Discover Your Island Paradise

The best things to do in Stone Town Zanzibar include a guided walking tour of the UNESCO-listed old town, visiting the Old Fort and Slave Market Memorial, taking a boat trip to Prison Island to see giant tortoises, exploring the Forodhani Night Market, touring a spice farm, visiting the Freddie Mercury Museum, browsing Darajani Bazaar, and taking a sunset dhow cruise. Stone Town is the old part of Zanzibar City and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, carrying centuries of Swahili, Arab, Indian, and European history within a walkable area of coral stone lanes and carved wooden doorways. Two full days covers the main attractions comfortably, though three days allows for day trips as well.

Guided Walking Tours of Stone Town

A Stone Town walking tour lets you explore UNESCO alleys, mosques, and markets, and roughly 90% of visitors rate it “essential,” taking around three hours and costing $20–$40. The narrow lanes of Stone Town are genuinely difficult to navigate alone, so a local guide makes a significant difference. As you explore, you will quickly notice one of Stone Town’s most famous features: its magnificent carved doors. With over 560 historic doors, these are more than just entrances — they are symbols of wealth, status, and cultural identity. Arab-style doors are typically rectangular and feature intricate geometric patterns, while Indian-style doors often have a rounded top and are adorned with large brass studs, a design originally meant to deter war elephants in India but adopted in Zanzibar as a status symbol. Most guided walking tours stop at the Old Fort, House of Wonders, Palace Museum, Slave Market, and Jaws Corner. Starting at 8:30 AM is recommended to beat the heat.

The Old Fort and Forodhani Gardens

The oldest building in Stone Town is the Old Fort, constructed around 1700 by Omani Arabs to defend against the Portuguese. Its massive stone walls have served as a garrison, a prison, and even a railway depot. Today, the fort is a cultural hub housing an open-air amphitheater, art galleries, and craft shops, and it is free to enter. The amphitheater inside the fort still sees some use today, and if you are lucky you may catch a live performance on this 400-year-old stage. Directly in front of the fort sits Forodhani Gardens. Forodhani Park is one of the best free places to watch the sunset in Stone Town, located in front of the House of Wonders and the Old Fort. After dark, the gardens transform into a street food market where vendors serve Zanzibar pizza, grilled seafood, sugarcane juice, and local snacks for just a few dollars per dish.

The Slave Market Memorial and Anglican Cathedral

A visit to the site of the former Slave Market is a sobering but worth-your-time experience. This was the last legally operating slave market in East Africa, finally closed in 1873. The Anglican Christ Church Cathedral was built directly on the site as a symbol of hope and freedom, and its altar stands on the exact spot of the market’s main whipping post. You can tour the cathedral and descend into the cramped, dark chambers where enslaved people were held. A powerful memorial sculpture outside serves as a tribute to the victims of this history. The cathedral was built in 1873 by Edward Steere, the third Bishop of Zanzibar and a British abolitionist. Entry to the cathedral and slave chambers costs around $5–$10 per person. This is one of the most historically significant stops in Stone Town and is best visited with a guide who can give it the full context it deserves.

Prison Island Boat Trip and Giant Tortoises

The tour to Prison Island to see the giant tortoises is probably Stone Town’s most popular day trip. Built in 1893, the island was originally designated as a prison but was repurposed to contain cholera and bubonic plague epidemics that authorities feared would spread to Zanzibar on ships from Bombay and Egypt. Today, the island is home to a large colony of Aldabra giant tortoises. The boat ride from Stone Town takes around 20–30 minutes. After arriving on Prison Island, a guide teaches visitors the history and introduces them to the giant tortoises, and there is also a chance to explore the museum. The full trip, including boat hire and island entry, typically costs $30–$60 per person. Some combined tours bundle Prison Island with a Stone Town walking tour and spice farm visit for $80–$150 per person.

Spice Farm Tours Outside Stone Town

Zanzibar earned the nickname “Spice Island” for good reason, and a half-day spice farm tour from Stone Town is one of the most popular activities on the island. Spice tours allow visitors to sample cloves, nutmeg, and other spices, with around 60% of visitors including this activity in their itinerary. The farms lie roughly 30 minutes outside Stone Town by car, and most operators include transport in the price. Visitors are consistently surprised by how many different spices and fruits they encounter on the tour. Tours last two to three hours and cost $15–$35 per person. A cooking class combined with a spice farm visit runs around $59 per person for a five-hour experience. Spice farm tours are well-suited to the afternoon after a morning in Stone Town itself.

The Freddie Mercury Museum and Cultural Sites

The Freddie Mercury Museum is the first museum dedicated to the world legend Freddie Mercury, located in the same house where Freddie and his family stayed until they moved to England in 1963. The museum details his life and legacy, as well as the legacy of Queen in general. It covers how he grew up in Stone Town, with pictures from his childhood adorning the walls. Entry costs around $3–$5 and the visit takes 30–60 minutes. Separately, Jaws Corner is an unassuming street corner and open-air coffee spot where local men gather every day to sip strong black coffee, play board games, and discuss the day’s news. It is a social institution and a good place to pause and watch genuine community life in Stone Town. The Old Dispensary on the seafront is also worth a look. Located right on Zanzibar’s seafront, the Old Dispensary is now the town’s cultural center and houses its own restaurant along with several shops and offices.

