The map at a glance
We do not reproduce any publisher or tourist office map: the airport is detailed below and every place links to its own page.
| Zone | Places | Suggested base | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Town and west coast | Stone Town, Prison Island, Fumba | Stone Town | history, markets, boat excursions |
| North | Nungwi, Kendwa | Nungwi or Kendwa | swimming at any tide, sunsets |
| East coast | Matemwe, Paje, Jambiani, Bwejuu | Paje or Matemwe | strong tides, kitesurfing, white sand |
| South | Kizimkazi, Jozani | Kizimkazi | dolphins, Jozani forest |
Distances and travel times from Stone Town
| Destination | Distance | Time | Best way |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prison Island | about 5 km by sea | 20 to 30 min | boat, see which Prison Island trip |
| Jozani | about 35 km | 45 min | taxi or excursion |
| Safari Blue (Fumba) | about 20 km | 30 to 45 min | see Safari Blue or Mnemba |
| Paje | about 50 km | 1 h to 1 h 15 | taxi or transfer |
| Matemwe | about 50 km | 1 h to 1 h 15 | taxi or transfer |
| Jambiani | about 55 km | 1 h to 1 h 15 | taxi or transfer |
| Nungwi and Kendwa | about 55 to 60 km | 1 h to 1 h 15 | taxi or transfer |
| Kizimkazi | about 55 km | 1 h 15 | taxi or excursion |
| Dar es Salaam | channel crossing | 1 h to 1 h 20 | fast ferry, see Dar es Salaam - Zanzibar |
Stone Town and the sea excursions
Stone Town can be seen in a day (Stone Town in one day). From the coast, the most booked outings are Safari Blue or Mnemba, Prison Island and a spice farm visit.
Which coast to choose
The north (Nungwi and Kendwa) is swimmable at any tide; the east coast (Paje and Jambiani) has very strong tides that empty the lagoon. To decide, read east or west coast and tides and swimming.
Airport
Abeid Amani Karume international airport (ZNZ) is the only air gateway, 10 to 30 minutes from Stone Town. To reach your hotel, see from Zanzibar airport to your hotel and taxi fares.
Sample itineraries
- 3 days: Stone Town and one beach; see Zanzibar in 3 days.
- 5 days: Stone Town, one coast and a sea excursion; see Zanzibar in 5 days.
- 7 to 10 days: two different beaches (north and east), then a safari on the mainland; see Tanzania and Zanzibar.
Entry rules and season
Entry rules are described in visa and entry fees in Zanzibar. The dry seasons are June to October and December to February; the long rains fall from March to May: see the best time to visit Zanzibar.
Going further
Electricity and outages: plugs and power cuts. To stay connected: eSIM in Tanzania.
