Tanzania: Zanzibar, Stone Town and Safaris — Where to Go and What to Try
Tanzania is both the tropical island of Zanzibar, with its white sand and dhow sailing boats, and mainland Africa, with national parks where you can see lions, elephants and giraffes. Many travellers combine a few days on safari with time by the ocean. We've gathered the essentials: the places not to miss, what to try and how to keep your trip relaxed.
Key points
- Zanzibar is for beach holidays and history, mainland Tanzania is for safaris, and they're easy to combine in a single trip.
- Heavy rains most often fall in spring, roughly from March to May; the rest of the year the weather is usually sunny.
- The tides noticeably change the beaches: on the east coast, the water retreats far from the shore at low tide.
- Mobile internet is useful from the very first minutes: maps, transfers, bookings and keeping in touch with your guide.
Stone Town: Zanzibar's old town
Stone Town is the historic heart of Zanzibar and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Narrow lanes, carved wooden doors, old merchants' houses and markets fragrant with spices. In the evening, locals and visitors gather in Forodhani Gardens on the waterfront, where a night market serves street food.
Zanzibar's beaches
In the north of the island, in Nungwi and Kendwa, low tide hardly gets in the way of swimming, and the sunsets over the ocean are especially beautiful. In the east lie Paje, Jambiani and Matemwe, with white sand and turquoise lagoons where you can walk across the shallows at low tide and go kitesurfing on windy days. Not far from the island is Mnemba Atoll, where people go snorkelling among fish and turtles.
Spices, Jozani Forest and dolphins
Zanzibar is known as the Spice Island: on the plantations you're shown how cloves, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg grow. Jozani Forest is home to red colobus monkeys, rare monkeys found only on Zanzibar. And in the south of the island, near the village of Kizimkazi, people head out by boat to watch dolphins.
Safaris on the mainland
From Zanzibar it's easy to reach the national parks on the mainland. The Serengeti is famous for its huge herds of wildebeest and zebras, Ngorongoro Crater for its wealth of animals in a small area, and Tarangire for its elephants and baobabs. A short safari can fit into just a few days.
What to try
Zanzibar's cuisine brings together African, Arab and Indian traditions.
- Pilau — spiced rice cooked for celebrations.
- Zanzibar “pizza” — fried filled flatbreads from the Forodhani night market.
- Fresh seafood and grilled fish.
- Urojo — a tangy soup known as “Zanzibar mix”, with potatoes, crunchy snacks and sauce.
- Spiced tea and coffee.
- Tropical fruit: mango, passion fruit, jackfruit.
Good to know before you go
Zanzibar is a hospitable island with its own traditions, and a few simple tips will help you feel at ease.
- Most of the island's people are Muslim: in Stone Town and the villages, wear clothes that cover your shoulders and knees, and keep swimwear for the beach.
- Ask permission before photographing people.
- The sun is very strong: bring sun protection, a hat and water.
- Check the tide times for your beach — swimming and walks across the shallows depend on them.
- Cash comes in handy at markets and small cafés.
Staying connected
In Zanzibar you need the internet from the very first minutes: to contact your transfer, open a map in Stone Town, find a beach or a restaurant, or show your hotel booking. You can install your eSIM at home over Wi-Fi, so after landing you won't have to hunt for a SIM card at the airport or stand in queues. When a plan's validity begins is shown on the checkout page before you pay: for some plans it starts at the first connection in the destination country, for others on installation or right after purchase. Your main number stays in your phone, and calls and messages to it keep arriving as usual, under your carrier's terms.
Choose an eSIM for your trip to Tanzania in our shop — the plans for Tanzania are gathered on this page, and the installation details will arrive at the email address you enter at payment. Enjoy your holiday!
Sources and further reading
- Use eSIM while traveling internationally with your iPhone · Apple Support
- How to use an eSIM with your Galaxy phone · Samsung Support
