Our most recommended things to do in Zanzibar

From Zanzibar: Selous Game Reserve Day Safari with Flights

1. From Zanzibar: Selous Game Reserve Day Safari with Flights

Explore the impressive Tanzanian nature and wildlife while joining us for a day safari to Selous/Nyerere National Park. Fly early morning from Zanzibar to Selous/Nyerere National Park, the largest protected game reserve on the African continent. Enjoy a full-day game drive and a bush lunch during the break time. Fly back to Zanzibar late afternoon. You will be picked up early in the morning at the hotel you are staying for a transfer to the airport. At around 07.00/07.30 your flight will depart from Zanzibar to Selous Game Reserve/Nyerere National Park, where you will arrive at 07.30/08.00. At 08.00/08.30 in the morning your shared safari game drive will start in the largest Game Reserve of the African Continent, with a mid-morning coffee/tea break at 10.30. During the game drive you will explore the wildlife and environment of Tanzania. Our driver guides have a lot of experience with the area and the wildlife and love to tell you everything about it. Experience an authentic safari bush lunch in the middle of the National Park! At 12.30 a warm lunch will be served at set tables in the bush. After lunch, you will continue with the game drive till 15:30, when you will be driven back to the airstrip for your flight back to Zanzibar. Your flight will depart at 16.15 from the airstrip of Selous Game Reserve/ Nyerere National Park back to Zanzibar, where you will arrive at 17.05 and will be picked up and brought back to your hotel.

From Kendwa: Mnemba Boat Trip and Dolphin Snorkel Adventure

2. From Kendwa: Mnemba Boat Trip and Dolphin Snorkel Adventure

09H00 we pick you up at the Nungwi or Kendwa by boat and start cruising by searching the dolphins and swimming with them as we head to Mnemba conservation area, after reaching Mnemba conservation area we start doing snorkeling around the coral reefs, then if there is low tide we cruise to the sandbank. 13H00 We take you back to Nungwi or Kendwa beach and drop you of to the nearest beach of your hotel

From Zanzibar: Mikumi Day Safari

3. From Zanzibar: Mikumi Day Safari

Explore the unique Tanzanian nature and wildlife while joining us for a day safari to Mikumi National Park. Fly early morning from Zanzibar to Mikumi National Park, the fourth-largest National Park in Tanzania. Enjoy a day game drive and an authentic restaurant lunch during the break time. Fly back to Zanzibar late afternoon. You will be picked up early in the morning at the hotel you are staying for a transfer to the airport. Following this, your flight will depart from Zanzibar to Mikumi National Park to begin your shared safari game drive. During the game drive you will explore the wildlife and environment of Tanzania. Your driver guides have a lot of experience with the area and the wildlife and love to tell you everything about it. Experience an authentic restaurant lunch in the afternoon. After lunch, continue with the game drive, then get driven back to the airstrip for your flight back to Zanzibar at 3.00pm. Once you arrive back in Zanzibar, enjoy a transfer back to your hotel.

Prison Island: Private Half-Day Tour

4. Prison Island: Private Half-Day Tour

This private guided half day tour can begin any time from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Meet your well-trained guide and boatman as your board your steam-engine wooden boat. Head to the prestigious island and enjoy the 30-minute journey.  Listen to the history of the island and discover the past centuries through the historical buildings, which have served many purposes over the years including a prison, chapel, and hiding place for slaves after the abolition.  Enjoy a swim or snorkel around the colorful coral rocks and turquoise waters. Play with giant tortoises and you may take photographs with these old precious creatures. If you do not have much experience or confidence in the water, you will be provided with a life jacket. 

Zanzibar: Airport to Hotel Transfer

5. Zanzibar: Airport to Hotel Transfer

Avoid the expense of a taxi and the hassle of navigating a foreign public transportation system with a private transfer from the airport to your hotel. Bypass the expensive and unreliable taxi drivers and kick-off your holiday in style with this comfortable and punctual service. Avail of an affordable and reliable transportation service from the airport to any hotel on Zanzibar Island. Your price includes transportation for up to 7 passengers with light luggage or 5 people with more luggage.  Relax in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle driven by an experienced driver. Enjoy a comfortable 0.5 to 1.5-hour transfer, depending on the location of your hotel.

Zanzibar: Quad Bike Adventure Tour to a Local Village

6. Zanzibar: Quad Bike Adventure Tour to a Local Village

Meet your guide at the office of the activity provider then drive along the main road going to Pwani Majangani, for about 4 km. The tour usually stops for a few minutes at a local shop where you can buy some food to offer as a present to the village. After this small pit stop, you leave the tarmac road to ride the quad off-road through the rice fields, where your guide stops for about 15 minutes to explain the economy, culture, and habits of the villages in the middle part of the island. After this explanation, the excursion goes ahead through the environment of the island to arrive at the local village, where you'll stop for about 1 hour. Travelers will have the opportunity to stay with the children, play with them, and be in contact with the community of the village. After this first contact, your guide will offer guests local fresh fruits (Madafu, seasonal fresh fruit). Next, head to the House of Mad, a typical home in the rural village, as your guide discusses the life and culture of the Zanzibarian people. Before getting back on the quad, visit plantations of cinnamon, cloves, lemon grass, and other varieties, which are cultivated by the people of the village. You finally leave the village riding to Pwani Majangani to reach the fishermen's village. At the village, you will stop for a few minutes to explain the difference between the rural village and the community based on the coast of the Island. Following the sand road, passing through the fishermen's houses, you arrive at the beach where you will stop for a few minutes before heading back to the starting point.