Darajani Bazaar and Shopping in Stone Town

Darajani Market is the main bazaar in Stone Town, built under Sultan Ali bin Hamud who was the eighth Sultan of Zanzibar from 1902 to 1911. The bazaar is the hub of Stone Town’s commerce, selling a wide range of groceries from meat and fish to spices and produce, as well as a variety of wares and crafts. It operates primarily in the mornings and is free to enter, though a guided visit costs around $10. Beyond Darajani, the lanes of Stone Town are filled with small shops selling souvenirs. You can find everything from fragrant spice packages and colorful kanga fabrics to Tinga Tinga paintings and handcrafted jewelry. Bargaining is part of the culture, so polite negotiation is expected.

Sunset Dhow Cruise from Stone Town

A sunset dhow cruise along the Stone Town harbor takes around one hour and costs $20–$40, with a 70% satisfaction rate among those who do it. Traditional wooden dhows have sailed these waters for centuries, and a short evening cruise gives a completely different perspective on the Stone Town skyline and the western coast. Most cruises depart from the waterfront near Forodhani Gardens in the late afternoon. Some operators include light snacks and drinks in the price. This pairs well with an evening at the Forodhani Night Market or a rooftop dinner in town. Restaurant reservations are advisable for upscale waterfront establishments, particularly Emerson Spice Rooftop, while local eateries and street food vendors operate on a first-come basis.

What Does Stone Town Cost in 2026?

Visiting Stone Town costs $60–$90 per person daily for budget travelers, $120–$180 for mid-range comfort, and $250–$400 or more for luxury experiences in 2026, excluding accommodation. Budget allocations include walking tours at $15–$25, spice tours at $35–$50, and major attraction entries at $5–$15 per site. Meals range from $3–$8 for street food to $15–$30 for mid-range dining.

Best Time to Visit Stone Town

The best things to do in Zanzibar include exploring Stone Town’s historic streets, visiting spice farms, taking a boat trip to Prison Island, snorkeling at Mnemba Island, watching dolphins at Kizimkazi, walking through Jozani Forest, relaxing on the beaches of Nungwi and Paje, taking a sunset dhow cruise, and combining the island with a Tanzania mainland safari. With a UNESCO World Heritage-listed capital, beautiful beaches, and a national park, Zanzibar offers a mix of relaxation, history, and natural discovery in a compact island setting. The island is small enough to explore in its entirety, with some of the best experiences including remote beaches, conservation areas, and spice farms. This guide covers every major activity, what each one involves, how long it takes, and what you can expect to pay in 2026.

Activity Overview: What to Do in Zanzibar at a Glance

Explore Stone Town on a Walking Tour

Stone Town is the oldest part of Zanzibar City and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, best known for its blend of European, African, Arabic, and Asian architecture, as well as its lively food scene and coastal character. A guided walking tour takes between three and four hours and covers the main landmarks. Key sites include the Old Fort, House of Wonders, Sultan’s Palace Museum, and the former Slave Market, where you learn powerful stories of Zanzibar’s past and its role in the Indian Ocean trade. Beautifully carved wooden doors, lively bazaars, and historic mosques reveal the town’s unique identity.

If you want to experience the rich cuisine of Zanzibar, a street food tour through Stone Town is the place to start. Walking through the narrow, winding alleyways, you can sample local favourites like Zanzibari pizza, urojo soup, and freshly grilled fish. Daranji Market (Marikiti Kuu) is Stone Town’s primary market bazaar, a one-stop experience for fresh seafood, vegetables, and spices, and an ideal spot to pick up souvenir spices. Note that the House of Wonders is currently undergoing restoration and access to the interior remains restricted.

Visit a Spice Farm on Zanzibar’s Famous Spice Tours

Zanzibar is known as the ‘Spice Island’ for its production of cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla. The Spice Tour is a highlight among excursions on Zanzibar, often dubbed the Spice Island for its renown as a global leader in producing spices like clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon. On a guided tour of the plantation, you walk through the farm with a local guide who explains cultivation and the traditional uses of each crop in Swahili cooking and natural medicine. Hands-on activities like grinding nutmeg or peeling fresh cinnamon bark are included on many tours. Most half-day spice tours cost from around $30 to $60 per person and include a traditional Swahili lunch at the farm.

Spices and herbs were introduced to Zanzibar by Portuguese traders in the 16th century, who brought them from their colonies in South America and India. The farms are concentrated in the central and northern interior of the island, around 30 minutes by road from Stone Town. Many operators combine the spice tour with a Stone Town walking tour and a boat trip to Prison Island in a single full day.

Take a Boat Trip to Prison Island for Safaris Among Giant Tortoises

Off the coast of Zanzibar, Changuu Island offers plenty for history fans and beach lovers alike. Its “Prison Island” moniker comes from a prison that was built there in the late 19th century, though the structure ended up being used as a yellow fever quarantine station instead. Today, the island is best known for its resident colony of Aldabra giant tortoises. The Aldabra Giant Tortoise sanctuary boasts a 200-year-old resident as its oldest. These creatures weigh an average of 200 kg and can live over 100 years. A scenic 30-minute boat ride from Stone Town brings you to Prison Island.

Entry to the island is charged separately from boat hire. The entrance fee to Prison Island is $4 per person, though some tour operators include this within a bundled package price. Allow two to three hours on the island for the tortoise sanctuary, shoreline snorkeling over coral, and a walk through the historic ruins.

