Zanzibar vacations combine sensory delights and mystical romance. The lack of crowds is the icing on the cake. The Zanzibar Archipelago is located off Africa’s eastern coast, 20 miles into the Indian Ocean from Tanzania’s mainland. Many people mistake Zanzibar for one big tropical island, but there are actually more than 20 islands throughout the archipelago. You can go exploring each island before returning to your hotel on the main island, Unguja, where all of our holidays are based. We’ve compiled a list of the best day trips in Zanzibar.
Safari Blue Day Trip
The Safari Blue day trip in Zanzibar is a full day of sailing around mangroves and snorkelling along Menai Bay, which has some of Zanzibar’s best coral reefs. The main activities include visiting Kwale Island, relaxing on the sandbanks, swimming, and snorkelling. The underwater world at Menai Bay is breathtaking. You will see countless vibrant fish and other marine life that live among the coral reefs and underwater plants that make up the bay’s barrier reef ecosystem.
To book one of our day trips in Zanzibar: zanzibar@experiences.africa
Stone Town Walking Tour
Stone Town is a vibrant community where Arabic, African, Indian, and European cultures coexist peacefully. You can see mosques, churches, and temples side by side as you walk through the maze of streets too narrow for cars to pass through. Your guide will take you on a historical and cultural tour of the city, including the old slave market, Darajani marketplace, House of Wonders, the Old Fort, and Sultan’s Palace. The tour also includes lunch in a restaurant or at a local home.
To book one of our day trips in Zanzibar: zanzibar@experiences.africa
Mnemba Island Snorkelling Tour
Mnemba Island, a coral atoll surrounded by thriving, vibrant reefs and the crystal clear Indian Ocean, was recently designated a marine conservation area. The waters are teeming with an abundance of beautiful tropical reef fish, green turtles graze peacefully among the heads of plate and honeycomb corals, and a resident pod of curious bottle-nosed dolphins that appear frequently and provide visitors with the opportunity to interact with these magnificent marine mammals in their natural environment.
To book one of our day trips in Zanzibar: zanzibar@experiences.africa
Prison Island and Jozani Forest Tour
This is one of the best day trips in Zanzibar. On this trip, you’ll see red colobus monkeys, giant tortoises, and tropical birds, to name a few highlights. You’ll walk through Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park on a nature trail before boarding a boat to Prison Island to learn about its fascinating history. There will even be time for swimming and snorkelling. Keep an eye out for the famous red colobus monkeys, an endangered species found only in Zanzibar. Other monkeys, as well as bush babies, duikers, butterflies, and birds, can be found.
After that, you’ll travel to Stone Town to catch a boat to Changuu Island, also known as Prison Island — the boat ride takes about 30 minutes. It is home to giant tortoises, and you will visit the foundation that cares for them as well as have time to swim, snorkel, and eat lunch.
To book one of our day trips in Zanzibar: zanzibar@experiences.africa
Sunset Dhow Cruise
On a traditional wooden dhow, take in the world-famous sunset of Zanzibar’s West Coast. Our sunset cruises depart in the late afternoon from Stone Town and cruise along the coast. Sunset dhow cruise in Zanzibar is a wonderful romantic dhow cruise departing from Stone Town. As the sun sets and using all of your senses, you will see the beautiful Zanzibari scenery, listen to evocative taarab music, and taste the island’s traditional cuisine – all while admiring the breathtaking sunset.
To book one of our day trips in Zanzibar: zanzibar@experiences.africa
Spice Farm and Villages Tour
One of the best day trips in Zanzibar is the Spice Farm and Villages tour. You will learn about its rich history and culture, as well as the many battles fought to gain or retain control of this beautiful island. One of the reasons it was so valuable was that it served as a strategic point for trade. Visit Zanzibar’s spice and fruit farms to understand their true worth.
This island is a veritable treasure trove of spices that were sometimes bartered and traded for more than currency. Even as your knowledgeable guide discusses the many uses of spices aside from food flavouring, you will realize that these spices have curative properties that were invaluable in the days before modern medicine.
To book one of our day trips in Zanzibar: zanzibar@experiences.africa
If you’re planning your Zanzibar holiday, then get in touch with one of our Travel Managers for advice or to book some of the best day trips in Zanzibar.