Zanzibar Island: Unguja and Pemba in brief
Zanzibar is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Tanzania. Two islands matter for most visitors. Unguja is the larger one, and when people say Zanzibar Island they usually mean Unguja. Pemba lies to the north. Unguja covers 1,666 km² and Pemba 988 km². The census of 2022 counted 1,889,773 people on the islands.
Zanzibar has its own government and is part of the United Republic of Tanzania, which came into being on 26 April 1964 with the union of Zanzibar and Tanganyika. The currency is the Tanzanian shilling (TZS), and the clocks follow East Africa Time, UTC+3, all year. Visitors may pay in foreign currency, and hotels, tours and fees are often priced in US dollars.
This guide covers beaches by coast, tours and boat trips, snorkeling at Mnemba, dhow days in Menai Bay, Jozani Forest, the dolphins of Kizimkazi, Pemba, safaris from Zanzibar, weather, hotels, the airport, car rental, visas, insurance, safety and history. Prices are 2026 examples and they change.
Our picks: Zanzibar tours
A fly-in safari, boat trips and a forest day cover most of what visitors come for. Take the Mikumi day trip for big game, the Menai Bay dhow or Mnemba for the sea, and Jozani when you want monkeys and turtles on land.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Mikumi safari day trip with flights
- Return flights
- Park entry and landing fees
- Bush lunch
A shared game drive in a 4x4 with an English-speaking driver-guide. The Zanzibar travel insurance is extra.
Check availability →
Private sunset dhow cruise from Nungwi
- Traditional dhow for your group
- Crew and local music
- Hotel pickup and return
Soft drinks, snacks and fruit are on board. The price is per person even though the boat is private.
Check availability →
Jozani Forest and Salaam Cave turtles with lunch
- Two-hour guided Jozani walk
- Entry fees and lunch
- Groups of up to 20
A walk to see red colobus monkeys, followed by 30 minutes with turtles at Salaam Cave.
Check availability →Menai Bay dhow trip with hotel pickup
- Pickup from any island hotel
- Seafood barbecue
- Taxes and entry fees
Pickup and drop-off at any address on the island, with a vegetarian alternative at the barbecue. All taxes and entry fees are included.
Check availability →
Mnemba snorkeling and dolphin trip by motorboat
- Motorboat and local guide
- All fees and taxes
- Snorkel gear
Tropical fruit and bottled water come with the boat, and fees and taxes are included in the price.
Check availability →
Boat snorkeling with the starfish sandbank
- Traditional boat and guide
- Starfish sandbank
- Snorkel gear
Fruit, soft drinks, taxes and fees are included. The sunset sail only comes with the matching option.
Check availability →Zanzibar tours and excursions
Snorkel trips, dhow cruises, forest walks, island day trips and safaris from Zanzibar, with live prices and availability.
Zanzibar, Tanzania: plan your trip page by page
Pick the pages that match your questions. Each one stays with one topic.
Things to do in Zanzibar
Reefs, forest, farms, dolphins and a short look at Stone Town.
Zanzibar tours and excursions
Dhow days, reef trips and island flights with price examples.
Safari from Zanzibar
Flights and ferries to the mainland parks, and what to ask.
Zanzibar beaches by coast
North, northeast and southeast compared, with tides.
Nungwi and Kendwa
Two beaches at the northern tip and the northwest coast.
Paje and kitesurfing
Wind seasons, the lagoon and the tides.
Jambiani
A village beach and its seaweed farms.
Kiwengwa and Matemwe
The northeast coast and the boats to Mnemba.
Mnemba Island
Reef trips, marine fees and what the island rules mean.
Menai Bay
A day by dhow from Fumba, with sandbank and reef.
Jozani Forest
Red colobus monkeys and the mangrove edge.
Kizimkazi dolphins
Boat trips, rules and the animal welfare debate.
Pemba Island
Diving, forests and how to get there.
Zanzibar weather
Rainy seasons and temperature normals.
Best time to visit
Seasons, wind and rain by purpose.
Zanzibar hotels
Coastal areas and the accommodation levy.
Zanzibar Airport (ZNZ)
Taxi fares and transfers to each coast.
Car rental
Permits, roads and driving tips.
Visa and insurance
eVisa fees and the insurance rule for 2026.
Is Zanzibar safe?
Travel advice, health and the sea.
Zanzibar history
Sultans, the spice trade and the 1964 events.
A few things to know before you go
Practical details to check early.
Insurance is compulsory
Visitors need the state travel insurance for Zanzibar. The Zanzibar scheme costs $44 for adults, $22 for children and $22 for East African and SADC travelers. Since October 2026 the compulsory insurance also applies when you enter on the mainland, and the cover of your first point of entry is enough for up to 92 days. A private policy you already own does not replace it.