From Zanzibar: Half-Day Prison Island Tour

7. From Zanzibar: Half-Day Prison Island Tour

Visit Prison Island on a private 3-hour tour, and discover the rich history and beautiful natural surroundings of this location. Meet your guide in Zanzibar, or select the option including hotel pickup, then enjoy the ride to the island on a traditional dhow. Learn how this small island gained its name and explore the place that is now home to more than 50 tortoises, some over 100 years old.   Feed the tortoises and take up-close pictures with them, as you keep a look out for the peacocks and antelope that also live there. After discovering the island and its history, take the opportunity to snorkel in the clear waters off the coast amongst tropical fish and colorful coral. At the end of your tour, return to Zanzibar, where you’ll be dropped off in the city center, or at your hotel.

Zanzibar: Stone Town, Spice Tour and Prison Island Day Tour

8. Zanzibar: Stone Town, Spice Tour and Prison Island Day Tour

Take a walking tour of Stone Town, visit an organic spice farm, and explore the historic Prison Island all in one day on a full-day, guided tour of Zanzibar. Meander through a labyrinth of chaotic alleyways between towering limestone houses, and interact with Aldabra tortoises. Start your day with a walking tour of Stone Town, the oldest part of Zanzibar City. Relive the grander age of this port city as you stroll through the twisting streets and look at former palaces, Sultan’s Palace, and Arab mansions. Get an insight into the tragic history of slave trading. After your walking tour, drive to the plantation and learn why Zanzibar is known as “Spice Island”. Smell, touch, and even taste some of the crops grown on this Island and find out what the spices were originally used for. Finally, take a boat ride offshore to Prison Island, home to large land tortoises that were imported from Seychelles. Get to touch and feed these creatures living in a sanctuary. Also, learn about the island’s historic use as a prison for rebellious slaves in the 1860s.

Zanzibar: Nungwi Turtle Aquarium Guided Half-Day Trip

9. Zanzibar: Nungwi Turtle Aquarium Guided Half-Day Trip

Discover all there is to know about sea turtles at Mnarani Aquarium in the small village of Nungwi. Get a chance to feed and swim with the turtles in their natural lagoon pond. Find out how the aquarium rehabilitates sea turtles once they have recovered any injuries caused by being caught in nets. Start your day with a pickup from your hotel in Zanzibar and be driven to the village of Nungwi on the northern tip of Zanzibar Island. Near the lighthouse, visit Mnarani Aquarium and its turtles with your guide; Mnarani means the "place of the lighthouse" in Swahili. Discover a large, natural tidal pool in the coral rock behind the beach where the turtles swim. It was initially set up to rehabilitate and study marine turtles caught in fishing nets. The project was developed to ensure that local baby turtles were also protected. Buy some seaweed from the turtles' carers to feed them or get into the pool for a closer encounter to swim with them. Learn all about the rehabilitation project and the efforts to protect local baby turtles. Gain an insight into the life cycle of turtles, their food, and more.

Zanzibar: North Coast and Turtle Sanctuary Tour

10. Zanzibar: North Coast and Turtle Sanctuary Tour

The most popular beaches of Zanzibar are in Nungwi. This is mostly because the tides do not have such a huge impact on the beach. But, did you know that Nungwi is also the capital of local dhow manufacturing? Find out all about how these impressive sailing vessels are made and get the chance to see local craftsmen in action. Later, enjoy lunch including one complimentary drink at a local restaurant. After that, experience a real turtle sanctuary. Here, turtles are treated and healed of any illnesses before being released to the ocean. Get the chance to swim with these incredible animals and feed them.  All fees paid here contribute towards turtle welfare and the education of tourists on their impact on the local environment.

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What people are saying about Zanzibar

Overall rating

4.4 / 5

based on 695 reviews

Customer service was great for the little hiccups I had. Boat driver was amazing. Guide was good and nice. At the end i was ready to not be haggled anymore after the boat ride to do other things in very touristy spots. Overall great experience with get your guide and will use it again.

Hyggelige og behjelpelige folk. Spesielt fornøyd med vår guide som kun hadde jobbet knapt en måned. Anbefales å ta denne aktiviteten tidlig på dagen slik som vi gjorde. Bra sammensatt og man opplevde mye på kun 3 timer! Marta og Ingrid.

This activity was the highlight of our trip. We really enjoyed it. Our guide was great. I recommend this tour it is an eye-opener. A big Thank you to our guide, Laura and Jo

It was an amazing experience, we could not have been happier. I recommend it wholeheartedly. And Ahmad was the best guide/driver one can possibly imagine.

It was a fantastic experience! Thank you very much! Additional thanks for our guide! :)