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Vacation Zanzibar – Going to Zanzibar? Hello, Zanzibar is the perfect mix of beach and culture! If you love the beach but get bored easily, this might be the perfect place! Now that you’ve decided to visit this beautiful island, you need some advice on the best hotels in Zanzibar – and you’re in the right place!
With plenty of activities like snorkeling, surfing, and windsurfing, as well as opportunities to learn about culture and history, this is more than just a beach vacation. I will tell you about the best hotels in Zanzibar in different parts of the country!
Vacation Zanzibar
Zanzibar has different areas and it has its own look and feel, but I have selected the best places to stay in Zanzibar and hotel recommendations for each of them (I also divided them into different price categories for your luck)!
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Speaking of hotels, I just have to warn you that many tourists visit this place, and the best way to enjoy your vacation is to book in advance!
Here are the best hotels on Nungwi beach (the best beach in the country, in my humble opinion) that I have selected for you – all with good reviews:
NOTE: Thinking about when to go scuba diving in Zanzibar? It is best to visit from June to October on the North coast and between November and March on the South coast.
Zanzibar is a great island for accommodation options. Why? The tides are very strong on the island and the ocean can disappear in front of your ocean view room for hours! So I’m going to divide my content by region.
A Travel Guide To Zanzibar, Tanzania: Things To Know, See, Do
IMPORTANT: Another note about tides – tides occur on coral reefs 1 to 1.5 km offshore.
The north coast is popular because you can swim there at any time, even at low tide. During the westerly tide, the beach disappears entirely as the water rises up the rocky cliffs.
The best way to know when high tide and low tide are is to check the Tide Forecast. It changes daily, so you can check the forecast for when you plan to visit.
The North Shore is famous for having very low tides. Zanzibar has two famous beaches in the north, Nungwi and Kendwa.
Zanzibar With Kids 2023
Nungwi is known for its dives and sunsets, while Kendwa has more nightlife. In the north, you can also visit Mnemba Island, just one kilometer from the coast. This is a great diving and snorkeling spot and home to green turtles! If you are looking for more things to do, check out my detailed post on amazing things to do in Zanzibar here.
Fun fact: The country’s old name was Tanganyika which changed to Tanzania when they merged with Zanzibar!
Here’s my hand-picked list of hotels in North Zanzibar, all sorted by price and category, so it’s easy for you to find what you’re looking for:
It’s like stepping into a time machine, with many old colonial buildings lining the streets. You’ll get lost in the narrow streets, but that’s half the fun! This is also the best place to try the food and learn about the history of the island. If you haven’t already, check out my post on things to do in Zanzibar, where I’ll give you lots of tips on what to see in Stone Town.
Holidaying In The Beaches Of Zanzibar Island In Tanzania
The East Coast of Zanzibar features what some consider to be the best beaches in Zanzibar and this is where I chose to stay! While there are usually fewer tourists from the North coast, the East coast has beautiful beaches such as Pingwe, Paje (don’t miss the scuba diving experience!), and Jambiani. I lived somewhere between Paje and Jambiani; Read more about my experience below.
These white sand beaches and green water come with palm trees on the beach when the tide is low.
NOTE: Remember that you can’t swim at low tide but you can still walk on the beach.
If you’re looking for places to stay on east coast vacations, you’ve come to the right place for information! I have found some great hotels on the east coast for you to choose from.
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If you want a truly unique experience in Zanzibar, consider staying at a Zanzibar underground hotel. The Manta Resort is an underwater room on the beach where the bedroom is underwater. You may have heard of “sleeping with the fishes,” but that’s not the case!
The upper floor of the room has a sleeping area where you can lie in the sun and relax. The main floor has a deck, outdoor living area, and private baths, of course. Then, step down the stairs and experience the magic of the ocean. Windows in the underwater bedroom allow you to see the life of the Indian Ocean all around you. It’s a once in a lifetime experience where you dive into the ocean like never before.
If you want to live right on the water, check out Chapwani Private Island. You can rent a house right off the coast of Grave Island and enjoy the ocean. Surrounded by beautiful coral reefs and private rooftop villas, you’ll enjoy a barefoot luxury experience!
Another great idea is to stay at Mnemba Island, a small island located about 3 km off the coast of Zanzibar and the most isolated and secluded place you can stay in Tanzania. It’s a real beach paradise and it’s perfect for people who go to Tanzania for their honeymoon, but they’re not the only ones! If you want to really feel like you are on your own private island paradise, I recommend staying at AndBeyond Mnemba Island! There are only 12 rooms in the entire island, and each room is equally beautiful!
Where To Stay On Zanzibar
Another unique hotel in Zanzibar is the Dhow Palace Hotel in Stone Town. This hotel is an old building that was converted in 1559. The decoration is in the style of Zanzibar. If you want to get the full Zanzibar experience, come back to this boutique hotel! There is also a pool, a restaurant, and a rooftop terrace.
When I went to Zanzibar, we stayed at Nyumbani Residence. This beautiful hotel has a swimming pool and is 2 minutes away from the beach in Paje. I stayed at this place when it was brand new – it had literally only opened two weeks before we checked in!
The hotel owner Daniele woke up at 3:30 in the morning to see us off on our way to the airport! And I promise you this is not because he knew I was a blogger (he didn’t)!
Most of the time when I travel I go “incognito” because I don’t want to attract attention, I want to have a real experience – no one is trying to impress us for free advertising!
Tanzania /zanzibar Travel Diary
Daniele gets up to say goodbye in a welcoming name. He and his wife were very nice and accommodating during our entire stay.
So, Nyumbani is an apartment which means we have the whole house (60 m2) to ourselves with a kitchen and a large living room. They only have 7 rooms I think and they all face the pool – that’s great! I loved making us smoothies every morning and breakfast with this amazing view- what a wonderful way to start the day!
Laundry service and food delivery and airport transfer can be arranged (I think it’s $50 USD one way to the airport). They can also call a taxi to get you to the nearest “town” (Paje); This costs about $6 USD one way. Otherwise, we found many restaurants within a 5-minute walk (ask the owner for directions because they are Italian and know the best places! 😉)
If you want Wi-Fi, I can tell you that the internet is not very fast (not fast everywhere in the country to be honest!). But you have a router right in your house, so don’t go to the room with something like that.
The 10 Best Zanzibar Island Hotels With Villas
Overall, I really enjoyed my time there and I highly recommend this place if you want a quiet and intimate place to stay.
Now that you know all the best places and hotels to stay in Zanzibar, let’s take a look at some useful information about staying on the island:
You can go to Zanzibar by plane or plane. They both depart from Dar es Salaam on the east coast of Africa. There are also many international flights that land in Zanzibar. I arrived via Oman Air and had a transfer to Muscat Airport. Check the best rates from your city here.
Flights to Zanzibarrun daily from Dar es Salaam and cost $100 USD. If you are coming from Arusha at the base of Kilimanjaro, you can also catch a flight to Dar es Salaam for $180 USD and transfer to a flight to
Days 4 Nights Zanzibar Beach Vacation Excursion Packages 2023
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