This idyllic archipelago in the Indian Ocean is one of Africa’s most enticing destinations. With only 4 days in Zanzibar, we quickly discovered why. From the palm-fringed beaches, to the ancient ruins, spice farms and delicious cuisine, there are many things to do in Zanzibar for a fantastic holiday!
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Where is Zanzibar?
Zanzibar is located about 35km off the coast of mainland Tanzania. It is actually an archipelago consisting of two main islands, Unguja and Pemba, plus many smaller ones. Unguja is the larger island of the two and the one most often referred to by tourists as “Zanzibar”.
Getting to Zanzibar
Flights to Zanzibar
Flying into Zanzibar is an experience in itself. The view from the airplane of the colorful coral reefs is unforgettably gorgeous.
There are many domestic airlines that fly into Zanzibar from all around Tanzania and some international flights as well. The most common route is to fly from Dar es Salaam to Stone Town, only a 30 minute flight.
However we flew direct on Precision Airlines from Arusha to Zanzibar since we were coming from our northern circuit safari.
Read Tanzanian Budget Airlines: Are they safe to fly? for our full experience!
Zanzibar ferry
The other option to get to Zanzibar is to take a ferry from Dar es Salaam. There are a few different companies and fare classes to choose from, some taking longer, but cheaper, than others.
The main ferry company is Azam Marine (aka Coastal Fast Ferries or Kilimanjaro Ferries). Non-resident tickets range from $35 USD to $60 USD and can be booked online. The trip takes as little as 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Spending some time in Dar? Check out our Dar es Salaam One Day Itinerary
The Zanzibar Airport
Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ), aka Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, is located 7km south of Stone Town. It is a fairly small airport without any frills.
There are a few small shops and food options, including a small coffee kiosk. And most importantly, there is free wi-fi!
You will likely have to take a shuttle bus between the airplane and the terminal.
Once inside the terminal you will need to go through the immigration hall, even if arriving on a domestic flight. Then comes the baggage area, which is a bit chaotic.
Upon exiting the terminal there will be a crowd of drivers waiting. Taxis are readily available and drivers will be eager to approach you to offer a ride. Just be sure to agree on a price beforehand so you don’t get ripped off.
Your other option is to arrange a driver ahead of time, which is what we did to avoid the hassle. We booked through Zanzitaxi and they were great. Our driver was waiting with a sign, had ice cold water ready for us in a spacious, air conditioned van. The ride into Stone Town to our hotel cost us $10.
Where to stay in Zanzibar
Deciding on where to stay in Zanzibar depends on what you would most like to do while there. Do you want to explore the labyrinth of alleys that is Stone Town? Or do you prefer to lay out on the beach all day in Paje, or party all night in Nungwi? This will decide which area of the island you should stay in.
With only 4 days in Zanzibar we decided to break up our trip and base ourselves in Stone Town for 2 nights and then in quiet Pongwe for the remaining 2 nights. More details of which hotels to stay at can be found in our Zanzibar itinerary below.
Things to do in Zanzibar
4 Day Itinerary
Day 1: Stone Town
Go on a walking tour
Stone Town is full of history and twisting alleyways that are easy to get lost in. It is best to start off with a walking tour to get acquainted with the area and learn all about Stone Town’s fascinating, albeit dark, past.
It’s worth it to hire a guide and get their local insight. You can ask your hotel to hook you up with a good one.
Have breakfast or lunch at Lukmaan
Lukmaan Restaurant is a great place for tasty, authentic Zanzibari cuisine and is usually packed with locals.
The restaurant is set up cafeteria-style, so just walk up and point at what you like, then pay at the cash register. It’s a nice, cool place to dine, with open-air seating with lots of shade and fans.
Our favorites were the pastries and smoothies! Note that you order the smoothies separately at the smoothie counter.
Tour the slave chambers
Stone Town is now a popular tourist spot but it’s important we don’t forget its terrible past. If you can bear it, it is worth taking a guided tour into the slave chambers and learn about the dark history of Africa’s last slave market.