Snorkeling and Diving Safaris at Mnemba Island

Quite a few Zanzibar activities centre around the beach, where those who love water sports will enjoy the excellent scuba diving in offshore reefs. Mnemba Island, off the northeast coast, is one of the top marine destinations in East Africa. You can dive along the coral reef and look for dolphins and whales around Mnemba Island. The reef attracts green turtles, reef sharks, moray eels, and numerous coral fish species year-round. Most snorkeling day trips to Mnemba cost from around $80 to $125 per person including boat transfer, snorkeling gear, and lunch.

February to March presents fantastic diving opportunities, offering clear conditions in and around coral reefs and lagoons. These are the best months for diving, particularly along the south coast. For snorkeling and water sports, the dry season from June to October offers the most reliable conditions with calmer seas and better underwater visibility.

Dolphin Watching at Kizimkazi

Kizimkazi, a tiny fishing village on the southern tip of Zanzibar, is the main area for dolphin tours. A few bottlenose dolphins remain at Kizimkazi throughout the year, and rather shyer humpback dolphins also put in an appearance, though their calendar is more erratic. Tours depart early in the morning from Kizimkazi and take approximately three hours. The dolphin trip starts very early in the morning because in the afternoon, as the sun rises and the sea water warms, dolphins dive deep to escape the heat.

Dolphin spotting is a popular activity, but sightings cannot be guaranteed and actually managing to swim with dolphins is a rare occurrence, as it requires time and patience. The estimated sighting probability on most trips runs at around 80%. Responsible tour selection matters here. Kizimkazi, a fisherman’s village on Zanzibar’s southwestern coast, is a famous area for encountering dolphins, and a reputable and ethical company should be used for this activity. Tours from $40 to $85 per person. The dolphin tour pairs well with a visit to Jozani Forest, as the forest sits on the route back.

Walk Through Jozani Forest National Park

The only national park on Zanzibar, Jozani Forest sits in the heart of the island and is best known as the home of the endangered Zanzibar red colobus monkey, a species found nowhere else. The park’s dense greenery offers guided walks and includes bush babies and exotic birds, while a visit to the mangrove boardwalk lets you learn about Zanzibar’s fragile coastal ecosystem. Half-day forest walks cost from around $35 to $65 per person, typically including a guide and park entry. You can meet the playful red colobus monkeys on a half-day tour from $65.

The Kuza Cave, a freshwater lagoon hidden in the small village of Jambiani, is one of the more distinctive sites nearby. While not for those with claustrophobia, it features clear blue water surrounded by ancient limestone rock formations. Many operators combine Jozani Forest with Kuza Cave and Paje Beach in a single southern circuit.

Sunset Dhow Cruise on the Indian Ocean

One of the most peaceful experiences in Zanzibar is a sunset dhow cruise. Sailing on traditional wooden dhows that traded in the Indian Ocean is now an opportunity for travelers to watch the sun setting over the horizon. Depart from Nungwi or Kendwa, enjoy the sea breeze, tropical views, and a relaxing evening on the water. Live music, refreshing drinks, and local Swahili snacks are included in many cruises. Evening dhow cruises run for two to three hours and cost from about $30 to $60 per person. Departures are normally timed to arrive back at shore after dark.

Beach Time, Kitesurfing, and Water Sports

Zanzibar’s beaches serve different purposes and attract different visitors. Nungwi in the north has a full-length sandy beach accessible at all tidal stages and is the base for most boat tours. Nungwi Beach offers a beautiful stretch of white sand and a turtle conservation site. Kendwa, just south of Nungwi, has a well-known beach bar scene. On the east coast, Paje is the kitesurfing hub. Paje is particularly popular with backpackers, with a relaxed atmosphere, great activities like scuba diving and kitesurfing, and some affordable accommodation.

Nakupenda Beach is a sandbank off the coast of Zanzibar, surrounded on all sides by turquoise water. It is a good place to swim, snorkel, or simply sit on a quiet strip of sand. In the evening, due to the tides, Nakupenda can literally disappear. If the tides are strong, the small white sandbank will be covered until the morning, and the island shrinks more and more as it gets late in the day. Book an organized tour that accounts for tide timing and plan to arrive in the morning.

Combine Zanzibar with a Tanzania Mainland Safari

The best time to visit Zanzibar coincides with safari high season in Tanzania, making the archipelago a very popular post-safari choice. Zanzibar combines well with safari in both Tanzania and Kenya, with daily flights available and a light aircraft flight from Dar es Salaam taking only around 20 minutes. Fly from Zanzibar to Mikumi National Park to experience a day in the Tanzanian bush, take a game drive for a chance to spot Tanzania’s wildlife in its natural habitat, and enjoy a bush lunch. Serengeti two-day fly-in safari packages from Zanzibar are also widely available through local tour operators. This pairing of beach and bush is one of the most common Zanzibar itinerary formats for first-time visitors.

When to Visit Zanzibar: Month-by-Month Guide

Mikumi National Park Safaris from Zanzibar

Mikumi is the park most often recommended for travelers doing a day trip from Zanzibar. It is large enough to deliver a genuinely exciting wildlife experience but compact enough to see a lot in a single game drive. Local guides have nicknamed it the “Little Serengeti” because the Mkata Floodplain, the park’s open grassland heart, resembles the Serengeti’s famous plains in miniature.

