Island4–6 nights
Shores of Zanzibar
Stone Town · One chosen coast
Nobu / Zanzibar
Zanzibar.
Where the safari exhales — white sand, warm water, and the scent of spice on the wind.
Travel stylePrivate & tailor-made
Start withYour dates and interests
Suggested paceFewer stops, more time
Your next stepA conversation with Nobu
The Nobu perspective
Zanzibar,
at your pace.
Zanzibar is Tanzania's Indian Ocean counterpoint: white beaches, warm water and dhow horizons alongside UNESCO-listed Stone Town, spice-growing interiors and Jozani's endemic red colobus monkeys. Its classic role is a restorative bush-and-beach finish rather than a safari-park stay.
Days on the coast can move between reef time, swimming and long tidal beaches, with conditions varying by shoreline and season. The archipelago offers space to slow down after the early starts and dust of safari.
Stone Town's coral houses, carved doors and markets reveal centuries of African, Arab, Indian and European exchange. Spice farms and Jozani forest add depth inland, turning an ocean stay into a place-specific cultural chapter.
15 areas to explore
All places in Zanzibar
Browse the places by area type.
15 areas · All places
18 places to stayBeaches & coast
Nungwi
9 places to stayBeaches & coast
Jambiani
14 places to stayBeaches & coast
Stone Town
9 places to stayBeaches & coast
Paje
8 places to stayParks & reserves
Kendwa
8 places to stayParks & reserves
Kiwengwa
7 places to stayCoast & beaches
Bwejuu
5 places to stayCoast & beaches
Kizimkazi
8 places to stayCoast & beaches
Matemwe
4 places to stayCoast & beaches
Michamvi
1 place to stayCoast & beaches
Mnemba Island
5 places to stayCoast & beaches
Pemba
4 places to stayCoast & beaches
Pongwe
4 places to stayCoast & beaches
Pwani Mchangani
5 places to stayCoast & beaches
Uroa
Suggested Zanzibar journeys
Zanzibar itineraries
Suggested routes are a starting point for a tailored journey.
What to experience
Things to do in Zanzibar
When to go
Best time to visit Zanzibar
Start with the season that suits the journey you want, then confirm conditions for your exact route.
A closer look at Zanzibar
Jul / Individual planning
Your dates, your route
Start with your preferred month. Your designer will help match the season, chosen stays and connections to your route, interests and preferred pace.
June to October
The long dry season
June to October brings warm, sunny weather, lower humidity and generally calmer seas, aligning neatly with East Africa's main dry-season safaris. January and February form a shorter, hotter dry spell that is also popular, particularly around the festive and new-year period.
March to May · November
The rainier months
March to May usually carries the long rains, while shorter rains commonly arrive around November. These months are greener, quieter and often wetter, though the islands stay warm. Beach and marine plans should follow current weather and sea conditions for the chosen coast.
Good to know
Zanzibar travel essentials
Getting there
International gateways and domestic connections vary by route. Nobu confirms the best current connection for your dates before the itinerary is approved.
Read moreEntry rules
Passport, visa and arrival rules depend on your nationality and can change. Check the official source for your passport and travel date. We go over the current rules with you as we plan your trip.
Read moreHealth planning
Health requirements and advice vary by traveller and routing. Seek current advice from an appropriate travel-health professional before travel.
Read moreFees and permits
Park, conservation, trekking or local fees may apply. Nobu confirms current amounts and inclusions in the approved quote.
Read moreAccess needs
Share mobility, sensory, dietary and pacing needs early. Nobu checks each proposed stay, vehicle and activity against the individual journey.
Read moreTime to allow
The right length depends on season, route and pace. Nobu will shape the nights and connections around the approved journey rather than a fixed template.
Read moreGood questions. Straight answers.
Is Zanzibar a safari destination?
No — Zanzibar is an Indian Ocean island known for beaches, Stone Town and the Jozani Forest, not for safari parks. Its classic role is the restful bush-and-beach finish to a mainland East African safari.
