Zanzibar is an island in the Indian Ocean that is part of Tanzania. What is Zanzibar? These are endless beaches, snow-white, soft sand, clear water and picturesque nature. The island will appeal to adventurers, as it offers jungle hiking, diving and other extreme activities. The trip will undoubtedly appeal to fans of a calm, peaceful holiday, there is a relaxing atmosphere.
Useful to know! There is a stereotype that Tanzania and Zanzibar are dangerous. Is it so? Today it is a civilized country, where guests are offered a relaxing holiday and good service. Here you will find hotels, restaurants and cafes, and in combination with the beautiful nature and the beautiful ocean, you will have an unforgettable holiday.
Weather, when is the best time to go to Tanzania
If you are interested in a holiday in Tanzania, choose the winter months or the period from mid-summer to mid-autumn. In October, November, and also in the second half of spring, Zanzibar has heavy rains, the temperature drops by several degrees, but it is quite comfortable for recreation. The monthly holiday season in Zanzibar is as follows:
- February is the hottest and driest month;
- August is a cold month, but remember – we are talking about an African island, so the term “cold” is very relative, meaning the air temperature is +26 degrees;
- November is the rainiest month;
- The second half of winter, summer and early autumn are the best months to spend on Zanzibar in Tanzania.
Temperature range:
- the air warms up to +29…+35 degrees;
- the water warms up to +28 degrees.
If we talk about the question when is the season in Zanzibar for a beach holiday, experienced tourists answer-all year round. The water temperature does not fall below +25 degrees all year round. At the same time, the difference between the air temperature and the ocean does not exceed 10 degrees – these are comfortable conditions for recreation on the seashore.
When deciding where to choose a hotel on an island in Tanzania, focus on individual preferences. If you are interested in a secluded holiday, pay attention to the west coast, which attracts with its tranquility, absolute harmony with nature, as well as the calm sea. Sometimes there are great waves here.
In the northern part of the island, strong tides are observed, so it is unlikely that you will be able to relax comfortably on the beach. At the same time, in the north there are the busiest areas, there are many restaurants and bars.
It is important! For a holiday on the island, you can apply for a tourist visa immediately upon arrival at the airport. The maximum time limit is 90 days.
Coast of the island
- North coast. Most of the beaches are quite calm, however, here is the most popular and visited beach in Zanzibar – Nungwi. The tides in the northern part of the island are not as critical as in the east of the island. There is a well-developed infrastructure, many discos, bars and quite affordable prices.
- South coast of an island in Tanzania. If you want to fully immerse yourself in the local culture and learn how the islanders live, stop in the south of Zanzibar. It is crowded, but there are fewer tourists than in the north or east. Also, southern resorts are chosen for a romantic holiday. The infrastructure is poorly developed, so this part of Zanzibar is not suitable for families with children. South of Zanzibar is the only place where wild dolphins live and you can swim in the ocean with them.
- East coast. Perhaps the most beautiful beaches of Zanzibar are located here. It is here that most hotels are located, you can rent a bungalow, a guest house right on the ocean. Remember that in the east there are quite strong tides, which, of course, does not add comfort to a beach holiday. In addition, the infrastructure is less developed than in the northern regions, and food prices are several times higher.
- South-east coast of Zanzibar in Tanzania. There are also many hotels and beaches, but this part of Zanzibar has the most pronounced tides. Swimming here is unlikely to work.
- West Bank. The resorts of this part of the island are little known among travelers, but it is here that the capital is located – Stone Town. People come here exclusively to visit the sights, there are practically no good beaches here.
A few words about the best resorts
It is difficult to answer unequivocally where the best beach holiday in Tanzania is. Each tourist has their own priorities and individual wishes. We will present the opinions of experts, which mostly coincide.
The list of the best places to stay is headed by the resort of Nungwi – a large village with a large selection of places to stay and affordable food prices. There are excellent diving spots in the vicinity of Nungwi. According to the reviews of tourists, this beach and resort is the best for recreation.