Mikumi National Park is located 283 kilometers west of Dar es Salaam and is accessible by flight from Zanzibar in about one hour. Spanning 3,230 square kilometers, the park is characterized by the Mkata Floodplain, a vital ecosystem that supports a rich diversity of wildlife, including elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo, and rare sable antelopes. On a standard day trip, you enjoy an exciting game drive in a 4×4 vehicle guided by an expert, searching for the Big Four across the savannah. After lunch, a second game drive takes you through acacia woodlands to floodplains while spotting elephants, zebras, giraffes, lions, and numerous bird species.

You can see four of the Big Five on a Mikumi safari, including lion, elephant, buffalo, and occasionally leopard. Rhinos are not present in Mikumi National Park. Realistic expectations matter here. Spotting lions and leopard in a single day is possible but not guaranteed. Elephants, zebra, giraffe, hippo, and large bird populations are reliably seen throughout the year.

Nyerere National Park Safaris from Zanzibar

The Selous, officially renamed Nyerere National Park in 2019 in honour of Tanzania’s founding president, is one of the most extraordinary wildlife areas on the African continent. It covers an area larger than Switzerland and protects one of the most diverse ecosystems in Africa. For travelers flying from Zanzibar, a twin-engine aircraft reaches Nyerere National Park in as little as 35 minutes.

What makes Selous different from most other East African parks is the variety of safari activities on offer. It is one of the few reserves in Tanzania where you can do a boat safari on the Rufiji River alongside your standard game drive, and floating quietly past hippos, crocodiles, and elephants drinking at the bank is an experience unlike anything else. Good numbers of big cats such as lion, leopard, and cheetah are to be found here along with other large game animals such as elephant, buffalo, giraffe, eland, zebra, wildebeest, and other wildlife. The park is largely less frequented by tourists, which means the animals here tend to be less exposed to humans.

A two-day fly-in safari to Nyerere is a strong option for anyone who can spare the extra night. This format allows you to combine a game drive, walking safari, and boat safari, guided by experts in one of Africa’s wildest and least crowded parks. Walking safaris in Nyerere are conducted with an armed ranger, and the river boat option on the Rufiji is a format not available in most Tanzanian parks.

Jozani Forest Safaris on Zanzibar Island

Not every Zanzibar safari requires a flight to the mainland. Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park delivers a genuine wildlife encounter on the island itself, anchored by one of the rarest primates in Africa. Jozani Forest is the only place in the world where you can find the endangered red colobus monkey. The Zanzibar red colobus is a species endemic to Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar Archipelago. It is also known as Kirk’s red colobus after Sir John Kirk, the British Resident of Zanzibar who first brought it to the attention of zoological science. It is now classified as an endangered species and in the mid-1990s was adopted as the flagship species for conservation in Zanzibar.

The park covers about 50 square kilometers and is home to more than 50 butterfly species and 40 bird species. Beyond the colobus monkeys, the jungle offers habitation to blue or Sykes’ monkeys, bush pigs, diminutive Ader’s duiker and suni antelopes, elephant shrews, chameleons, and a multitude of birds and butterflies. The mangrove boardwalk is another popular experience in Jozani Forest. Walking along the wooden path gives you a close view of the mangrove ecosystem, which provides breeding grounds for fish, crabs, and many bird species.

Jozani Forest is roughly a 30-minute drive from Stone Town. The Jozani Forest tour is ideal during Zanzibar’s dry seasons, from June to October and December to February, when the forest trails are accessible and wildlife activity is high. Morning visits are recommended for better lighting, cooler temperatures, and increased chances of spotting monkeys and birds.

Day Trip vs. Overnight Safari from Zanzibar

Choosing between a day trip and an overnight safari is the most practical planning decision you will face. A day trip gives you a genuine safari experience and is well worth doing. That said, overnight safaris are significantly more immersive as you get both evening and morning game drives, you hear the sounds of the bush at night, and you have more time to really explore the park. If you can spare two days, the overnight option is a strong recommendation.

Day trips work well for travelers whose Zanzibar accommodation is already set and who want to add wildlife without restructuring their trip. Overnight trips suit anyone prioritising wildlife depth over convenience. Mikumi is ideal if you want a true introduction to African wildlife without committing to long itineraries or high costs. If Zanzibar is your main destination and safari is an add-on, Mikumi fits seamlessly without disrupting your beach time.

Best Time for a Zanzibar Safari in 2026

The best time for Tanzania safaris is during the dry season, from June to October. This period offers clear skies, fewer rains, and ideal conditions for wildlife viewing. Zanzibar Island has two wet seasons. The long rains begin in March and peak in April and May, slowing down by June, while the short rains fall in November and December. Avoid booking a mainland day-trip safari during the long rains, as flights may be disrupted and game drive tracks in Mikumi and Nyerere can become impassable.

Zanzibar Safari Costs in 2026

Mikumi safari packages from Zanzibar start from $400 for single-traveler day trips and from $350 per person for group tours. The cost of a day safari trip to Selous (Nyerere) from Zanzibar ranges from $450 to $550 per person flying from Zanzibar. Multi-day bush and beach packages combining mainland safari days with beach time in Zanzibar start from around $1,500 per person and scale up depending on accommodation standard and itinerary length.

