zanzibar during the month of April.

Also during the rainy season which is from March through May.

 I personally avoid peak season travel because it’s always expensive and sometimes crowded. The period we went was so perfect! Flights were less expensive, got hotels at a steal and the overall experience was awesome.

Ideally, the best time to go to Zanzibar would be from June to February .

I want to believe I’ve covered Zanzibar extensively! Even thought you their language before you go there , am I not a generous queen ? 😂

Wait did I hear someone ask what’s the budget ? I gat you . 😉.

Do we have Zanzibar fever yet? I hope so because Zanzibar is 10/10 recommended!!