Zanzibar beach holidays
Luxury Zanzibar Holidays
Stone Town, quiet beaches and private islands, on their own or after an African safari in Tanzania or Kenya, planned around you by our team.
Why Zanzibar with Nova
Zanzibar, Planned Around You
A luxury Zanzibar holiday is one of the easiest Indian Ocean escapes to add to an African safari: direct flights from Europe and the Gulf, warm sea all year, and an old town where Swahili, Arab, Persian and Indian Ocean history meet in every street.
Many of our guests come here after an African safari in Tanzania or Kenya, to swap early game drives for slow mornings by the sea. Others come for the island alone: a honeymoon, a family break or a long weekend in the sun. Either way, we choose the coast, the villa and the pace to suit you, and our team arranges the flights, transfers and guides.
Zanzibar is a largely Muslim island, and the call to prayer is part of daily life in Stone Town. Modest dress in the old town and the villages is appreciated, and we brief you on local customs before you go.
Our promise
“Luxury travel, focused on eco-tourism and protecting Africa’s wildest regions and animals.”
On Zanzibar that means choosing places that look after the reef and employ people from nearby villages, and planning snorkelling and diving in protected marine areas such as Mnemba Atoll, where visits are managed with care.
Where we go
Zanzibar’s Coasts and Islands
Zanzibar is an archipelago, and each coast has its own character. The tides, the reef and the mood change from one side of the island to the other, so where you stay really matters.
History and old streets
Stone Town
The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site: carved doors, markets, mosques and rooftop cafés. A night or two here, with a private guide, is the best way to understand the island.
Swimming at most tides
The North Coast
Nungwi and Kendwa have a smaller tidal range than the east, so the sea is usually there for swimming. This is the side for sunsets and sailing in a traditional dhow.
Reef, tides and space
The East Coast
Matemwe, Paje, Jambiani and Michamvi face a long offshore reef. At low tide the water draws far back over seaweed farms and rock pools; at high tide the lagoon fills again. Paje is known for kitesurfing.
Private island
Mnemba
A small private island off the north-east coast, inside the Mnemba Atoll marine conservation area. Guests come for barefoot quiet, snorkelling on the reef and the chance to see dolphins and turtles.
Green and quiet
Pemba
Zanzibar’s northern island is hillier, greener and far less visited, with clove plantations, mangroves and well-regarded diving on its walls and reefs.
Forest and spice
Jozani and the Interior
Jozani Forest is home to the Zanzibar red colobus, a monkey found only on the archipelago. Nearby spice farms show how cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon shaped the island’s story.
Short boat trips
The Smaller Islands
Sandbanks and islets lie a short boat ride from Stone Town, including Changuu, known as Prison Island, with its giant tortoises.
After the Serengeti
Tanzania
Light aircraft and short flights link the Serengeti and Arusha with Zanzibar, so a few beach days fit easily at the end of a safari.
After the Mara
Kenya
From Nairobi it is a short flight to Zanzibar, a natural way to finish a Kenya safari.
When to go
Zanzibar Month by Month
Zanzibar is warm all year. The main thing to plan around is rain, and weather patterns vary from year to year.
| Months | What to expect | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| January to February | Hot and mostly dry, with calm seas. | Beach days, diving and honeymoons |
| March | Hot and humid, with the long rains approaching. | Quieter beaches |
| April to May | The long rains. Some hotels close for a few weeks; others are very quiet. | Green gardens and very few visitors |
| June to October | Dry, sunny and breezy, with cooler evenings. July and August are busy. | Safari and beach together, families and kitesurfing |
| November | The short rains, usually brief showers. | Good value and green landscapes |
| December | Warm and dry over the festive season, and busy. | Families and holidays |
June to October lines up with the best safari months in Tanzania and Kenya, and with summer school holidays in Europe, North America and the Gulf, so a safari followed by Zanzibar works especially well then.
Getting there
Getting to Zanzibar
Zanzibar has direct flights from Europe and the Gulf, and short connections from the safari areas.
From Europe
Turkish Airlines flies from Istanbul and Condor nonstop from Frankfurt. Seasonal flights from Zurich, Amsterdam and Italy add more options in the main seasons.
From the USA and Canada
There are no nonstop flights from North America. Most guests connect through Istanbul, Amsterdam, Doha or Dubai, or reach Zanzibar at the end of a safari.
