10 Travel Tips for Zanzibar: Know BEFORE You Go

Are headed to Zanzibar? The gorgeous island of Tanzania that occasionally is deemed the Maldives of Africa? After spending 10 days in Zanzibar these are 10 things that I wish I had known ahead of time – so you’re trip will be even better then mine.

1 | The island Is Huge

When you’re looking at taking a trip to Zanzibar you’ll probably find 10 to 20 different activities and things to do and you’re going to want to do them all. At least I did! The big thing about the island is that these activities are all over the island and very spread apart. Getting around the island can be somewhat challenging too so if you are staying for 5 or 7 days I’d recommend picking 2 spots only and planning your holiday strategically from these two spots so you can go on all the excursions that you want to! For example – I wouldn’t do the Blu Safari activity from Nungwi but I would do it from Stone Town or Paje. If you’re looking for things to do in Zanzibar, These are my top 10 favorite activities in Zanzibar and what parts of the island I’d do them all from. 

2 | Taxi’s

Taxis are a common form of transportation in Zanzibar, and they can be found all over the island. When taking a taxi, it’s important to negotiate the price before getting in, as there are no meters. It’s also a good idea to ask your hotel or a local for an estimate of what a fair price should be, as some taxi drivers may try to overcharge tourists. Additionally, be sure to clarify the currency you will be paying in, as some drivers may try to charge in US dollars instead of Tanzanian shillings, which is the local currency. If you go through the hotels for all your taxis they will upcharge each one. For a $45 taxi ride I was charged $60 by the hotel – for what should have been a $10 taxi I was charged $20 by the hotel. Its a convenience fee essentially. So I highly recommend getting a few drivers numbers and working with them directly.

From the airport you can expect to pay $45 usd each way to Paje, Nungwi, Jamibani or Kendwa. From Kendwa to Paje you can expect to pay $70. For a day trip to the Jozani forest from Paje you can expect to pay $30 Round Trip. The great thing is these taxis hold 6 people so you can split this cost amongst your group to make it more affordable if you aren’t traveling solo. 

3 | The Beaches of Zanzibar

The Beaches are the main reason most come to Zanzibar! If you are looking for the BEST beaches in Zanzibar then I’m here to tell you that I think the best beaches are Kendwa and Nungwi. There are many other beaches in Zanzibar but many of them have large coral reefs and with that sea urchins so they aren’t as swimable. 

In Kendwa you’ll find amazing crystal blue water and white sand beaches. While it is the busiest & most popular beach Its one of the most beautiful. My second favorite beach but first favorite area to stay in was Nungwi. Nungwi beach at the very north end has some seaweed issues but around the southern part there is no seaweed and some amazing restaurants.

All beaches in Zanzibar suffer from low tide everyday so when you read about that, dont expect to find any one beach that is perfect at every part of the day. Low Tide is generally in the AM and the water goes out VERY far leaving a much larger sandy area that is almost 1/2 KM wide. 
My biggest Tip for Traveling in Zanzibar is pick 2 locations and take day trips from there. I did 4 locations in 10 days so I could learn more about the country but I think 2 locations for a 5 – 10 day holiday is for the best.

4 | Clothing Tips for Zanzibar

In most areas of Zanzibar wearing your bathing suit and a cover up is totally normal – especially on the beaches. The one place where I wish I was wearing something a bit more covered up is in Stone Town. I had a dress on that had a bit of cleavage and the girls a bit too exposed to be walking around. Zanzibar is predominately muslim and as an avid traveler I do like to respect the local customs so there was 1 day where I felt underdressed. You will see plenty of tourists walking around in shorts and t-shirts without a care in the world but as a solo female traveler in Zanzibar that was the 1 day I wish I had adjusted my outfit. So if you plan on spending any time in Stone Town when you visit Zanzibar then I highly recommend packing a dress that covers your knees and chest so you have the option to cover up if you want to.

5 | The People

I didnt meet an unkind person in Zanzibar. 99% of the people were very nice, helpful and the essence of “Caribu” or Welcome was everywhere I went. You will run into A LOT of locals offering tours on the beach and as they aren’t official tour guides I’d highly recommend not going with them. Tourism is a big part of the Zanzibar economy so most of the non-official tour guide prices are lower but from experience just not as nice as something from an actual licensed company. The one time I went with a non-official tour company the whole trip unsafe and low key a disaster.

