The island of Zanzibar may be small, but there are many ways to get lost here: amongst the ancient, cobble-stoned streets of Stone Town; in the colorful history of the people that call this paradise home; or amid the coral reefs that rival the best snorkelling destinations in the world. Take your pick, but after a day in this hidden paradise, we can promise you won’t want to be found!
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Terms & Conditions| Departing | Trip name | Days | From USD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
17 Dec 2023Road to Zanzibar |
Nairobi to Zanzibar |
12 |
|
|
19 Dec 2023Beaches, Game Parks & Gorillas |
Beaches, Game Parks & Gorillas Zanzibar to Nairobi |
27 |
|
|
7 Jan 2024Cape Town to Zanzibar |
Cape Town to Zanzibar |
41 |
|
|
7 Jan 2024Cape Town to Kenya |
Cape Town to Nairobi |
49 |
|
|
19 Jan 2024Johannesburg to Zanzibar |
Johannesburg to Zanzibar |
29 |
|
|
19 Jan 2024Johannesburg to Kenya |
Johannesburg to Nairobi |
37 |
|
|
2 Mar 2024Gorillas, Game Parks & Beaches |
Gorillas, Game Parks & Beaches Nairobi to Zanzibar |
27 |
|
|
3 Mar 2024Road to Zanzibar |
Nairobi to Zanzibar |
12 |
|
|
17 Mar 2024Kenya to Vic Falls |
Nairobi to Victoria Falls |
27 |
|
|
17 Mar 2024Africa Encompassed Northbound |
Cape Town to Nairobi |
64 |
|
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Get a true taste of eastern Africa on a 12-day trip to Zanzibar, the Serengeti,...
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From Johannesburg to Botswana, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Lake Malawi and...
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Travel the waterways of Botswana, the beaches of Zanzibar and the savannahs of the...
Spend 27 days exploring the wonders, wildlife and tribal cultures of East Africa to...
Experience the ultimate African adventure on this epic trip including Kenya, Botswana,...
Experience the waterways of Botswana, the beaches of Zanzibar, the savannahs of the...
Take an epic trip through eastern Africa, via Victoria Falls, the Serengeti and...
Relax on the Spice island of Zanzibar. Explore Stone Town, savour the smell of spices...
From Zanzibar's beautiful beaches to music and dancing at Rio Carnival, here's...
Most travellers come to Zanzibar to kick back on its undeniably beautiful beaches,...
Before I travelled to Tanzania for the first time in 2009, I was a little...
Zanzibar's beaches are right up there with the best I have seen, but I found so...
With world-class beaches on dreamy Zanzibar and wildlife to wow the likes of David...
It's time to follow the trade winds and make tracks to the spice island of...
Even the name 'Zanzibar' sounds exotic. Add in the phase 'spice islands' and the...
The best experiences in travel are those that shred your expectations. And that is...
An African family safari is on the once-in-a-lifetime end of the holiday spectrum....
Picking the world’s best beach is a bit like arguing why your favourite colour...
The beach is the salty engine that drives global tourism. But why? What draws us...
Find the house where Freddie Mercury grew up or sample a delicious, world-famous Zanzibar pizza at the Forodhani night market.
Visit one of the spice farms that put Zanzibar on the trade route map.
Laze the day away where the sand can’t get any whiter or the water any clearer.
Take a dhow ride out to one of the many reefs bursting with sea life.
Explore some the 40 islands that make up the Zanzibar archipelago.
Intrepid believes half the fun of experiencing a new country is getting there, and getting around once there! Where possible, Intrepid uses local transport options and traditional modes of transport - which usually carry less of an environmental impact, support small local operators and are lots more fun.
Depending on which trip you're on while in Zanzibar, you may find yourself traveling by:
Ferry
Take in views of the stunning East African coast while traveling to or from Dar el Salaam to Zanzibar aboard a ferry.
Dhow
Iconic and widespread on the shores of the island, nothing says ‘Zanzibar’ more than the traditional dhow: a wooden boat favored by the locals.
Catamaran
Is there anything more luxurious than skipping along blue waters in a catamaran? Choose to explore Zanzibar on one of our sailing adventures and you’ll be doing just that.
Traveling with Intrepid is a little bit different. We endeavor to provide travelers with an authentic experience to remember, so we try to keep accommodation as unique and traditional as possible.
When traveling with us in Zanzibar you may find yourself staying in a:
Roll out of bed and on to some of the best beaches in the world. Our beachside accommodation offers pristine views and the Indian Ocean breeze in your hair, bringing the best of Zanzibar right to your doorstep.
Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards
From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).
However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travelers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.
Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.
Yes. A visa is required for most nationalities for Tanzania. Be sure to check the latest requirements with your closest Tanzania Embassy or Consulate.
It is recommended you purchase visas in advance at any Diplomatic or Consulate Mission of the United Republic of Tanzania abroad. The cost is approximately USD 100 depending on nationality. At the present time you do not require a multi entry visa to visit Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda due to an agreement between the three countries (i.e. if you exit Kenya to Tanzania you can re-enter Kenya on the same visa). However, if your trip returns to Tanzania after a visit to a country other than those listed above, you may need to purchase two visas.
It is also possible to obtain a tourist visa for a single entry at any one of the following main entry points to Tanzania, subject to the fulfilment of all immigration and health requirements and approximately USD 50 fee.
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.
Mobile phone coverage is good on Zanzibar’s larger islands, but less so on smaller islands. Ensure you have global roaming activated before leaving home if you wish to use your mobile phone.
Western-style flushable toilets are generally available in most hotels, tourist attractions and other modern buildings in Zanzibar. However, 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.
Street snack = US 0.45
Bottle of beer = US 0.90
Plate of food from a local eatery = US 1.35
Dinner in an international restaurant = US 4.50 – US 9
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.
Absolutely. All passengers traveling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.
For more information on insurance, please go to: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/booking-resources/our-services
o 1 Jan: New Year's Day
o 12 Jan: Zanzibar Revolutionary Day
o 7 Apr: Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume Day
o 14 Apr: Good Friday
o 17 Apr: Easter Monday
o 26 Apr: Union Day
o 1 May: Labor Day
o 25 Jun: Iddi El Fitry / End of Ramadan
o 26 Jun: Iddi El Fitry Holiday
o 7 Jul: Maonyesho ya Saba Saba
o 8 Aug: Wakulima ya Nane Nane / Peasants' Day
o 1 Sep: Iddi El Haji / Feast of Sacrifice
o 14 Oct: Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Day
o 30 Nov: The Prophet's Birthday
o 9 Dec: Republic Day
o 25 Dec: Christmas Day
o 26 Dec: Boxing Day
For a current list of public holidays in Tanzania/Zanzibar go to: https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/africa/tanzania/public-holidays
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.
Intrepid is committed to traveling in a way that is respectful of local people, their culture, local economies and the environment. It's important to remember that what may be acceptable behavior, dress and language in your own country, may not be appropriate in another. Please keep this in mind while traveling.
In Zanzibar, we stay in locally run accommodation including guesthouses, smaller-scale hotels and homestays in an effort to support the local economies. We also visit locally-run restaurants and markets where travelers will have opportunities to support local businesses and purchase handicrafts created by local artisans.
