A travel guide to Zanzibar Island in Tanzania in 2021. Find out about prices, conditions for recreation and entertainment on the island.
Until recently, few people have heard of Zanzibar, but gradually this island, which belongs to Tanzania, is becoming more and more popular among Russian tourists. Russians were especially interested in the island after the news that flights from Russia to Tanzania were one of the first to open after quarantine in 2021. Let's see what kind of vacation the island of Zanzibar has to offer!
Take a look: How to go to Tanzania now - there you will find fresh reviews of tourists, conditions of entry in case of a pandemic and prices for tours. See also the list of open countries.
When is the best time to relax in Zanzibar
Despite the fact that summer in Zanzibar lasts all year round, the best time to relax on the island in Tanzania is during the summer and winter months. By the way, the summer is a little cooler, because Zanzibar is located below the equator line. FROM june by October and in the winter months there is the least amount of rain, and the average air temperature is about + 28 ... + 29 ° С, and these are the most comfortable conditions on the island. The air and water temperatures differ literally by a couple of degrees - as a rule, the ocean is no colder than + 26 ° C throughout the year.
In spring, it rains in Zanzibar, which is why prices for vacations and tours are dropping. In addition, the rainy month is considered November - the end of the Zanzibar spring.
The best resorts and beaches
Many people go to Zanzibar precisely for the sake of an exotic beach holiday. The coastline of the island is very picturesque; cozy fishing villages stretch along it. All beaches on the island are sandy, and visiting them is free. An exception is the private areas of hotels. We will tell you which part of the island to choose for a vacation.
Kendwa Beach is considered the most luxurious - the wealthiest tourists choose it. The most expensive hotels are located here, and the sand on the beach is always perfectly clean. This place is perfect for families with children, because sea inhabitants are rare at the bottom, and the ebb is almost invisible.
Paje beach located in the eastern part of the island. It has long attracted kitesurfing enthusiasts from all over the world. In addition, here you can do other water sports, as well as go fishing or just watch the local fishermen.
Kizimaki beach in the southern part - a place where you can see dolphins and even swim with them.
Nungwi Beach in the north of the island is considered one of the most picturesque in Zanzibar. There are a huge number of coral reefs and a soft sandy bottom. Like Kendwa, it is loved for its minimal ebb.
Matemwe beaches, Mapenzi, Kiwengwa and Uroa perfect for diving, which is literally the hallmark of the island.
Check out our roundup of the 8 best beaches in Zanzibar.
Prices for tours to Zanzibar in 2021
Zanzibar is a relatively new destination for Russian tourists, but Europeans have been flying here for a long time. Prices for tours to Zanzibar in 2021 are quite high. As usual, the cheapest flight is from Moscow. There are no direct regular flights between Russia and Tanzania yet, but there are charters and flights with transfers in Istanbul, Doha and other airports.
A week of rest in Zanzibar in 2021 costs from 110 thousand rubles for two. For this price you will get a 3 * hotel with "breakfast" meals about 500-600 m from the sea (sometimes closer). A tour to a 4 * hotel can be taken for 120 thousand for two, and to a 5 * hotel - from 150 thousand rubles. Five-star hotels are located on the first line and almost always have their own beach.
All-inclusive tours to 4 * hotels cost from 150 thousand, and in 5 * - from 190 thousand rubles for two.
Prices for holidays in Zanzibar in 2021 for two with a flight from Moscow:
| Category | Accommodation only | All Inclusive |
| 2 * and below | — | — |
| 3* | 130 000 | — |
| 4* | 160 000 | 180 000 |
| 5* | 180 000 | 210 000 |
Airfare prices
Last year, prices for flights to Zanzibar started at 37,000 rubles for one tourist there and back. There were no direct flights before, and there are none now. You need to fly with at least one change (for example, in Dubai or Qatar). In addition, you can fly to Zanzibar from Sochi, Krasnodar, St. Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don and other cities, but then there will be even more transfers.
Find cheap flights to Zanzibar with Aviasales and Skyscanner - they compare prices of all airlines. Find out the secrets of finding cheap flights.
Transfer from the airport to the hotel can be booked in advance online using the KiwiTaxi service. Upon arrival, a car will be waiting for you.