The best hotels in Zanzibar for 2026 include Baraza Resort & Spa in Bwejuu, Park Hyatt Zanzibar in Stone Town, Zuri Zanzibar in Kendwa, The Residence Zanzibar on the southwest coast, Kisiwa on the Beach on the southeast coast, Emerson Spice in Stone Town, Melia Zanzibar in Kiwengwa, and Tulia Zanzibar Unique Beach Resort on the east coast. The island offers options across every budget, from five-star resorts to affordable guesthouses, catering to a wide range of traveler styles. Whether you are planning a beach holiday, a cultural stay in Stone Town, or a honeymoon, the right hotel depends primarily on which part of the island you choose to base yourself.

Quick Comparison: Top Hotels in Zanzibar by Type and Location

Best Luxury Hotels in Zanzibar

Baraza Resort and Spa is a 5-star all-inclusive award-winning hotel in Zanzibar and has been voted one of the 60 best new hotels in the world by Condé Nast Traveler. Located on a beautiful stretch of white sand beach in Bwejuu on the east coast, the beach here is considered one of the best on the island. With only 30 villas in total, each featuring private pools, the feel is small and exclusive. A fusion of Arabic, Swahili, and Indian design elements, the property features hand-carved white stone décor, beautiful antiques, handmade furniture, and intricate brass lanterns. Note that the east coast experiences significant tidal variation, which means swimming is only practical at high tide.

Park Hyatt Zanzibar sits on the beachfront in the heart of Stone Town, a designated UNESCO heritage site, set amid winding alleys, markets, mosques, and the famous ornately carved Zanzibari doors. The property features 67 luxuriously appointed rooms, including 11 suites, that blend contemporary style, modern technology, and regional accents. Facing the ocean and overlooking the local beach, the infinity pool is the ideal place to enjoy a morning swim or relax after exploring Stone Town. Its central location makes it the practical choice for travelers who want to combine a cultural city stay with beach proximity.

The Residence Zanzibar, located on the southwest coast, combines luxury villas, private pools, and world-class dining with spa treatments, exclusive beach access, and personalized service. Drawing aesthetic inspiration from the island’s history, the design is a mix of Swahili, Omani, and Indian styles, and guests can even arrange butler service during their stay. The resort is positioned on a secluded beach, making it well-suited for those seeking privacy and exclusivity.

Best Boutique Hotels in Stone Town

Kisiwa House is an elegant boutique heritage hotel in the heart of Stone Town, steeped in over 170 years of history, and is currently ranked number one in Stone Town on TripAdvisor. The hotel is best known for its personable Swahili hospitality and modern elegant rooms, which include complimentary Wi-Fi, luxury toiletries, and flat-screen HD TVs. Each room also features an incense burner to provide the traditional “Udi” scent, a Zanzibari perfume made from a wide variety of local ingredients.

A meticulously restored merchant’s palace, Emerson Spice is regularly rated as one of the top boutique hotels in Stone Town. Built into one of the former residences of the island’s last Swahili rulers, the property features 10 individually styled rooms each inspired by an important person in Zanzibar’s history, with vintage furnishings including ornate Swahili beds. A quarter of the land owned by the resort has been turned into a fragrant spice garden, and these homegrown spices feature heavily in the dishes served at the restaurant.

Emerson on Hurumzi is a restored hotel located in the heart of Stone Town and one of the most popular hotels in Zanzibar, also housing the highest rooftop tea house restaurant on the island, serving traditional Swahili dinner experiences with live music. For travelers spending only one or two nights in Stone Town before moving to a beach hotel, staying 1 to 2 nights in Stone Town before 5 to 6 nights in one of the beach areas is a practical approach for trips of seven days or more.

Best Hotels on Zanzibar’s North and West Coasts (Nungwi and Kendwa)

Located on the northwest coast, Nungwi and Kendwa are known for their lively beach scenes and some of the best sunset views on the island, and these beaches are less affected by tides, making them good for swimming throughout the day. This is a meaningful practical consideration given that tidal beaches on the east coast restrict swimming hours.

Zuri Zanzibar, situated in Kendwa, provides stylish bungalows and an eco-friendly atmosphere, and its beach position makes it a favorite among upscale travelers. In contrast to standard resort models, Zuri focuses on community initiatives covering education, the environment, and waste management, all promoting a prosperous future for the local village of Kendwa. Guests can choose from yoga, meditation, or wellness programming, along with a spice garden walk and an outdoor fitness area.

Z Hotel is an adults-only boutique property in Nungwi with 39 luxury rooms ranging from rooftop suites to ocean-front cottages, and its al fresco restaurant serves seafood on a deck above the water while the rooftop bar offers views of the setting sun. Zuri Zanzibar and Essque Zalu Zanzibar are both well-regarded choices in this northern zone, with Essque Zalu offering dramatic ocean views and strong service ratings.

Best Hotels on Zanzibar’s East Coast (Pongwe, Bwejuu, and Paje)

Next door to Pongwe Beach Hotel, Tulia Zanzibar is an award-winning luxury boutique resort rated as one of the most romantic beach resorts in the world. The property features private water slides and a farm-to-table dining experience, making it a strong option for families and couples who want a small boutique feel.

Pongwe Beach Hotel, home to only 22 rooms on a good stretch of beach and operating for over 20 years with an emphasis on local community, serves fresh seafood at its restaurant and allows guests to snorkel on its own house reef just offshore. This is a practical option for travelers who want genuine beach character without paying luxury villa prices.