When is the best time to visit Zanzibar?
June to October is the prime dry window and aligns with peak mainland safari season, making it ideal for a combined trip; January–February is hot and bright, while the long rains fall around March to May.
How many days do you need in Zanzibar?
Three to five nights suits most travellers as a safari finish; allow more if the island is your whole trip. Activity rules can change and differ by reserve, park, conservancy or community land; Nobu will confirm the current permission and operator arrangement before approval.
Is Zanzibar good for honeymoons, families or accessible travel?
Suitability depends on the individual traveller, vehicle, stay and activity. Share your access needs early so Nobu can check each proposed part of the journey before approval.
Do I need a visa for Zanzibar?
Requirements depend on nationality, routing and travel date and can change. Check the relevant official immigration authority; Nobu will point you to the current official process during planning.
Helpful stories & guides
Zanzibar travel guides
Useful reads to help you compare places, think through the timing and imagine how your journey could come together.
Travel guide · 6 min read
When is the best time to visit Zanzibar?
The best time to visit Zanzibar is June–October or December–February. A month-by-month guide to rain, wind, tides and crowds on the island.
Read the guide
Travel guide · 7 min read
Best beaches in Zanzibar
The best beaches in Zanzibar by purpose — swimming, snorkelling, quiet, kitesurfing, sunsets, families, a bar on foot — and honest about the tide on each.
Read the guide
Travel guide · 8 min read
Best hotels in Zanzibar: which stay fits your holiday?
Zuri in Kendwa for sea time, Baraza in Bwejuu for family villas, Kilindi for couples, Park Hyatt for Stone Town, Mnemba for an island escape.
Read the guide
Travel guide · 7 min read
How many days in Zanzibar?
How many days in Zanzibar: four nights as a safari finish, seven for an island holiday, ten to add a second coast or Pemba — and where Stone Town fits.
Read the guide
Travel guide · 6 min read
Serengeti to Zanzibar: flights and the transfer day
Serengeti to Zanzibar by light aircraft: which airstrip to leave from, non-stop or via Arusha, and the 15 kg soft-bag limit.
Read the guide
Travel guide · 8 min read
Things to do in Zanzibar beyond the beach
The things to do in Zanzibar beyond the beach: Mnemba, the sandbank day, Stone Town, and which dolphin tour to skip.
Read the guide
Travel guide · 7 min read
Where to stay in Zanzibar: north, east or south-east?
Where to stay in Zanzibar, coast by coast: the north for swimming at most tides, the east for space and reef, the south-east for kites and quiet.
Read the guide
Travel guide · 7 min read
Is Zanzibar safe? What to know before you go
Is Zanzibar safe? Yes, with ordinary care: the real risks are the road and theft. Then insurance, visa, dress, Ramadan, cash and health.
Read the guide
Travel guide · 7 min read
Which Zanzibar hotels have a swimmable beach at most tides?
North-west Zanzibar hotels whose own sites say the sea is "at any tide", unlike the east coast, and the catch at each: noise, age limits, closures.
Read the guide
Travel guide · 7 min read
Zanzibar's mandatory travel insurance, explained
Zanzibar mandatory insurance: US$44 per adult, bought online, ideally before you fly, valid 92 days. Cover, exemptions and which policy your first entry needs.
Read the guide
Travel guide · 5 min read
Which Zanzibar beaches are swimmable at low tide?
Which Zanzibar beaches you can swim at low tide: Kendwa and west-facing Nungwi hold water most days; the east coast does not. Why, and what to check.
Read the guide
Travel guide · 6 min read
Zanzibar tides explained
Zanzibar tides explained: a spring range near 4 metres, why the east-coast lagoon drains twice a day, which coasts hold water, and how to read a tide table.
Read the guidePair it with
Combine Zanzibar with another destination
Give your time in Zanzibar another dimension. We’ll help you consider the connections and the time each place deserves.
