Zanzibar, the semi-autonomous archipelago off Tanzania’s coast, is one of the Indian Ocean’s most enchanting destinations. The main island (Unguja) sits 35 km from the mainland and is accessible by short flights from Dar es Salaam, Arusha, or Nairobi, making it the natural finishing chapter of any East African safari.
Stone Town, the archipelago’s ancient capital, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a labyrinthine warren of coral stone alleys, ornately carved wooden doors, mosques, and merchant houses that preserve the living legacy of the Swahili coast’s maritime trading history. The town blends Arab, Persian, Indian, and African architectural influences that reflect centuries of spice trade connections.
The spice heritage that gave Zanzibar its fame, it was the world’s top clove producer in the 19th century, can be explored on guided spice farm tours where cloves, vanilla, cardamom, lemongrass, and dozens of other aromatics grow under forest canopy.
Jozani Forest on the island’s south is the only habitat of the Zanzibar red colobus monkey, an endemic subspecies found nowhere else on earth. The forest offers guided walks through mangrove and mahogany, with monkey encounters virtually guaranteed.
Beaches range from the protected turtle-nesting sands of Nungwi to the reef-sheltered swimming waters of Paje and the secluded coves around Matemwe, each with its own character. The reefs off Mnemba Atoll offer some of Africa’s finest diving and snorkelling, with spectacular coral gardens and regular dolphin encounters.