Shop at Darajani Market
Not far from the slave chambers, wander over to Stone Town’s main market and immerse yourself in another local experience! The bustling Darajani market is home to all kinds of spices, seafood, meats and produce, as well as other items such as clothing, accessories, household goods, etc.
Take a photo at Mercury House
Are you a Queen fan? Did you know Freddie Mercury was born in Zanzibar? Look for his childhood home in the heart of Stone Town and take a photo outside the house!
For a more detailed Stone Town itinerary check out Stone Town, Zanzibar in 48 hours: Your complete guide !
Wander along the waterfront
Stone Town’s grandiose waterfront is made up of a strip of beautiful, historic buildings. Wander around and check out the Old Dispensary, The Palace Museum, The House of Wonders and the Old Fort.
Have dinner at Forodhani Gardens
The famous waterfront Forodhani Gardens is a great place to sample some local food. If you are a street food enthusiast like us, you’ve gotta eat here!
It is popular with locals and tourists alike and gets busy every evening after sunset. If you love seafood, this is the perfect place for you. Prices are pretty good, just make sure to ask before you order so that you don’t get ripped off!
Tip: Look for the stalls with lots of locals! Don’t just eat at the first stalls you see on the edges of the market. Wander further in!
Our favorites were the seafood platters, Zanzibari pizza and sugar cane juice!
Where to stay in Stone Town
Budget: Kiponda B&B
This B&B is located very close to the ferry terminal. Single, double and triple rooms are available and all include breakfast on the rooftop bar overlooking the city!
Mid-range: Doubletree Zanzibar – Stone Town
We chose to stay at the Doubletree which is located in the heart of Stone Town, making it easy to explore everywhere on foot. The rooms were very clean and nicely decorated in traditional Zanzibari-style.
There is free wi-fi available, a modern bathroom, and, best of all, strong AC!
Luxury: Zanzibar Serena Hotel
If you’re looking for 5 star, then this is the place for you! This beautiful hotel is located right on the seafront in the Shangani district of Stone Town. All rooms are sea-facing with private balconies and there is a lovely outdoor pool.
The hotel looked gorgeous when we walked by and we were a little envious we didn’t choose to stay here.
Day 2: Spice Tour and Prison Island
Go on a spice tour
Zanzibar is not known as the spice island for nothing! When you are here, it is worth it to tour one of the many spice plantations in the countryside and get to see, smell and feel the spices in person.
I had considered skipping the spice tour because I figured it might be super touristy, but it honestly turned out to be one of my favorite things we did in Zanzibar!
Tip: Bring small bills to tip the boys during your spice tour. $1 US bills work well.
Read all about our Zanzibar Spice Tour
Take a boat to Prison Island
Changuu Island, more popularly known as Prison Island, is about a 30 minute boat ride from Stone Town. It is known for its large colony of Aldabra giant tortoises (changuu). There are over 100 tortoises here and the oldest one we saw was 192 years old!
You can make a donation to get some spinach to feed the tortoises if you wish. It was pretty fascinating watching them eat and they totally reminded me of dinosaurs!
The island was once a transit camp for slaves and houses an imposing building that was built to serve as a prison back in the late 1800s. Thus the name “prison island”.
We were also surprised to find an empty hotel on the island. When I asked our guide he told me it was closed in 2006 as no one wanted to stay there due to the history of the slave trade and prison.
Have dinner at the Tea House Restaurant
This rooftop restaurant is located at the Emerson on Hurumzi hotel (not to be confused with Emerson Spice hotel). Dining here is a fantastic culinary and cultural experience not to be missed!
Dinner is served at 7pm and the sunset views from the rooftop are gorgeous. You can choose to dine Swahili-style (on the floor), or you can opt to dine Western style at the few available tables. We recommend Swahili style for the full experience 🙂
The meal is 3 courses and consists of delicious Persian and Omani-inspired dishes. You will have the pleasure of listening to live traditional Taarab music while you dine and learn a bit about Zanzibari culture while listening to stories from the servers.
Seating is limited so make sure to make reservations before heading to Zanzibar! Dinner is by reservation only and the cost as of September 2019 is $35 USD/person.