Paje on the southeast coast is the best location in Zanzibar for kitesurfing, with strong winds attracting the sport from June to August and between December and February. The Michamvi and Pingwe area on the southeast peninsula is well-suited for those seeking seclusion and barefoot luxury, and the area is also home to the famous Rock Restaurant. Upendo Beach Boutique Hotel offers infinity pools and a view of the Rock Restaurant, while Baladin Zanzibar Beach Hotel brings an eco-conscious approach with Swiss-Tanzanian character.

Best Family-Friendly and All-Inclusive Hotels in Zanzibar

Kiwengwa is a popular area for travelers looking for all-inclusive options with long sandy beaches, and the zone is well suited to families and honeymooners wanting a straightforward beach holiday. Melia Zanzibar is a 5-star luxury resort with a private beach, infinity pool, and top-tier dining, and is also frequently chosen for destination weddings.

Neptune Pwani Beach Resort & Spa on Kiwengwa Beach features spacious family rooms, a kids’ club, multiple swimming pools, and various activities to engage all ages. Dream of Zanzibar Resort in Kiwengwa offers family-friendly amenities including children’s pools, entertainment programs, and spacious accommodations.

At Baraza, children between 4 and 12 can use the professionally run Baraza Kids Club, and babysitting services can also be arranged to allow parents time to themselves. For all-inclusive resort seekers without a strict family focus, Riu Palace Zanzibar near Nungwi is an adults-only all-inclusive resort where spacious rooms come with climate control, satellite TVs, and fully stocked minibars, with three themed restaurants and a daily buffet breakfast.

Hotel Costs in Zanzibar 2026

Zanzibar hotel prices vary widely depending on location, season, and type of accommodation, with the island catering to a range from budget backpackers to high-end luxury seekers. Prices fluctuate significantly by season, with the high season running from June to September and December to February when demand is at its peak, while the low season from March to May brings lower rates.

Prison Island Zanzibar, also known as Changuu Island, is a small coral island sitting 5.6 kilometres northwest of Stone Town that offers visitors a guided walk through colonial-era ruins, close encounters with Aldabra giant tortoises, a small beach for swimming, and optional snorkelling in the surrounding Indian Ocean waters. The tour takes approximately three hours to complete the round trip. The island is around 25 to 30 minutes by boat from Stone Town. The island carries a layered history as a slave detention site, a prison that was never used as one, and a quarantine station, making it one of the more educational half-day excursions available from Stone Town in 2026.

A Quick Look at What to Expect on Prison Island

The History Behind the Name

The story of Prison Island is more complex than its name suggests. The island was uninhabited until the 1860s, when the first Sultan of Zanzibar, Majid bin Said, gave it to two Arabs who used it as a prison for rebellious slaves prior to shipping them abroad or selling them at the slave market in Zanzibar’s Stone Town.

The British First Minister of Zanzibar, Lloyd Mathews, purchased the island in 1893 and constructed a prison complex there, but no prisoners were ever housed on the island, and instead it became a quarantine station for yellow fever cases. The cells you see today were actually hospital rooms for patients waiting to be cleared for entry into Stone Town.

The old prison was converted into the facility’s hospital, and in 1923 the island was officially renamed Quarantine Island. Quarantine cases would be taken from ships and monitored on the island for between one and two weeks before being allowed to progress with their journey, with the main disease monitored being yellow fever. The name “Prison Island” stuck in popular use despite this later function, and it remains the name most travellers know today.

The Giant Aldabra Tortoises of Prison Island

The tortoises are the primary reason most visitors make the trip. In 1919 the British governor of Seychelles sent a gift of four Aldabra giant tortoises to Changuu from the island of Aldabra. These tortoises bred quickly and by 1955 they numbered around 200 animals, but people began to steal them for sale abroad as pets or for food, and their numbers dropped rapidly to around 100 in 1988, fifty in 1990, and just seven by 1996.

The Zanzibar government, with assistance from the World Society for the Protection of Animals, built a large compound for the protection of the animals, and by 2000 numbers had recovered to 17 adults, 50 juveniles, and 90 hatchlings. The species is now considered vulnerable and has been placed on the IUCN Red List by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The tortoises can reach roughly 122 cm in length with an average weight of 250 kg, and they are known to be among the longest-lived animals in the world, with the oldest tortoise on Prison Island estimated to be 196 years old. Visitors are allowed to feed them fresh spinach leaves provided by the keepers, though you should watch your fingers as they have a strong beak. You can also visit the nursery to see baby tortoises of various ages.

It is worth noting that some recent visitor reviews have raised concerns about the condition of the tortoise enclosures, particularly for younger animals. Go in with realistic expectations: the adult tortoises roam relatively freely, but the facilities are basic by international zoo standards.

What Else to Do on Prison Island

The old prison remains standing, providing shelter for some of the tortoises, and the cells can be visited. Walking the ruins with a knowledgeable local guide adds context that the site alone cannot convey, connecting the physical remains to the wider history of East African colonial trade routes and the slave economy centred on Stone Town.

The waters surrounding Prison Island offer snorkelling opportunities that are more suited to beginners or those seeking a gentle introduction to Zanzibar’s underwater world, with coral reefs sitting close to the surface in clear water. While Prison Island’s reefs may not match the spectacular diversity of Mnemba Island or the Menai Bay Conservation Area, they still harbour colourful tropical fish and provide good visibility for underwater exploration.

