What You Need to Know: The best things to do in Zanzibar are a Stone Town walking tour, Prison Island's giant tortoises, Jozani Forest's red colobus monkeys, dolphins and snorkeling off Kizimkazi, a sunset dhow cruise, Safari Blue, Mnemba Atoll, the Nakupenda sandbank, a spice farm tour, Kuza Cave and diving. Our guided excursion days cost US$105 per person per day with hotel pickup (children half); boat trips such as Safari Blue start from about US$85.
Our Zanzibar Trips at a Glance
| Trip | Type | Time | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Town walking tour | Culture | 3–4 hours | US$105 per day |
| Prison Island | Boat, tortoises | About 3 hours | US$105 per day |
| Jozani Forest | Nature | 2–3 hours | US$105 per day |
| Dolphins, snorkeling and sandbank | Sea | Morning | US$105 per day |
| Sunset dhow cruise | Sea | About 2 hours | US$105 per day |
| Diving | Sea | Half or full day | On request |
| Safari Blue | Sea, sandbanks, seafood lunch | Full day | About US$85 |
| Mnemba Atoll snorkeling | Sea | Half day | About US$85 |
| Nakupenda sandbank | Sea | Half day | About US$85 |
| Spice farm tour | Culture | Half day | About US$85 |
| Kuza Cave | Nature, swimming | Half day | About US$85 |
| The Rock restaurant | Food | Lunch or dinner | About US$85 |
Our guided excursion days cost US$105 per person per day, with pickup and drop-off at your hotel; children pay half. Activities run by other vendors, such as jet skis, are paid separately unless they are named in your itinerary.
Culture and History in Stone Town
Walk Stone Town with a guide: the old Arab fort, the House of Wonders, the former slave market and Anglican cathedral, the Darajani market and the carved doors. Add a spice farm, where you taste cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla straight from the plant, and see village life on the east coast. Evenings in Stone Town end at the Forodhani Gardens food market.
Things to Do on and Under the Sea
Swim near bottlenose and humpback dolphins off Kizimkazi, snorkel at Mnemba Atoll, picnic on a sandbank that appears only at low tide, or spend a day on Safari Blue in Menai Bay with snorkeling, a sandbank and a seafood lunch. Divers can dive with Fun Divers Zanzibar, One Ocean, Spanish Dancer Divers or Dive Point Zanzibar. Boat trips use private boat charters.
Dolphins, Snorkelling and Sandbank
A morning at sea off the south coast
Sunset Dhow Cruise
Evening sail in a traditional boat
Prison Island Tour
Boat trip to the giant tortoises
Diving in Zanzibar
Reef dives for certified and beginner divers
Nature and Wildlife on Zanzibar
Jozani Chwaka Bay, Zanzibar's only national park, protects the endemic Zanzibar red colobus monkey and a mangrove boardwalk. Prison Island has a colony of Aldabra giant tortoises, some over a hundred years old. Kuza Cave is a limestone cave with a natural pool, a cool break in the heat.
Zanzibar with Children
Children pay half on our excursions. Favorites are Prison Island's tortoises, the dolphins from the boat, Jozani's monkeys and calm swimming at Kendwa. Our itineraries include a family plan.
How to Plan Your Days on Zanzibar
Do one excursion a day and leave beach days between them. Stone Town and Prison Island fit in one day; Jozani fits on the way to the east coast; dolphin trips start early. Tell us your hotel and we plan the order around the tides and drive times.
| Days | Suggested plan |
|---|---|
| 3 | Stone Town walk, Prison Island, a spice farm or the dolphin tour |
| 5 | Add Jozani Forest, a sandbank and two beach days |
| 7+ | Add diving or Safari Blue, a sunset dhow cruise and more beach time |
Excursions cost US$105 per person per day (children half). See the Zanzibar itineraries.
Plan one excursion a day at most, so you still have time for the beach. Start with Stone Town and a boat trip, add Jozani Forest or a spice farm, and book diving or Safari Blue on calm days. Excursions cost US$105 per person per day, children half.
Things to Do in Zanzibar on a Rainy Day
- A spice farm tour, under the trees
- Stone Town's museums and markets
- A cooking class
- The Jozani forest walk between showers
Zanzibar for Couples
Couples love Zanzibar for its sunsets, quiet beaches and romantic old town. A sunset dhow cruise from Stone Town, dinner at a rooftop restaurant, a day on a sandbank and a few nights at a beach hotel in Kendwa or Matemwe make a perfect honeymoon or anniversary trip. Add a spa day or a private boat trip for something special.
Common Questions About Things to Do in Zanzibar
What is the best thing to do in Zanzibar?
For a first visit: a Stone Town walking tour, Prison Island and a dolphin or snorkeling trip, then beach time.
How much do Zanzibar excursions cost?
Our guided excursion days cost US$105 per person per day with hotel pickup; boat trips such as Safari Blue start from about US$85. Children pay half on our excursion days.
Do I need a guide in Zanzibar?
For Stone Town, Jozani and the sea trips, a guide makes the day far richer and easier.
Are jet skis and quad bikes included?
No. Activities run by other vendors are paid separately unless they are named in your itinerary.
What is the most popular thing to do in Zanzibar?
A Stone Town walk and a boat trip, such as Prison Island or Safari Blue, are the favorites.
What is the most romantic thing to do in Zanzibar?
A private sunset dhow cruise, followed by dinner in Stone Town.
The Bottom Line
Mix culture, sea and nature: Stone Town and Prison Island, a day on the water and Jozani's monkeys, with beach days in between. Tell us your hotel and we plan the order.
Send us your dates, your hotel (or the area you'd like to stay in), the number of travelers and the trips you are interested in through the form, on WhatsApp +255 678 992 599 or by email to jaynevytours@gmail.com, and our team will reply with a written quotation.