I will say that the only interaction I didn’t particularly enjoy was in Stone Town. As a solo female traveler there were several men that were overly-inquisitive from wanting to walk with me places to asking if I wanted to get married! I did have to stop at one point and be direct and tell a man I wanted to walk by myself. He was nice about it and honestly was more interested in making money & giving me a tour but I had to be firm and tell him good night so he’d walk the other way. I never felt unsafe walking around by myself at any point, even with that interaction. 

6 | Food in Zanzibar

When you visit Zanzibar you HAVE to try the local cuisine! My favorite item I tried was called Chapati. If I were to explain it I’d call it a savory pancake almost pita-bread like. My two favorite local restaurants were Mama Africa in Nungwi and a cafeteria-esk restaurant called La in Stone Town. I highly recommend trying both out! I also ate at Mama Mia an italian restaurant in Nungwi and the food was pretty decent. My final restaurant I’d recommend would be The Rock – its on the top of most “Top 10 restaurants in Zanzibar” lists. While I enjoyed the experience + the view, I think I liked the idea of it over the food. I found the food just average & semi-bland as did many people around me, there were lots of calls for salt & pepper as food as brought to tables. 

7 | Water in Zanzibar

LIke many other countries in Africa – the tap water in Zanzibar is not safe to drink, as it may contain harmful bacteria and parasites that can cause illnesses. Therefore, it’s essential to always drink bottled water or filtered water during your stay. Every hotel I stayed at in Zanzibar gave two free bottles of water everyday. I would also recommend only brushing your teeth with bottled water as well.

8| How to Get around Zanzibar

Zanzibar is a relatively small island, and there are a few options for getting around. Taxis are the most convenient as I mentioned above. They can be expensive if you’re traveling long distances by yourself or moving around pretty frequently. Alternatively, you can use the local daladala minibuses, which are a more affordable option, but they can be crowded and uncomfortable and are more of a locals way to travel around. 

Many tourists also choose to rent a scooter or motorbike, which can give you more freedom to explore the island at your own pace. However, it’s important to note that traffic in Zanzibar can be chaotic, and road conditions can be poor in some areas, so it’s important to drive with caution.

Walking is a great way to explore the narrow streets of Stone Town, the island’s historic center, but it may not be practical for longer distances. Whatever mode of transportation you choose, be sure to plan ahead, stay safe, and enjoy the stunning scenery and unique culture of Zanzibar.

9 | Money & Currency Tips for Zanzibar

This is one place in the world where I would recommend everyone have a good amount of cash on them. There are ATM’s in Zanzibar – I found them in Nungwi, at the ZNZ airport & in Paje. I never had issues getting money but I did run into one ATM that was empty one day while the one next to it was full. The island runs off of USD and Tanzania Shillings as well so you can use a combo of both. Hotels accept cards but they all charge a 4% fee on top of your bill. Taxis only accept cash & most restaurants only accept cash. I would say about 20% of the restaurants I ate it accepted cards. I ate dinner outside the hotel most days, with meals & activities everyday I budgeted for at least $100/usd each day. Obviously this depends where you’re eating and what activities you’re doing each day. 

10 | Culture & Clothing in Zanzibar

You’ll notice as soon as you arrive at the airport that the majority of Zanzibar are muslim and with that more conservative. I believe i read that 90% of the country is muslim. In most muslim countries I like to bring outfits that cover shoulders & knees – like in Egypt. While I was in Zanzibar though I was in my bathing suit on the beach or walking around in a sundress on the beaches in Zanzibar. There was only 1 point where I felt under dressed and that was in Stone Town. I felt the stares as I walked around in a dress and it was the only point where I wished I’d worn a bit longer dress. Again – I never felt unsafe but I did wish I had a bit more clothing on. You will notice that most people are wearing shorts and t-shirts and not bothered by the looks. If you are one that likes to dress according to local customs I’d throw in at least 1 more conservative outfit for a day in Stone Town. 

With these tips for Zanzibar & my favorite Activities of Zanzibar guide you’re bound to have an absolutely amazing time in Zanzibar. It was one of my favorite beach vacations I’ve taken in awhile and I cant wait to go back.