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The two islands get compared because both sell white sand and turquoise sea at the end of an African trip, and both appear on the same tour-operator shelf. They are not the same holiday. Zanzibar is a Swahili island a short flight from the Serengeti, with a UNESCO old town, a working harbour and a coast whose character changes with the tide. Mauritius is a volcanic island ringed by a reef, a long way further south-east. Its lagoon is calm for swimming for much of the day, and its resorts are built around that. The honest answer depends on what the week is for.
The detail
Getting there from the safari. This decides it for most people. A non-stop on Auric Air from the Serengeti to Zanzibar's airport (ZNZ) takes about 1 hour 40 minutes; a Coastal Aviation flight via Arusha takes longer, and sources disagree on the exact time. From Nairobi it is roughly an hour and a half. You can leave a Serengeti camp in the late morning and be on the sand by mid-afternoon on a non-stop day. Flights from Tanzania to Mauritius usually connect through Nairobi. The practical route is a non-stop from Nairobi of about four and a quarter hours on Kenya Airways or Air Mauritius, which usually means a night in Nairobi or a long connecting day from Arusha or Dar es Salaam. Mauritius also requires travellers to complete its All in One travel form online before arrival (GOV.UK). Several secondary sources say arrivals from Kenya need a yellow-fever certificate, but GOV.UK does not mention one, so check TravelHealthPro before you travel. If the island is a holiday in its own right, flown from Europe, the gap narrows. If it is a safari finish, Zanzibar is simply closer.
What it costs. Zanzibar's stays on Nobu's property list span a wide band, from simple east-coast guesthouses to beachfront resorts and private islands, and we group them by tier (Essential to Private Collection) rather than quote rates here. Mauritius's resort stock sits mostly at the upper end, with fewer mid-range options, and the island's food, drink and excursions generally cost more. Zanzibar's entry insurance and visa rules are set out in Zanzibar mandatory insurance, which depends on your first port of entry, and Zanzibar visa. UK passport holders can visit Mauritius visa-free for up to 60 days (GOV.UK); check the rule for your own nationality. Over a week, Zanzibar usually costs less for the same comfort level, and the two converge only at the very top.
Beach and tide. Mauritius's lagoon is its strength. The fringing reef sits well offshore, so the water inside is usually calm for much of the day. Zanzibar's east coast is different: on much of it the sea retreats hundreds of metres at low water, leaving a flat of seagrass and rock pools. It is beautiful, and it is not a swim at every hour. The north coast (Nungwi and Kendwa) is the usual choice when swimming at any state of the tide matters. Check the tide table for your dates, and read our tides guide for the detail. If "swim whenever I like" is non-negotiable, Mauritius is the simpler answer, or choose the right Zanzibar coast.
Culture and things to do. Zanzibar is well ahead on culture. Stone Town is a living Swahili port, with a harbour, the Forodhani night market and the former slave market, which lies beside the Anglican cathedral; the history is told plainly in the museum there. Inland are spice farms and Jozani Forest, home to the red colobus monkeys. On spice tours and in Jozani, follow your guide's rules: stay on marked paths and do not feed or touch the monkeys. Mauritius has a genuine Creole, Indian and Chinese culture, Port Louis's market, tea estates and the Black River Gorges. But its resorts are designed so you need never leave them, and many guests do not. If you want the island to be a place, not a backdrop, choose Zanzibar.
Seasons. Zanzibar's dry windows are June to October and December to February, while Mauritius's best stretch is May to November; for a festive-season trip Zanzibar is dry and Mauritius is wet. For the month-by-month detail, see best time to visit Zanzibar.
Key facts
From the Serengeti: Zanzibar about 1 h 40 min non-stop (Auric) or longer via Arusha (Coastal; sources disagree); Mauritius via Nairobi, about 4¼ h non-stop from NBO (estimate). Swimming: Mauritius lagoon usually calm for much of the day; Zanzibar's east coast depends on the tide. Culture: Zanzibar (Stone Town, spice, Jozani) far stronger. Spend: Zanzibar usually lower for equal comfort. Zanzibar extras: about $44 mandatory insurance (first port of entry only; a mainland arrival is covered by the mainland policy) and a Tanzania visa for most nationalities. This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Seasons: Zanzibar Jun–Oct and Dec–Feb; Mauritius May–Nov (cyclone season mid-November to mid-May, peaking Jan–Mar).
Planning it with Nobu
The safari comes first, and the island is chosen around it, so the island fits the journey. Our routes include Tanzania safaris followed by Zanzibar, as in → Southern Safari and Spice. For families who need calm water, the north coast or a private island is the place to start. Sometimes Mauritius is the better fit for a week, and a travel designer will say so plainly.
Is it right for you?
Zanzibar is right for you if: the island follows a Tanzania or Kenya safari; you want Stone Town, spice and a harbour in the same week as the beach; you want the same comfort for less; you want a place with character. Mauritius is right for you if: the island is the whole holiday; you are travelling with toddlers who need calm, shallow water all day; you want resort facilities (kids' clubs, golf, several restaurants) more than a sense of place; you are travelling in July or August and want cooler air. Honeymoon: Zanzibar for atmosphere and a private island; Mauritius for polished resort romance. Family: Mauritius for under-fives; Zanzibar's north coast for older children who will enjoy the dhows, the forest and the town.
Journeys to consider
- Southern Safari and Spice — Nyerere or the Serengeti, then Zanzibar, on one itinerary. → Southern Safari and Spice journey
- Shores of Zanzibar — the island on its own, from Stone Town to the sea. → Shores of Zanzibar journey
- The Great Migration Circuit — the Serengeti, with the island as its close. → The Great Migration Circuit journey
