A superb holiday tailored for those who want to see the best of northern Tanzania, but with more time to...
Zanzibar is a truly wonderful island that offers some of the finest tropical beaches within Africa. The name itself has captivated travellers imagination over the years and certainly lives up to expectations. Alongside the idyllic, crystal clear sea and vibrant reefs, excellent for diving, the island has a rich cultural and historical offering, particularly within the old Stone Town.
Zanzibar is a great post safari destination with some glorious Indian Ocean beaches, a rich culture and some excellent places to stay. Easy connecting flights can take you from a safari in the Maasai Mara, Serengeti, Nyerere or Ruaha in just a few hours. It is realistic to have a early morning game drive in your chosen reserve and have a sea dip and sundowners on the beach the same day.
Zanzibar is less developed than other Indian Ocean islands, and this allows you find some smaller boutique beach lodges offering a true African experience. However, there are also resort-style hotels, and amongst these, one or two we like that offer a wider choice of activities and are often more suitable for families.
The Zanzibar archipelago’s turquoise seas are as stunning below as above the water line allowing for some magnificent snorkelling and diving. Manta rays, green turtles, hawksbill plus barracudas add to the array of colour with opportunities for wall dives nearer Pemba.
Stone Town is the island’s ancient capital which has a history as colourful as its spice markets, and is definitely recommended for a day out or to spend a night or two. It was a major hub of the slave trade in its day and even the birthplace of Freddy Mercury, and it’s easy to explore on foot in an afternoon. Hiring a local guide will definitely help you make the most of your time here.
There are some charming town house style hotels here on Stone Town’s narrow alleys, many with rooftop restaurants where you can toast the sunset. The souvenir shopping and dining here is good.
Zanzibar has seen a growth in visitor numbers in recent years but fortunately has remained relatively unspoiled or exploited. To really enjoy your time on the island it is important to find the right style and character of accommodation to suit you. The range is broad from large mainstream resorts to small exclusive hideaways; busy “backpackers” beach huts to private boutique guesthouses.
Our favourite beach lodges : Pongwe Beach, Shooting Star Lodge, Sharazad Boutique Hotel, Next Paradise
Luxury boutique beach hotels : Qambani, Zawadi, Zuri, White Sands Villas
Good Beach Resorts : Gold Beach House, LUX* Marijani, Baraza
Cool places to stay in Stone Town : Sharazad Wonders, Upendo House, Kisiwa House, The Neela
Small Island Hotels : Pongwe Island, Mmemba Island, Bawe Island
We have tried and tested all the places we recommend so you can be sure we can tailor the right beach resort to your requirements.
A stunning 30 villa boutique resort that has truly achieved 5* international standards. The quality of the furnishings and finish…
Gold Zanzibar Beach House & Spa is located on the long stretching white sands of Kendwa beach in the north…
A charming small hotel on a stunning stretch of beach between Matemwe and Kiwengwa. Excellent food, beautiful rooms and good…
Pongwe Beach is one of our favourite beach lodges on Zanzibar. Set within a secluded bay on the east coast,…
An exciting new addition to our luxury hotels in Zanzibar, Zawadi is a cool all villa, all inclusive boutique hotel…
Zuri is a welcome new style of property in Zanzibar. For those looking for the ultimate stylish, hip and cool…
Baladin is one of our new favourite places in Zanzibar and is extremely well run. The hotel is located in…
Bamboo Zanzibar brings a dose of elegant beach chic to Zanzibar’s South East Coast. Beautiful suites and over 100 meters…
Located in stunning Matemwe and with the amazing view of the Mnemba Atoll, this small yet luxurious boutique hotel delivers…
Kilindi is a luxurious 15 unit piece of functional art scattered along a picturesque-perfect stretch of Northern Zanzibar.
Kisiwa On The Beach, is situated on the seductive south east coast of Zanzibar, among swaying palm trees, on a…
This lodge sits on one of the best beaches in Zanzibar. It has been recently refurbished with improved and new…
Matemwe Lodge is a wonderfully secluded luxury beach lodge at the northern tip of the stunning beach of Matemwe.
Matemwe Retreat is located on an amazing stretch of private land overlooking the Mnemba Atoll.