Hotel prices
If you like to organize your own vacation, you will find many interesting options in Zanzibar at any price point. There are even hostels on the island where you can sleep for less than $ 10 per person. But hardly anyone will fly so far to live in a hostel. Let's see the prices for hotels in Zanzibar.
The simplest guesthouses and hotels offer double rooms for only $ 12-20. A good 3 * hotel costs $ 30-50 for two per day. In such hotels, the furniture is usually not the newest. The location of accommodation in budget hotels is different: small cozy bungalows can be located both half a kilometer and next to the ocean.
4 * hotels cost from $ 50 per day, 5 * hotels - from $ 120, and the coolest resorts and hotels ask for $ 1,500 per room per room. But the reviews about such hotels are only positive: tourists from all countries celebrate the perfect service, delicious menu and incredible views from all rooms.
Keep in mind that tourists often complain about poor Wi-Fi signal, but this problem can be found in hotels of all sizes. In Zanzibar, even the "all inclusive" system does not mean that the Internet will be free and you can use it somewhere other than the lobby.
Look for hotels with discounts on Hotellook.com, pay attention not only to the star rating of the hotel, but also to its rating according to the reviews of tourists. See also our tips for finding hotels.
If you're more into living in authentic apartments with locals, check out Airbnb for them. Prices in Zanzibar are low - you can rent a room within 1000 rubles per day. In such housing there is a minimum necessary for a holiday in Zanzibar: a bathroom, a bedroom, a washing machine, an electric stove for one or two burners (stoves in our usual sense on the island are rare). Most of the hosts have Wi-Fi, and sometimes there are even inexpensive apartments with tumble dryers and parking.
Prices for food in cafes and restaurants
There are two currencies in Zanzibar: the American dollar (which we will use for calculations) and the Tanzanian shilling. The exchange rate is approximately the following: $ 1 ≈ 2300 Tanzanian Shillings (TZS).
Usually breakfast is included in the price of a tour to Zanzibar. But if not, you can have breakfast in a small cafe even for $ 4-5. For $ 9, you can order a simple lunch, but lunch and dinner for one person will cost you $ 20 and more. By the way, this is the cost of lunch without taking into account seafood dishes (and there are a lot of them in Zanzibar!) - with seafood delicacies, the price will be about $ 30. From side dishes they like noodles and rice, they are always served with spices, vegetables or seafood.
You can drink a cup of coffee for about $ 2, buy a 0.33 liter bottle of water - about $ 0.33. Local beer costs about $ 1.50, and red wine starts from $ 6 per bottle.
Food prices
If your hotel does not provide meals or you live in an apartment with a kitchen, you can cook on your own - food prices in Zanzibar are reasonable. The cost of groceries in stores varies depending on the season.
Here are the approximate prices for food in Zanzibar in stores during the high season of 2021:
- Potatoes (kg) - 1800 TZS / $ 0.8.
- Milk (1 l) - about 2300 TZS / $ 1.
- Cheese (kg) - about 10 thousand TZS / $ 4.5.
- Bread - 680 TZS / $ 0.3.
- Apples (kg) - from 2300 TZS / 1 $.
- Tomatoes (kg) - from 2000 TZS / 0.9 $.
By the way, fruits in Zanzibar are quite inexpensive, because they are abundant here! There are a lot of markets and fruit shops on the island.Pineapples cost about 1100 TZS ($ 0.5), coconut - 750 TZS ($ 0.33), and mangoes cost 450 TZS ($ 0.2), that is, about 15 rubles.
Prices for excursions in Zanzibar
There are not very many excursions in Zanzibar now, especially for Russian tourists, because this direction has not yet been fully explored. The island is small, and a 10-day vacation will be enough for you to get acquainted with the culture and sights of this place. Prices for excursions in Zanzibar in 2021 average $ 50-70 per person. We will tell you what is worth seeing.
Visit to the Old Town
The Old Town, or Stone Town, a UNESCO heritage site, is a mixture of different architectural styles. It is not worth renting a house in a noisy center, but we highly recommend visiting this place with a guided tour. What is there:
- House of Wonders. For several centuries, up to the 60s of the twentieth century, this building was the sultan's residence. Now it is a tourist site and, by the way, the largest building in all of Stone Town.