Interesting to know! If you choose to stay on a different beach, but want to visit Nungwi, take advantage of sightseeing trips, which offer guests a rest on the beach, a seafood lunch, swimming with turtles and a sea cruise in the rays of the setting sun.
Another popular resort is Gyeongwa, which is located near Nungwi. There is a great beach, the village, unlike Nungwi, is calm, parties are held only one evening a week, but travelers and islanders from all over Zanzibar and many Tanzanians come here.
Want some privacy? Pay attention to the Dongwe, Paje and Bweju resorts. They are located on the same shore, there is a feeling of absolute unity with nature. The advantage of the resorts is their close proximity to the national Park and Chwaka Bay.
Hotel Features
The tourist destination in Zanzibar is developing quite rapidly, but there are no major European-level resorts here yet. Most of the hotels are authentic, colorful villages with small hotels, bars and restaurants. There are no large water parks, large shopping and entertainment centers, or comfortable golf courses.
Active construction of hotels began only in 2005, their design is aimed at creating a special flavor characteristic of Zanzibar – thatched roofs, minimalism, whitewashed walls. Most hotels are built on the first line and this is their undoubted advantage. There is a lot of greenery around the hotels, and the living conditions correspond to stardom.
Useful to know! Holiday in Tanzania on the island of Zanzibar is suitable for lovers of beaches and excursions.
When choosing a specific place of residence, focus on the characteristics of the coast where it is located. However, regardless of geographical coordinates, all hotels in Zanzibar have specific features:
- Hotels on the island are small – 100 rooms are very rare, traditionally the hotel has from 10 to 20 rooms. In addition to the traditional hotels in Zanzibar, there are many oceanfront bungalows.
- Each hotel has a large surrounding area, so large that some guests only meet in the restaurant when they have lunch or dinner.
- As a rule, rooms in 3-star hotels do not have a TV.
- Travelers pay the tourist tax only upon check-out.
- There is no special baby food in hotels, only 5-star hotels have yogurt, milk and light soups.
- The rooms are equipped with English standard sockets, so you will need an adapter, the mains voltage is 220V.
- There is no animation in the hotels, only water polo and evening shows are not available every day.
- All hotels have free internet access. As a rule, the speed is very good.
Useful to know! If you plan not only a beach holiday in Zanzibar in Tanzania, but also excursions, choose resorts located north of the capital – Stone Town. This is due to the fact that many travel companies offer guided tours departing from hotels built north of Stone Town. Departure from the southern point of the island will cost the tourist much more.
Transfer on the island takes place as follows: transport takes all tourists who arrived on the same flight and delivers them to hotels located in the same region. Guests can also be accompanied by a Russian-speaking guide. A shared transfer does not involve carrying oversized luggage, in this case it makes sense to book an individual transfer.
Prices for holidays in Zanzibar
How much does it cost to stay in Zanzibar in Tanzania?
There are quite a lot of accommodation options on the island – there are traditional hotels. A double room here starts from $30. A 5-star hotel room starts at $105.
You can rent a bungalow directly on the ocean at a price starting from $20. If you want to experience the flavor of an exotic island, but are not ready to give up comfort, pay attention to elite bungalows. In this case, the cost of a holiday in Zanzibar will start from $100. A double room in the guesthouse will cost from $20. The most budget accommodation option is hostels and campsites, where a place costs from $15.
Food prices on the island of Tanzania
Food prices depend on the place where you plan to have lunch or dinner. Dinner in a high-end restaurant (by local standards) will cost an average of $35-60 for two. In an inexpensive cafe, lunch costs $18-25 also for two people.
If you are interested in local flavor and want to save on food, buy products at the local market, but fish and meat are better to buy in a supermarket, because they are sold in the market in conditions of complete unsanitary conditions.
Prices for sightseeing trips
- Walking in the historical part of the capital with a guide costs about $35-45 per person.
- An ocean tour along with fishing will cost approximately $450-500.
- Visiting several remote, uninhabited islands, local farms and swimming in the ocean-from $150.
- Water activities: one scuba dive-from $45, diving at night is slightly more expensive – $50, kitesurfing equipment rental costs $60 per day.
- Dolphin tour, or dolphin watching — $60-80, duration 4-5 hours.
- Access to SPA treatments depends on the number of hotel stars, and beach massages start at $10.
- The cost of souvenirs. The price of the smallest statue is about $4-10.
How much will the rest cost?
If your plans include only a beach holiday, and do not include trips on excursions, you can manage $600 (only accommodation) for two people for ten days.
This amount is enough to relax on the beach, visit several excursions.
The cost of food depends on the place where you plan to eat. On average, about $30 is spent on groceries for two people a day. You can eat in the restaurant for both $30 and $200. It is convenient to book a hotel with meals included, at least breakfast.
In general, for an economical trip and an inexpensive holiday on the island with food and souvenirs, $1300 is enough for two people for ten days (without a flight).
Entertainments
When you get bored of a seaside vacation, there are other activities to do in Zanzibar.
So, what else is attractive about an exotic island in the Indian Ocean?
- Attractions. The centuries-old history of the island of Zanzibar is full of dramatic events, the memory of them remains in numerous architectural monuments. In different epochs, sultans and slave traders lived on the island, in addition, the first medieval multinational settlement appeared here.
- Architecture. Stone Town is the capital of an island in Tanzania that has a lot to see. Arab palaces, oriental bazaars, aromas of spices reminds an amazing fairy tale from the collection “One Thousand and One Nights”. Freddie Mercury was also born here, and his home is still preserved here.
- Beaches. Undoubtedly, the sunny beach with snow-white soft sand, washed by the Indian Ocean, is one of the main attractions of Zanzibar. You can relax on the beaches for at least 7 hours a day. At any time, guests can go on an exciting journey – visit the pools, whirlpools formed as a result of the tides. Every vacationer will find a beach for their taste and soul – for a calm, peaceful holiday, for fishing, for diving.
- Diving. The island has world-famous places for diving-reefs, lagoons, where a variety of exotic fish, turtles, whales are found. The main diving center is located in the capital. One of the most fascinating places for diving is the Range Reef, located in the west of the island and attracts athletes with a sunken English ship. Today it is a picturesque artificial reef-home to lionfish, moray eels and other ocean life. Another magnificent reef that you will have to sail by boat is Boribi. A distinctive feature of the reef is the beautiful mountains, a variety of corals, sharks and lobsters live here. Also worth noting is the reef off the neighboring island of Pemba, which is part of the Zanzibar archipelago.
- Fishing. If you are a fan of fishing, fly to Tanzania and be inspired by the example of Ernest Hemingway-be sure to try to catch tuna or sargan. Do you want to take part in a deep-sea fishing trip? The holiday season in Tanzania begins in January-February or in July-August.
- Sea entertainment. Travelers are invited to take part in a local, exotic sport – ngalawa. This is dinghy sailing. Sea transport moves under the gusts of the monsoon, and allows you to travel in the Indian Ocean.
- Romantic rest and relaxation. Throughout your stay on the island, you will always feel like you are in the Garden of Eden. Hotels are built in an environment of gardens and lush vegetation, hotels are small – from 10 to 20 rooms, so many guests do not even cross paths during their holidays. Most of the hotels are owned by European migrants from Italy and Germany, respectively, the level of service in the hotels is European. All requests are fulfilled quickly and carefully. You can order dinner on the beach, breakfast in the villa, transfers, excursions. Many hotels have SPA centers.
One of the main arguments in favor of traveling to Zanzibar is the affordable prices for holidays on the island of Tanzania.
Believe me, Zanzibar deserves to come here. The island has many names – spice Island, pearl of the Indian Ocean-and each name reflects the essence, mood and flavor of Zanzibar. Despite the fact that the island is a fairly young resort, but Zanzibar holiday offers no less comfortable and exciting than the luxury, world resorts. No matter when you arrive on the island, you are guaranteed – excellent weather, high service, exotic nature and unforgettable emotions. Each coast of Zanzibar is unique in its own way and has a unique flavor.