Set on a private island off the north eastern tip of Zanzibar, Mnemba Island Lodge offers guests the perfect destination…
A charming boutique hotel located on the stunning Jambiani beach along the south east coast of Zanzibar. There is very…
Shooting Star Lodge is a relaxed, family-run, boutique resort situated on the eastern beaches of Zanzibar. The Lodge has just…
Beautifully located amidst colourful gardens and providing spectactular views of the sea towards Mnemba Island, Sunshine Marine Lodge is a…
The Palms is a small private and intimate luxury resort with only six villas on the south east coast of…
A brand new boutique beach hotel located on the northern stretch of stunning Paje
The Z hotel has become a favourite. It is a modern boutique style hotel on the far north tip of…
Unguja Lodge is a small, owner-run, luxury hide-away enjoying a private and tucked away beach location in Kizimkazi on the…
A gem of a spot, Upendo is a very cool little beach lodge on a fantastic stretch of beach at…
Xanadu Villas & Retreat is located on one of the finest beaches on the South-East coast of Zanzibar. The hotel…
A lovely new addition to the Safari&Beach portfolio, this charming boutique hotel has everything you want for a beach holiday. …
A cool boutique hotel located on the stunning beach at Matemwe. The hotel has been revamped with modern design whilst…
The Blue Bay Beach Resort & Spa is a large resort situated on landscaped, palm-decked 25-acres along the famed sparkling…
Breezes Beach Club is the perfect place for those looking for a relatively small resort style accommodation with excellent service…
Boutique luxe arrives in Zanzibar as Essque Zalu opens its beautifully crafted doors at Nungwi
Gold Zanzibar Beach House & Spa is located on the long stretching white sands of Kendwa beach in the north…
Located on the north-western shores of Zanzibar near Nungwi, La Gemma dell’ Est is a large 24 hour all inclusive…
Lux* Marijani brings a new type of cool to Zanzibar with fresh interiors and a very modern attention to detail….
A large adult only resort style hotel offering stylish rooms and extensive facilities on the beach between Kendwa and Nungwi.
Sultan Sands nestles on the beachfront of a twenty-five acre stretch of subtly landscaped gardens decked with over a thousand…
The Mora is a new 5 star luxury resort in north east Zanzibar on a fantastic stretch of white beach…
A luxury hotel bringing a new style and quality to Zanzibar whilst retaining resident Swahili charm
A stunning beach chic hotel made up of a collection villas spreading across this beautiful stretch of coastline.
Chumbe Island is superb example of genuine Eco-tourism which has been a successful operation for just over 10 years.
A lovely little boutique hotel well placed at Bwejuu on the south east coast of Zanzibar. Indigo beach positions itself…
Kendwa Rocks is very simple, budget, guesthouse accommodation. Situated on one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, it…
Seasons lodge is a family built, and family run, hotel, opened in 2011 by the Clarkes, an Irish-Ugandan family. The…
Sunshine Bay is a lovely boutique beach hotel located at Matemwe, one of the finest stretches on beach on the…
Zanzibar Pearl is located on a long and idyllic palm-lined beach and is one of the best beach guesthouses on…
A charming small resort on the stunning Matemwe beach in the north east of the Island. The hotel offers 35…
For those who want to experience the charm of a historical Zanzibar setting with a touch of ancient Arabian mystique,…
Dhow Palace Hotel is located in the heart of Stone Town. A very good mid range option with plenty of…
Emerson on Hurumzi is the second tallest building in Stone Town, Zanzibar. The hotel has been restored to it’s former…
Fusing a restored nineteenth-century Swahili sultanâ??s palace and Zanzibarâ??s first photographic studio, this multi-storied small hotel has an inner courtyard,…
Luxury boutique hotel convenient for exploring the centre of Stone Town. A great option for those seeking an authentic hotel…
New large scale hotel sitting on the waterfront in Stone Town. Very comfortable with excellent facilities and ideally placed for…
The Serena Inn is Stone Town’s most luxurious hotel with an old colonial style, and is a haven of tranquillity…
Located in the bustling heart of Stonetown, Swahili House has re-opened after a full renovation and is one of the…
The Seyyida is an elegant 17-room boutique hotel located in the heart of the World Heritage Site of Stonetown –…
A cool boutique hotel bang in the middle of Stonetown. A great little spot for an overnight stay in this…
Safari & Beach does “exactly what it says on the tin”. We organise safari and beach holidays to Africa. We believe our expertise, knowledge and enthusiasm for organising travel to Africa is unrivalled. We are no frills so you get what you pay for. No fancy marketing gimmicks just our pure honesty. We are so confident in our prices, we have a price guarantee.
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