Zanzibar family holiday

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Last checked: October 2026.

On a Zanzibar family holiday, a four-year-old does not care that the sea is beautiful if it is a long walk away across wet sand at eleven in the morning. That is the real planning problem here, and the coast, the pool and a pair of reef shoes solve it. Zanzibar is also a short flight from Dar es Salaam or Nairobi, with one connection from Europe. This page is for families with children up to about twelve; for older ones see Zanzibar with teenagers.

The detail

Tides and small children. On the east coast the sea goes out across the reef flat for hours at low tide, leaving rock pools that many small children enjoy as much as swimming. On the north coast, Kendwa and Nungwi hold water close to the sand, so children often paddle for long stretches. Beach-by-beach detail is in Zanzibar beaches you can swim at low tide, and the mechanics are in how the Zanzibar tides work.

Which age suits which coast. Under 3: north, a shallow shaded pool, and a clinic conversation before you commit (see below). 3–7: either coast works; the east suits rock-poolers, the north suits paddlers. 8–12: the east comes into its own — reef walks, snorkelling from the boat, Jozani — and the tide becomes part of the fun.

Why the pool matters on the east coast. If you stay east, the pool is where the middle of the day happens: look for shade, a shallow end and rooms close by. Family-welcome stays in our stays data include The Mora Zanzibar at Matemwe on the east coast and Zuri Zanzibar at Kendwa in the north; the full shortlist is in best family hotels in Zanzibar. Avoid the adults-only houses, and check that "family rooms" means interconnecting rooms, not a sofa bed. Villages are not the hotel beach: cover up on the village paths and ask before photographing anyone, including the seaweed farmers.

Reef shoes and sea urchins. Buy reef shoes before you come, one pair per child, for every walk on the flat and every swim off a reef beach. Sea urchins live in the rocks and seagrass of the east coast; a spine in the foot is painful rather than dangerous, but it can end a day. Coral cuts the same. The sand beaches at Nungwi and Kendwa are gentler underfoot.

Two outings that work. Jozani Forest is a short, flat walk among red colobus monkeys who sit low in the trees, plus a mangrove boardwalk; about an hour, which is as long as most children's attention lasts. Prison Island (Changuu) is a twenty-minute boat ride from Stone Town to see Aldabra giant tortoises, some over a century old. Children may feed them under supervision, with only the leaves the keepers provide, and never lift or sit on the shells. Go early, before the day-trip boats. Entry fees apply and the rate varies by source, so the gate's rate applies; Changuu also falls under the marine conservation fee of US$10 adult and US$5 child aged 5–15, and children under five pay nothing. A dhow sandbank picnic is the third, for children happy on a boat — see Menai Bay sandbank day. We would skip the dolphin tours with young children; they are often rushed, which is hard on the dolphins.

Sun and heat. Zanzibar is six degrees south of the equator; the sun is strongest in the middle of the day. Rash vests, hats, factor-50 and shade are the kit; early morning and late afternoon are usually the easiest time on the sand. December to February is hottest, June to October kindest for small children — see best time to visit Zanzibar.

Malaria and the clinic. Zanzibar is a malaria-risk area, and prophylaxis for children depends on age, weight and medical history: book a travel clinic well before you fly. Families with babies or toddlers should weigh the clinic's advice before choosing Zanzibar at all; if it points elsewhere, a travel designer can suggest a malaria-free alternative. This is general information, not medical advice — consult a travel clinic.

Insurance. Every non-resident visitor, children included, needs one inbound travel insurance policy, bought for their first port of entry (GOV.UK): land in Zanzibar first and it is the Zanzibar policy (ZIC); land in Dar es Salaam first, for example at the start of Southern Safari & Spice, and it is the mainland policy (NIC). Children pay a lower rate, reported at US$22 for ages 3–17; confirm it on the official portal. Detail is in Zanzibar before you go.

Key facts

Best coast for small children: north — Kendwa usually holds water closest to the sand, Nungwi slightly less. East coast: reef flat empties at low tide; pool essential; rock-pooling at low water. Kit: reef shoes for every child, rash vests, factor-50. Hazards: sea urchins and coral on reef beaches. Outings: Jozani Forest (~1 hour), Prison Island tortoises (20-minute boat from Stone Town), sandbank dhow day. Fees: Jozani entry applies; Prison Island entry varies by source, so the gate's rate applies; marine conservation fee US$10 adult / US$5 child 5–15 in Menai Bay and at Prison Island, under-5s free. Health: malaria risk — travel clinic for prophylaxis; one inbound insurance policy per person, for the first port of entry. Season: Jun–Oct kindest; Dec–Feb hottest.

Planning it with Nobu

A family is several travellers at once, and the island is where that shows. Nobu can match the coast to your children's ages, check tide times for your dates, and check each stay's family policy with the property before anything is proposed. Zanzibar is the finish to Southern Safari & Spice and the whole of Shores of Zanzibar; for the safari half, start with Family safari Tanzania, and when you are ready, plan your journey.

Is it right for you?

You have small children, you want a rest rather than a logistics exercise, and you have read enough about the east coast to be a little nervous about the tide. That nervousness is well placed, and easy to design around. This is right for you if you want warm sea, a pool for the hot hours, two gentle outings and a hotel that genuinely wants children in it. It is less right if you want silence and a villa with no other families — those coasts are described on Zanzibar honeymoon — or if your children are old enough to want a kite or a dive, in which case Zanzibar with teenagers is the page. Grandparents coming too? See Zanzibar villa holiday.

Journeys to consider

• Southern Safari & Spice — a short, gentle safari in Nyerere, then the island: the family-friendly southern shape. Southern Safari & Spice
• Shores of Zanzibar — the island on its own, paced for children. Shores of Zanzibar