From the Gulf
flydubai flies nonstop from Dubai to Zanzibar in about six hours. Etihad has flown from Abu Dhabi in the summer season, and Qatar Airways has announced flights from Doha; we check the current schedules for your dates.
From your safari
Light aircraft and short scheduled flights link Arusha, Kilimanjaro and the Serengeti with Zanzibar. From Nairobi, Kenya Airways flies to Zanzibar in about an hour and a half.
Flight times are approximate and routes change, including seasonal and regional changes, so we confirm the current options when we plan your journey.
Experiences
Ways to Experience Zanzibar
Days here can be as slow or as full as you like. These are some of the things our guests ask for most.
Stone Town
The Old Town on Foot
Carved doors, the Old Fort, the market and the waterfront, with a private guide who knows the stories behind them.
At sea
Dhow Sailing at Sunset
A traditional wooden dhow along the coast as the light goes, with fresh fruit and juice on board.
Under the water
Snorkelling and Diving
Reefs around Mnemba and Pemba, with trips timed around the tides, the wind and your experience.
Forest and farms
Spices and Red Colobus
A morning at a spice farm and in Jozani Forest, walking among the red colobus monkeys.
Honeymoons
Time for Two
A villa with its own pool, private dinners on the sand and nothing on the schedule unless you want it.
Families
Easy Days Together
Villas with room for everyone, calm water at the right tide, and days planned around younger travellers.
Sample journey
Ten Nights: Serengeti and the Zanzibar Coast
A starting point only. Many guests arrive on Zanzibar after a safari, but you can also come just for the island and skip the first part.
Day 1
Arrive in Arusha
Fly into Kilimanjaro, often via Amsterdam, Istanbul, Doha or Dubai. You are met on arrival and taken to a lodge near Arusha for the night.
Days 2 to 6
The Serengeti
Fly into the Serengeti for four nights at a camp such as Namiri Plains or Sasakwa, chosen for the season and the movement of the herds.
Days 6 to 7
Stone Town
Fly to Zanzibar for a night in Stone Town, with a private walk through the old town and dinner on a rooftop.
Days 7 to 11
The Coast
Four nights at a beach villa such as Kilindi or White Sands, with time for a dhow sail, snorkelling at Mnemba, or simply doing nothing.
Day 11
Homeward
Fly home from Zanzibar, nonstop to Istanbul, Frankfurt or Dubai, or via another hub.
Good to know
Zanzibar Holiday FAQs
Do I need a visa for Zanzibar?
Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, so Tanzania’s visa rules apply. At the time of writing, US, Canadian, UK and EU passport holders need a visa, best applied for in advance on the official eVisa site, visa.immigration.go.tz; US citizens are issued a multiple-entry visa. GCC citizens also need a visa, and Tanzania lists visa on arrival for several nationalities, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Zanzibar also requires its own inbound travel insurance, bought before you arrive. If you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk, including Kenya, or transit through one for 12 hours or more, you need a yellow fever vaccination certificate. What counts is the passport you travel on, not where you live. Rules and fees change, so please check the current requirements before you travel.
When is the best time to visit Zanzibar?
June to October and December to February are the driest months. April and May bring the long rains, and some hotels close for part of that time. November has short, scattered showers.
Is Zanzibar safe for a holiday?
Zanzibar welcomes many international visitors each year. On a Nova journey you are met on arrival and travel with private transfers and guides. We follow current government travel advice, such as that from the US State Department, the UK Foreign Office and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and share sensible local guidance before you go, such as dressing modestly in Stone Town and the villages.
Do I need malaria tablets?
Malaria risk on Zanzibar is lower than in much of mainland Tanzania, but it is present. Speak to a doctor or travel clinic before you travel, especially if you are combining the island with a safari.
How much does a luxury Zanzibar holiday cost?
It depends mainly on the season, the villa or hotel, the number of nights and whether the island follows a safari. July, August and the festive season cost more; the rainy months usually cost less. Tell us your budget and we will show you the best way to use it.
Is Zanzibar good for families?
Yes. Villas give families space, and the north coast has water for swimming at most tides. A few days on the island also make a gentle finish after a family safari. Some smaller hotels set minimum ages, so we check this for you.
Combine Zanzibar with
Safari First, Then the Sea
Start planning
Let’s Plan Your Zanzibar Holiday
Tell us when you would like to travel, who is coming and whether Zanzibar follows a safari, and we will design a journey around you. Our team works across Dubai, the United States and South Africa, planning journeys for travellers from around the world.
Prefer email? info@novasafaris.com