There is a small sandy beach on the island where you can swim, though the coral reef has seen better days due to high boat traffic. The beach suits a short cool-down after walking the ruins rather than a full beach day. Look carefully and you may also spot butterflies, bats, and the very shy duiker on the island. There are also peacocks and certain bird species found around the island.

How to Get to Prison Island from Stone Town

There is no public ferry to Prison Island, so you must hire a private wooden dhow, which is part of the experience. Walk to the beachfront near Forodhani Gardens or the Tembo House Hotel and you will see boat captains waiting with their boats. This is the most direct and affordable route.

The standard rate for a private boat covering the return trip is $20 to $30 USD total, not per person, depending on your negotiation. Organised tour packages from operators in Stone Town bundle the boat, guide, and entrance fee together. A standard tour costs approximately $40 USD per person with boat transfer, guide, and entrance fee included. A VIP private tour runs around $70 USD per person and includes private boat services and additional facilities. If you are travelling as a couple or solo, booking independently at the waterfront and paying the entrance fee separately tends to be cheaper.

Boats depart from Stone Town Beach near Forodhani Gardens, with the morning tour running from 9:00 a.m. to approximately 12:30 p.m. Morning visits are advisable to benefit from cooler weather and to avoid the peak crowds that arrive mid-morning on busier days.

Best Time to Visit Prison Island Zanzibar

The optimal time to visit is during Zanzibar’s dry seasons: June to October offers pleasant temperatures around 25 to 28°C with low humidity and calm seas, while December to February provides hot, sunny weather with excellent snorkelling visibility. The long rains from March to May can make the short boat crossing uncomfortable and visibility in the water drops noticeably. The island itself is accessible year-round, but sea conditions are the main variable to check before setting out.

Prison Island Zanzibar: Costs and Budget Breakdown

Practical Tips for Visiting Prison Island in 2026

The island is government-owned, and a US$12 entry fee is charged at the gate. Fees have fluctuated in recent years and some recent visitor reports cite figures of up to $22 per person, so carry more cash than you think you need. US dollars are widely accepted, but smaller notes are useful for the boat captain and any tips.

Arrive at the Stone Town waterfront early. The first boats typically leave around 9:00 a.m. and the island gets busiest between 10:00 a.m. and noon. Going early means smaller crowds around the tortoises and a cooler walk through the ruins. The boat ride is fully open to the sun, so bring sunscreen and a hat. Bring swimwear if you plan to enter the water, and carry your own water bottle since the small restaurant on the island may not always have cold drinks available.

Dress modestly for the boat landing, as you pass through a local working environment before reaching the island. Wear normal clothes and water shoes for walking, and bring swimming clothes if you plan to swim, but avoid wearing very short clothing as you will encounter local residents and staff.

You can book a boat directly at the Stone Town waterfront or arrange transport through local tour operators. If you book through an operator, confirm exactly what is included in the price before agreeing, specifically whether the entrance fee, guide, and snorkel gear are all covered.

Combining Prison Island with Other Zanzibar Excursions

Combo tours involving Prison Island bundled with other sites, such as Nakupenda Beach, are available at varying prices from most Stone Town operators. Nakupenda is a sandbar that appears at low tide and is usually combined as a morning stop before or after Prison Island on the same boat journey. This makes for a full half-day on the water without extending costs significantly.

For those spending several days in Stone Town, Prison Island pairs well with a Stone Town walking tour through the historic alleys, a visit to the old slave market memorial, and a spice tour in the interior. Combining the Prison Island visit with Stone Town’s slave market memorial gives a more complete understanding

Prison Island Zanzibar, also known as Changuu Island, is a small coral island sitting 5.6 kilometres northwest of Stone Town that offers visitors a guided walk through colonial-era ruins, close encounters with Aldabra giant tortoises, a small beach for swimming, and optional snorkelling in the surrounding Indian Ocean waters. The tour takes approximately three hours to complete the round trip. The island is around 25 to 30 minutes by boat from Stone Town. The island carries a layered history as a slave detention site, a prison that was never used as one, and a quarantine station, making it one of the more educational half-day excursions available from Stone Town in 2026.

A Quick Look at What to Expect on Prison Island

The History Behind the Name

The story of Prison Island is more complex than its name suggests. The island was uninhabited until the 1860s, when the first Sultan of Zanzibar, Majid bin Said, gave it to two Arabs who used it as a prison for rebellious slaves prior to shipping them abroad or selling them at the slave market in Zanzibar’s Stone Town.

The British First Minister of Zanzibar, Lloyd Mathews, purchased the island in 1893 and constructed a prison complex there, but no prisoners were ever housed on the island, and instead it became a quarantine station for yellow fever cases. The cells you see today were actually hospital rooms for patients waiting to be cleared for entry into Stone Town.

The old prison was converted into the facility’s hospital, and in 1923 the island was officially renamed Quarantine Island. Quarantine cases would be taken from ships and monitored on the island for between one and two weeks before being allowed to progress with their journey, with the main disease monitored being yellow fever. The name “Prison Island” stuck in popular use despite this later function, and it remains the name most travellers know today.

