Destinations · Indian Ocean
The Spice Archipelago

Zanzibar.

Spice-scented medinas, dhow sails, and the kind of beach that makes safari worth every dusty mile.

Best Time Jun – Oct · Dec – Feb
Journeys 4 Curated
From USD 2,800 pp
The Archipelago

Where the monsoon meets the shore.

Zanzibar is the natural pause after a Tanzanian safari — and far more than a beach. Stone Town's narrow lanes carry the layered scent of cardamom, clove and the sea. The northern beaches at Matemwe and Kendwa run to white powder. The east coast holds tide pools and long, quiet walks at low tide.

We use a small handful of barefoot-luxury properties — private islands like Mnemba, romantic boutique stays at Matemwe, and historic riads in Stone Town for guests who want culture before the calm. The mistake most travellers make is treating Zanzibar as a beach. Zanzibar is a culture.

Stone Town does not announce itself. It seeps in — through doorways, spice stalls, and the call to evening prayer.

We typically recommend 5 to 7 nights, split between Stone Town and the coast. Add a private dhow charter, a spice farm afternoon, and a sunset at Africa House — and Zanzibar becomes the journey, not the epilogue.

Where to Stay

Zanzibar's distinct coasts.

Cultural Stone Town

Stone Town

The heart. A UNESCO-listed maze of Swahili, Arab, Indian and European architecture — best explored on foot, ideally with a guide who knows the back lanes.
Private Island Mnemba Atoll

Mnemba Atoll

The private island. AndBeyond Mnemba is one of Africa's most exclusive island stays — twelve bandas, world-class diving, and a single guest list at a time.
Signature Matemwe Beach

Matemwe

The northeast. Reef-protected lagoons, romantic boutique camps, and easy access to Mnemba Atoll for a day of diving or snorkelling.
Kendwa Beach

Kendwa

The northwest. The island's broadest beach, west-facing for sunsets, and the best swimming through the tides. Lively in the evening, calm by day.
Pemba Island

Pemba Island

The wilder sister. North of Zanzibar proper — quieter, greener, with some of the Indian Ocean's most pristine reefs and almost no other tourists.
Zanzibar East Coast

The East Coast

Paje, Jambiani, Bwejuu. Long, tide-driven beaches with a gentler pace — kitesurfing in season, and small boutique stays away from the main resorts.
Why Zanzibar

Six reasons to choose Zanzibar.

I.

The Bush-and-Beach Pairing

Zanzibar is 90 minutes from the Serengeti by light aircraft — the most natural finale to any East African safari.

II.

Stone Town's Culture

A UNESCO World Heritage city with a thousand years of layered Swahili-Arab-Indian heritage. There is nothing else like it on the East African coast.

III.

Mnemba Atoll

AndBeyond Mnemba is one of the most exclusive private islands in the Indian Ocean — twelve bandas, no day visitors, world-class diving.

IV.

The Reefs

Zanzibar and Pemba hold some of the Indian Ocean's most intact coral reefs — exceptional for snorkelling, diving, and dolphin encounters.

V.

Dhow Sailing

Sundowner sails on traditional Zanzibari dhows — lateen sails, dark wooden hulls, and the same rigging that has crossed these waters for a thousand years.

VI.

Spice Heritage

Zanzibar built its history on cloves, cinnamon, and cardamom — and the spice farm tours remain a quietly fascinating afternoon.

The Zanzibari Year

When to travel.

Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct

Long Dry

The peak season — clear skies, calm seas, perfect snorkelling and diving. Pair with a Tanzanian safari.

Dec · Jan · Feb

Short Dry

Hot and bright, with excellent diving conditions. The Christmas and New Year window books a year ahead.

Mar · Apr · May

Long Rains

The wettest months. Some camps close — but rates are at their lowest, and the rains often come in short, dramatic bursts.

Nov

Short Rains

Brief afternoon showers, beautiful skies, and one of the best value windows of the year.

Featured Journeys

Ways to travel Zanzibar.

Serengeti & Zanzibar
Bush & Beach · 10 Days

Serengeti & Zanzibar

The Migration in Tanzania, then a barefoot week on Zanzibar's coast — the most natural pairing in East Africa.

FromUSD 10,750 pp
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Mnemba Exclusive
Private Island · 5 Days

Mnemba Exclusive

A short, indulgent escape on AndBeyond Mnemba — diving, dhow sails, and the stillness of a private island that holds only twelve guests.

FromUSD 8,200 pp
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Zanzibar in Full
Cultural · 7 Days

Zanzibar in Full

Stone Town, the spice farms, dhow sailing, and a final five nights on Mnemba Atoll — Zanzibar treated as the journey, not the addition.

FromUSD 6,800 pp
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Kenya & Zanzibar
Two-Country · 11 Days

Kenya & Zanzibar

The Masai Mara's predators, then Zanzibar's reefs — Kenya and the Indian Ocean's most considered archipelago, paired together.

FromUSD 9,950 pp
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