Zanzibar tours & vacations

Tipping isn’t mandatory in Zanzibar but a little generosity will be received positively, especially when considering the low wages that service workers are typically paid in Zanzibar.

Setting aside a small amount for porters, guides and drivers is wise, as is leaving spare change or rounding up the bill at restaurants.

Internet access is widespread throughout the main islands of Zanzibar. However, if visiting smaller islands there will be limited to no access available.

Western-style flushable toilets are generally available in most hotels, tourist attractions and other modern buildings in Zanzibar.

In rural areas squat/pit toilets are the general standard for local amenities.

Carry your own supply of soap and toilet paper as these are rarely provided.

Drinking tap water isn't recommended in Zanzibar.

For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Instead, fill a reusable water bottle or canteen with filtered water.

Ask your leader where filtered water can be found; some hotels we stay in may have drinking water available.

It's also advisable to avoid ice in drinks and peel fruit and vegetables before eating.

Credit cards are usually accepted by large hotels and Western-style restaurants but not by smaller vendors.

Ensure you have adequate cash to cover purchases not able to be made on credit.

ATMs are easily found in urban centers such as Stone Town but are rarer in rural areas and villages.

Be sure to have other payment methods available when venturing out of the built up areas as ATMs aren't always an option.

Tanzania is a conservative country and homosexuality is still officially illegal, including in Zanzibar. While prosecutions might be rare, penalties can be severe with potential imprisonment as punishment.

For this reason, public displays of affection (even between members of the opposite sex) is considered taboo and not advised.  

For more detailed and up-to-date advice, we recommend visiting Equaldex or Smartraveller before you travel.

Travelers from most nationalities need a visa to enter Tanzania. For more information, please visit the Government of Tanzania's website or the Essential Trip Information section of your itinerary.

Visas are the responsibility of the individual traveler. Entry requirements can change at any time, so it's important that you check for the latest information.

You can check the entry requirements for your nationality on your government's foreign travel advisories, consular websites or on our visa and entry requirements page.

Absolutely. All passengers traveling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their adventure. Your leader will record your travel insurance details on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of healthcare around the world, travel insurance is an essential part of every journey.

Learn more about travel insurance

Yes, all Intrepid trips support The Intrepid Foundation. In this country, we partner with World Bicycle Relief and Eden: People + Planet. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar matching all traveler donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

World Bicycle Relief

World Bicycle Relief provides people in low-income communities with bicycles to mobilize school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas – giving them access to vital education, healthcare, and income. Donations help provide Buffalo Bicycles – specifically designed to withstand the rugged terrain and harsh environment of rural regions – to those who need them most.

Find out more or make a donation

Eden: People + Planet

Eden Reforestation Projects are helping to mitigate climate change by restoring forests worldwide; they also hire locally and create job opportunities within vulnerable communities. Donations support restoration across planting sites in 10 countries, including Kenya and Nepal.

Find out more or make a donation