- Slave trade area. The name speaks for itself: over half a million slaves have been sold on this square during its entire existence. Now a monument has been erected in memory of this period. If you are interested in this topic, also visit the Slave Cave, located in the Mangapwani Beach area, which is a scary but impressive attraction.
- English fort. Located near the House of Miracles, you do not need to pay for the entrance, only for the accompaniment of a guide.
- Spice markets. Spices for Zanzibar residents are an integral part of cooking, so their selection is huge. Spices can be brought home as a souvenir for yourself or loved ones. In addition, as a souvenir, you can bring figurines made of wood, leather goods (bags, wallets), beads or bracelets with tanzanite. Exotic fruits will also be a great gift.
The tour costs about $ 55, the walk takes about three hours, and then tourists usually go to the spice farm. A visit to the old town alone costs half the price, but it is more difficult to find a Russian-speaking guide.
Besides markets, you can visit spice plantations. Such an excursion costs from $ 55 and includes not only tasting dishes, but also a full lunch, a visit to the Persian baths, a walk through the plantations and a guide. If you get to the plantation on your own, you can visit it for only $ 10.
Jozani rainforest
This is a real tropical jungle, where you will see not only exotic plants, but also colobus monkeys, leopards and snakes. The tour lasts about an hour. The forest has the status of a national park, and the tour is conducted in English. The Russian-language excursion is sold together with a boat trip to the dolphins (watching dolphins and swimming with them in the ocean).
Prison Island
One of the most interesting sights of Zanzibar is the prison island. The buildings of the prison have survived to this day, but it has not been operating for a long time. In addition, giant turtles live here, which are not at all afraid of people, and the island itself is very picturesque. The trip costs about $ 70.
In addition to the above excursions, you can visit one of the fishing villages (there are many of them on the island), admire the coral reefs, go boating in the rays of the setting sun and visit the best restaurants in Zanzibar.
Tours can be bought from a guide at the hotel or found on their own - it will not be difficult. Sometimes an excursion bought in a small stall on the street is cheaper and no worse in quality. Just remember that not every company has Russian-speaking guides yet!
Watch a video about a tourist trip to the island of turtles (Prison Island):
Entertainment prices
Entertainment in Zanzibar is fairly standard for a resort. There are several dozen options for diving alone! The cost of one dive is usually about $ 60, two - about $ 110. Jeeping in the local jungle and villages costs from $ 100.
Transport prices
There are city buses running on the island, travel around the city costs about 450 TZS. You can get from the village to the center for 2300 TZS. If you prefer more comfortable travel, a taxi within a radius of 3 km from the city center will cost 3400-7000 TZS, but you can get to the airport for about 45 thousand TZS.
Reviews of tourists and tips
Tourists are delighted with the Zanzibar beaches, clean sand and clear blue waters. The sand here hardly heats up in the sun! At the same time, walking without sunglasses will not work - the sand is so white that it blinds your eyes.
The eastern beaches are quieter, and for noisy entertainment it is better to go to the northern part of the island.
It is important to remember about the ebb. Tourists say that sometimes the water leaves very noticeably, and the phrase "on the first line" can lose its relevance overnight.
Tanning cream is a must! In this case, the degree of protection should be at least 50. But even if you have sunscreens during the day, it is advisable to cover your hands and feet. Learn how to sunbathe properly.
Bring swimming slippers with you, otherwise you risk stepping on coral or on a sea urchin.
Zanzibar is an island with paradise beaches and beautiful sunsets. There is everything for a comfortable stay - hotels for every taste, fruits and seafood, excursions and walks. And although this destination now seems exotic and unexplored, the warm reviews of tourists about Zanzibar more and more often suggest that this island is definitely worth seeing. Read more tourist reviews about Zanzibar.
See this informative and pleasantly edited video about holidays in Zanzibar now, with a pandemic. It has become wildly popular on YouTube - over two million views in one month! You will learn about getting a visa at the airport, walk around the island, look at Nungwi Beach and learn about the prices on the island:
See also overview of all main beaches Zanzibar and find out about ebb on the island:
