Long-haul
Zanzibar safari and beach: how to combine the two
From a dusty jeep on the savannah to turquoise water and white sand in the same day. How to combine a Tanzania safari with a beach holiday on Zanzibar, and where to stay for both.
In the morning you wake to the sound of lions in the Serengeti. In the afternoon you stand barefoot in warm sand watching dhows sail past with their big triangular sails. It is only a couple of hours by plane, and the combination is one of the most popular long-haul trips there is.
Zanzibar is Tanzania’s spice island, with Stone Town, white beaches and warm sea. Here is how to combine it with a safari, and where to stay.
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How to combine a safari with Zanzibar
Safari first, beach after: fly into Kilimanjaro, go on safari in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro, then fly on to Zanzibar to relax. The most common route.
Short safari from Zanzibar: fly from the island to Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous) or Mikumi for one or two nights, with boat safaris and game drives.
Day trip: fly-in day safaris from Zanzibar exist, but they are long days. Two nights gives you much more.
A good split is four or five nights on safari and five to seven nights on Zanzibar. Read more in our Tanzania safari guide.
Book the experience: See tours and safaris from Zanzibar
Arusha
Arusha Coffee Lodge sits on a coffee estate outside Arusha.
Before the safari: Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge
The lodge sits on a coffee plantation on the edge of Arusha, with separate cottages in the gardens. It is a calm place for the first or last night and close to the airstrip for flights to the Serengeti.
Breakfast is included, and the spacious cottages have fireplaces and large terraces.
Book your stay: See rooms at Arusha Coffee Lodge
Where to stay on Zanzibar
The island is small, but the beaches are very different. At the northern tip around Nungwi and Kendwa the tide is smaller and you can swim all day. On the east coast the sea retreats far out at low tide, giving long beach walks and kitesurfing at Paje. In Stone Town you stay in the middle of history.
Stone Town
Park Hyatt sits on the seafront in Stone Town.
Stone Town: Park Hyatt Zanzibar
Stone Town is Zanzibar’s old town, on the UNESCO World Heritage List, with narrow lanes, carved wooden doors and markets. Park Hyatt sits on the seafront, with a pool and views over the sea and the dhows.
Stay here for the first nights, take a spice tour and eat at the night market in Forodhani Gardens before moving on to the beach.
Book your stay: See rooms at Park Hyatt Zanzibar
Kendwa
Zuri sits on the beach at Kendwa on the northwest coast.
Kendwa: Zuri Zanzibar
Kendwa on the northwest coast has one of the island’s best swimming beaches, with little tidal change. Sunset over the sea becomes part of the daily rhythm.
Zuri has bungalows in gardens leading down to the beach, several restaurants and a spa. A good choice if you want to swim all day.
Book your stay: See rooms at Zuri Zanzibar
Southwest coast
The Residence sits on a quiet stretch of the southwest coast.
Southwest: The Residence Zanzibar
The Residence is on a quiet stretch of the southwest coast, with pool villas spread across a large park. It is far from the crowds and close to Kizimkazi, where many boat trips head out to look for dolphins.
It suits honeymooners or anyone who wants peace after the safari.
Book your stay: See rooms at The Residence Zanzibar
East coast
Tulia sits on Pongwe Beach on the east coast.
East coast: Tulia Zanzibar Unique Beach Resort
Pongwe on the east coast has turquoise water and a small reef offshore. At low tide you can walk far out on the sandbanks, and at high tide it is lovely for swimming.
Tulia is a small resort with a beachside pool and breakfast included, and guests praise the service.
Book your stay: See rooms at Tulia Zanzibar
When is the best time to go?
June to October is the dry season both on safari and on Zanzibar, with pleasant warmth and little rain. December to February is also popular, hotter and great for swimming, and works well for winter sun.
The long rains in April and May bring heavy rain, and many safari lodges close. On Zanzibar, November is often a transition month with short showers.
When should you book?
Christmas, New Year and February half-term: book five to six months ahead.
Safari lodges from July to October: ideally book a year ahead.
Domestic flights: the light aircraft between the Serengeti, Arusha and Zanzibar have few seats, book them with your lodges.
Check entry requirements, visas and health advice for Tanzania before you travel.
Zanzibar safari and beach FAQ
Can you go on safari from Zanzibar?
Yes. You can fly from Zanzibar to Nyerere National Park or Mikumi for one or two nights, or to the Serengeti. Day trips exist but are long. Many people do the safari first and finish on Zanzibar.
How many days do you need for a safari and Zanzibar?
Ten to fourteen days is a good starting point: four or five nights on safari and five to seven nights on Zanzibar.
Which beach is best on Zanzibar?
Nungwi and Kendwa at the northern tip have the smallest tides and are best for swimming all day. The east coast, with Paje and Pongwe, has long sandbanks at low tide and suits kitesurfers.
When is the best time to visit Zanzibar?
June to October and December to February are the best periods, with little rain. April and May are the rainy season.
Where should I stay on Zanzibar after a safari?
Spend a couple of nights in Stone Town, for example at Park Hyatt Zanzibar, and the rest on the beach at Zuri in Kendwa or The Residence on the southwest coast.