The best things to do in Zanzibar, Tanzania make a short list, and you will not need all of it. Most of our guests reach the island straight off a safari, happily worn out, and pick two or three activities around long stretches of doing very little. That is the right way round. The island rewards an unhurried plan.
First, the honest line. We are a locally owned safari and trekking company in Arusha, and we do not run island excursions ourselves. Everything below we arrange through island partners we trust, as add-ons for guests on our Wildlife & Zanzibar combo. Where to stay and how to get from the bush to the beach are covered in our other Zanzibar guides; this one is about what to do once you are there.
What are the best activities to do in Zanzibar?
Seven activities to do in Zanzibar cover nearly everything our guests ask about.
- Stone Town. Give the old alleys, the market and the seafront half a day, ideally with a guide who grew up there.
- A spice farm tour. An hour or two among clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and pepper, and the best short answer to why they call this the Spice Island.
- Snorkelling at Mnemba. The clearest water and busiest reef most guests will ever swim over. More on this below.
- A sunset dhow cruise. An easy evening under sail. Take it slow.
- Jozani Forest. A gentle walk to see the red colobus monkeys that live only on Zanzibar.
- Prison Island. People go for the giant tortoise colony, plainly put, not for the prison. It pairs well with a Stone Town morning.
- Kitesurfing at Paje. The east coast village where beginners take lessons and the shallow lagoon does the rest.
Is the snorkelling and scuba diving in Zanzibar good?
Yes, and it is the one activity we tell guests not to skip. The reef around Mnemba is the usual snorkelling trip, reached by boat from the north and north-east coasts, and sea turtles are a common sighting on a good day. Scuba diving in Zanzibar suits first-timers and certified divers alike, with dive schools on the north coast running courses and fun dives. If you want a quieter reef, Chumbe Island Coral Park is a small protected island near Stone Town where visitor numbers are kept low, so it needs booking ahead.
One honest caution. Boat trips and kitesurfing both depend on weather, and a captain who cancels for wind or rain is protecting you, not cheating you. Leave slack in your plan and let the island set the pace.
If you are planning a safari with island days after it, send us a WhatsApp message and tell us what kind of traveller you are. We will tell you which of these fit your dates, and leave out the ones that do not.
