Country Atlas · No. 37 — The Indian Ocean
Zanzibar
Spice island sands and Stone Town soul
Honeymoons·Beach weeks·Couples
The brief
Zanzibar — spice island sands and the old Stone Town soul.
The natural bookend to a Tanzania safari. Stone Town for the history (slave market, Freddie Mercury's birthplace, the spice markets), the north coast (Mnemba Atoll, Kendwa) for the long beach week. andBeyond Mnemba is the only true private-island option.
We book Zanzibar after the Serengeti, not instead of it.
HoneymoonsBeach weeksCouplesCulture
When to go
A year in Zanzibar
Jun – Oct
Long dry
Peak combined with the Great Migration in Tanzania.
Nov – Dec
Short rains
Brief afternoon showers, fewer guests.
Jan – Mar
Short dry
Hot and clear — best diving visibility.
Apr – May
Long rains
Most lodges close — avoid this window.
Recommended hotels
Where to stay in Zanzibar
Handpicked stays we love and recommend, chosen for their exceptional service, setting, and style — for every kind of traveler.
Also in The Indian Ocean
Continue the journey
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