Day 3: Pongwe
Relax at the beach
The beaches of Zanzibar are some of the most gorgeous we’ve seen around the world and are the perfect place to relax.
If you are looking for a quiet and relaxing stay, we recommend heading to the small village of Pongwe, on Zanzibar’s northeast coast. It is far from the hustle and bustle of the city, and there’s not much to do, other than relax under the swaying palm trees and stare out at the mesmerizing turquoise waters.
Observe the local women harvesting seaweed
During low tide, the ocean recedes considerably and reveals little seaweed farms.
You will see the local women walk out and harvest their seaweed to haul away and sell. It is quite neat to see.
Go kayaking
The water in Pongwe is so clear and calm. It is so much fun to kayak around the area and check out all the different hotels from the ocean.
We were able to borrow kayaks for free from our hotel so it was perfect!
Check out The Island Hotel
While kayaking around Pongwe, you will come across a large coral island on which The Island Hotel sits.
It is such a neat hotel because at high tide it can only be accessed by boat, but at low tide you can walk to and from the shore. Even if you are not staying at the hotel, you can stop in and have lunch or dinner.
Go snorkeling
Borrow a snorkel from your hotel or bring one of your own, and set out for some snorkeling over the reefs! I chose to bring my own because I love my full face snorkel mask compared to traditional snorkels – so much easier 🙂 It was awesome, too, because I could attach our GoPro right onto the mask.
You don’t even need to go out on a boat – we were able to see fish just by swimming out from the shore at our hotel in Pongwe at high tide.
Explore the town by bike
Our hotel in Pongwe had bikes for guests to borrow, which was awesome. Go on a mini adventure and bike around the local villages.
You can also ask your hotel to hook you up with a guide and have him show you around. Our guide offered to show us around the local school and the neighborhood where he grew up.
Where to stay in Pongwe
Budget: Santa Maria Coral Park
The Santa Maria Coral Park is a budget, beachfront option. Rooms are basic but comfortable. There is an outdoor pool, nice tropical garden, and a bar and restaurant on-site.
Mid-range: Seasons Lodge
This is the hotel we chose to stay at and we were super happy with our choice! It was one of our favorite places we’ve ever stayed at and a perfect place to wind down after our safari.
The lodge consists of ten beachfront bungalows, each with its own private beachfront lounging area. The highlight for us was the beautiful clawfoot tub with a view of the Indian Ocean!
Read our full review: Seasons Lodge: A piece of paradise in Zanzibar
Luxury: Tulia Zanzibar Unique Beach Resort
This 5 star resort is the ultimate in luxury! I mean, it is considered the “The Best Luxury Romantic Beach Resort” in all of Africa, afterall! I would consider it to be one of the best places to stay in Zanzibar if you want to relax and unwind after a safari, or if you are on a honeymoon in Zanzibar.
Staying here comes with all kinds of complimentary services. Some of these include a one hour massage for each guest, private and public yoga classes with an instructor, bottle of wine in the room, and roundtrip airport transfers.
Day 4: Kizimkazi
Check out the local dolphins
Start your day off with an early morning drive down to Unguja’s southern tip. Here you will find the village of Kizimkazi which is best known for its dolphin tours. The local fishermen take tourists out on their boats in Menai Bay to see the resident pods of bottlenose and humpback dolphins.
Seeing and swimming with dolphins so close is an amazing experience! Just make sure to respect the dolphins and don’t try to touch them nor chase them. We found them to be quite playful and they swam up right around us.
Read all about our experience Swimming with Dolphins in Zanzibar
Visit Jozani Forest
The Jozani Forest is famous for its red colobus monkeys. You are almost guaranteed to see these monkeys in the jungle – even just as we were driving past we could see them in the trees!
Besides the monkeys, you will also see bush pigs, antelopes, chameleons, all kinds of birds and butterflies. It’s a lovely place to hike around the nature trails for a few hours.
Relax by the pool
On your last day in Zanzibar, why not spend it relaxing by the pool or beach and reflecting back on the amazing Zanzibar holiday you just had?
Things to do in Zanzibar – Itinerary Map
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