Visa and insurance →Marine fees are not one number
Entry to marine conservation areas was raised in 2025. For visitors from outside East Africa the rates are $10 in regular areas and $25 in special areas. Do not add them up: ask your operator which zone you visit and whether the fee is in the trip price.
Mnemba fees and rules →Mnemba is a private island
Day trips snorkel at the reefs around Mnemba. They do not land on the island, which is open only to its own guests.
The accommodation levy varies
The levy is $1 to $5 per person and day depending on hotel class (most often $5, $4 or $2), and $10 for small-island lodging and underwater rooms. Ask whether the levy is in your rate.
Hotels and levies →The short rains start in October
The short rains (Vuli) run from October to December, not only November and December. Do not plan October as a sure dry month.
Best time to visit →Plastic bags are banned
Single-use carrier bags are banned. Small transparent reusable bags for toiletries are an exception.
Costs at a glance (2026 examples)
Amounts in US dollars unless marked TZS. Check the current figure before you pay.
| Item | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| eVisa, single entry | $50 | Valid up to 90 days; multiple entry $100, up to 1 year |
| Insurance, adult | $44 | Children $22; East African and SADC travelers $22 |
| Airport taxi to Stone Town | $15 | Per taxi, one way; or TZS 40,000 |
| Airport taxi to Nungwi or Kendwa | $65 | Or TZS 173,000 |
| Airport taxi to Paje | $50 | Or TZS 133,000 |
| Flight Zanzibar to Pemba | $100 adult, $75 child | Plus $30 taxes, charges and levies (April 2026) |
| Menai Bay dhow day (example) | $85 adult, $45 aged 6 to 14 | Under 6 free; transport to Fumba extra |
For most first-time visitors the biggest decision is the coast, so read the beaches page before you book a hotel. Taxi fares are per taxi for 1 to 7 passengers and not a meter tariff, so agree the price before you set off.
Beyond the beaches
Two topics that have their own guides.
Stone Town, the old trading town, is a UNESCO World Heritage site with African, Arab, Indian and European influences. This site keeps Stone Town to a short overview; the guide at Stone Town covers the old town, Prison Island and the markets. If you want to combine the islands with a safari, safaris from Zanzibar to Nyerere are covered in their own guide, and the safari page here explains the flights and ferries.
More independent guides to Tanzania
Separate guides from the same team.
Ngorongoro
The crater, fees, crater tours and the highlands.
Serengeti
Safaris, the Great Migration, park fees and the best season.
Kilimanjaro
Climbing routes, day hikes, park fees and trips from Moshi.
Tarangire
Elephants, baobabs, day trips from Arusha and park fees.
Lake Manyara
Tree-climbing lions, flamingos, Mto wa Mbu and park fees.
Arusha
Arusha National Park, Mount Meru, the city and its airports.
Lake Natron
Flamingos, Ol Doinyo Lengai and the Engare Sero waterfall.
Ruaha
Lions, walking safaris and the southern circuit.
Nyerere
Boat safaris on the Rufiji, wild dogs, park fees and trips from Zanzibar.
Selous
The Selous name, Frederick Selous, the World Heritage Site and Selous safaris.
Mikumi
Safaris from Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, the SGR train and the Udzungwa Mountains.
Stone Town
Walking tours, Prison Island, spice tours and the ferry from Dar es Salaam.
Zanzibar: frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Zanzibar?
It depends on what you want. March to May are the long rains (Masika) and October to December the short rains (Vuli). January and February are relatively dry, and June to September is the drier part of the year. Kitesurfers look at the wind seasons instead. See the best time page.
Do I need a visa for Zanzibar?
The Tanzanian eVisa is valid for the mainland and for Zanzibar, so there is no separate Zanzibar visa. An ordinary single entry visa costs $50 and is valid up to 90 days, and a multiple entry visa costs $100. Some nationalities have different rules, so check yours on the visa page.
Is travel insurance compulsory?
Yes. The state travel insurance is compulsory for visitors, and a private policy does not replace it. It costs $44 for adults and $22 for children.
Is Zanzibar one island?
No. Zanzibar is an archipelago. Unguja is the main island with Stone Town, the airport and most beaches, and Pemba is the second large island to the north. Not every trip described as Zanzibar goes to both.
Which coast should I choose?
That depends on how you want to spend the day. The north has Nungwi and Kendwa, the northeast has Matemwe and Kiwengwa with the boats to Mnemba, and the southeast has Paje and Jambiani with wide tidal flats and kitesurfing. The beaches page compares them.
Is this the official Zanzibar tourism website?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not run by the government, a tourism authority, a hotel, an airline or a tour operator.