The Giant Aldabra Tortoises of Prison Island

The tortoises are the primary reason most visitors make the trip. In 1919 the British governor of Seychelles sent a gift of four Aldabra giant tortoises to Changuu from the island of Aldabra. These tortoises bred quickly and by 1955 they numbered around 200 animals, but people began to steal them for sale abroad as pets or for food, and their numbers dropped rapidly to around 100 in 1988, fifty in 1990, and just seven by 1996.

The Zanzibar government, with assistance from the World Society for the Protection of Animals, built a large compound for the protection of the animals, and by 2000 numbers had recovered to 17 adults, 50 juveniles, and 90 hatchlings. The species is now considered vulnerable and has been placed on the IUCN Red List by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The tortoises can reach roughly 122 cm in length with an average weight of 250 kg, and they are known to be among the longest-lived animals in the world, with the oldest tortoise on Prison Island estimated to be 196 years old. Visitors are allowed to feed them fresh spinach leaves provided by the keepers, though you should watch your fingers as they have a strong beak. You can also visit the nursery to see baby tortoises of various ages.

It is worth noting that some recent visitor reviews have raised concerns about the condition of the tortoise enclosures, particularly for younger animals. Go in with realistic expectations: the adult tortoises roam relatively freely, but the facilities are basic by international zoo standards.

What Else to Do on Prison Island

The old prison remains standing, providing shelter for some of the tortoises, and the cells can be visited. Walking the ruins with a knowledgeable local guide adds context that the site alone cannot convey, connecting the physical remains to the wider history of East African colonial trade routes and the slave economy centred on Stone Town.

The waters surrounding Prison Island offer snorkelling opportunities that are more suited to beginners or those seeking a gentle introduction to Zanzibar’s underwater world, with coral reefs sitting close to the surface in clear water. While Prison Island’s reefs may not match the spectacular diversity of Mnemba Island or the Menai Bay Conservation Area, they still harbour colourful tropical fish and provide good visibility for underwater exploration.

There is a small sandy beach on the island where you can swim, though the coral reef has seen better days due to high boat traffic. The beach suits a short cool-down after walking the ruins rather than a full beach day. Look carefully and you may also spot butterflies, bats, and the very shy duiker on the island. There are also peacocks and certain bird species found around the island.

How to Get to Prison Island from Stone Town

There is no public ferry to Prison Island, so you must hire a private wooden dhow, which is part of the experience. Walk to the beachfront near Forodhani Gardens or the Tembo House Hotel and you will see boat captains waiting with their boats. This is the most direct and affordable route.

The standard rate for a private boat covering the return trip is $20 to $30 USD total, not per person, depending on your negotiation. Organised tour packages from operators in Stone Town bundle the boat, guide, and entrance fee together. A standard tour costs approximately $40 USD per person with boat transfer, guide, and entrance fee included. A VIP private tour runs around $70 USD per person and includes private boat services and additional facilities. If you are travelling as a couple or solo, booking independently at the waterfront and paying the entrance fee separately tends to be cheaper.

Boats depart from Stone Town Beach near Forodhani Gardens, with the morning tour running from 9:00 a.m. to approximately 12:30 p.m. Morning visits are advisable to benefit from cooler weather and to avoid the peak crowds that arrive mid-morning on busier days.

Best Time to Visit Prison Island Zanzibar

The optimal time to visit is during Zanzibar’s dry seasons: June to October offers pleasant temperatures around 25 to 28°C with low humidity and calm seas, while December to February provides hot, sunny weather with excellent snorkelling visibility. The long rains from March to May can make the short boat crossing uncomfortable and visibility in the water drops noticeably. The island itself is accessible year-round, but sea conditions are the main variable to check before setting out.

Prison Island Zanzibar: Costs and Budget Breakdown

Practical Tips for Visiting Prison Island in 2026

The island is government-owned, and a US$12 entry fee is charged at the gate. Fees have fluctuated in recent years and some recent visitor reports cite figures of up to $22 per person, so carry more cash than you think you need. US dollars are widely accepted, but smaller notes are useful for the boat captain and any tips.

Arrive at the Stone Town waterfront early. The first boats typically leave around 9:00 a.m. and the island gets busiest between 10:00 a.m. and noon. Going early means smaller crowds around the tortoises and a cooler walk through the ruins. The boat ride is fully open to the sun, so bring sunscreen and a hat. Bring swimwear if you plan to enter the water, and carry your own water bottle since the small restaurant on the island may not always have cold drinks available.

Dress modestly for the boat landing, as you pass through a local working environment before reaching the island. Wear normal clothes and water shoes for walking, and bring swimming clothes if you plan to swim, but avoid wearing very short clothing as you will encounter local residents and staff.

You can book a boat directly at the Stone Town waterfront or arrange transport through local tour operators. If you book through an operator, confirm exactly what is included in the price before agreeing, specifically whether the entrance fee, guide, and snorkel gear are all covered.

Combining Prison Island with Other Zanzibar Excursions

Combo tours involving Prison Island bundled with other sites, such as Nakupenda Beach, are available at varying prices from most Stone Town operators. Nakupenda is a sandbar that appears at low tide and is usually combined as a morning stop before or after Prison Island on the same boat journey. This makes for a full half-day on the water without extending costs significantly.

For those spending several days in Stone Town, Prison Island pairs well with a Stone Town walking tour through the historic alleys, a visit to the old slave market memorial, and a spice tour in the interior. Combining the Prison Island visit with Stone Town’s slave market memorial gives a more complete understanding