When is the best time to visit Zanzibar Island?

On our scoring, the strongest months are July, September, August. That score is computed from three years of rainfall and temperature: drier months concentrate animals around water and make the roads easier, which is what actually drives game-viewing. April scores lowest — usually because it is the wettest. That does not make it a bad month, but it is a different trip: greener, quieter and less predictable.

What is the weather like in Zanzibar Island in August?

Typically around 48mm of rain across the month, with daytime highs near 28°C. These are averages from the last three years of records, not a forecast — East African rainfall varies a great deal year to year.

How do I get to Zanzibar Island?

You fly. It is roughly 12.9 hours door-to-door from Arusha including transfers — there is no sensible road option.

How many nights should I spend in Zanzibar Island?

Two to three nights is where most people land, and three is better than two. One night means you arrive, sleep, and leave — you spend more of it driving than looking. The single most common planning mistake we see is too many parks with too few nights in each.

Accommodation is the biggest lever by a distance — ultra-luxury from about $1,100 a night, luxury from about $520 a night, mid-range from about $380 a night per person. The park itself, the guide and the animals are identical whichever you choose. Park fees are set by the government and charged per person per day.

Zanzibar Island Safari — Indian Ocean Coast

Area 1,575 km²

Coordinates -6.133, 39.333

Now 22°C · 8 km/h

Overview

About Zanzibar Island

Zanzibar combines UNESCO World Heritage Stone Town with some of the Indian Ocean's finest coral reefs and white-sand beaches. The perfect post-safari extension from Tanzania's northern circuit, offering spice tours, dhow sailing, and world-class diving.

Unguja is the largest and most populated island of the Zanzibar archipelago, in Tanzania.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)

At a glance

12 historical sites
12 viewpoints & attractions

Peaks Picnic sites Historical Other

Slavery Memorial

Memorial

-6.163, 39.193

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Mtoni Palace Ruins

Ruins

-6.136, 39.213

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Portuguese Arch

Monument

-6.165, 39.189

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Bi Khole Ruins

Ruins

-6.260, 39.338

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Unguja Ukuu Ruins

Ruins

-6.315, 39.375

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Dunga Ruins

Ruins

-6.135, 39.325

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Old Cannons

Cannon

-6.160, 39.189

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Karume Monument

Monument

-6.164, 39.194

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Old Cannon

Cannon

-6.161, 39.189

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Mangapwani Slave Chamber

Yes

-5.987, 39.186

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Freddy Mercury House

Memorial

-6.162, 39.188

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Mr. Johi Sawmill

Ruins

-6.266, 39.415

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Bharmal Building

Attraction

-6.159, 39.195

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The Old Dispensary

Attraction

-6.158, 39.193

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Sea Water Lagoon

Viewpoint

-6.118, 39.164

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The Big Tree

Attraction

-6.159, 39.192

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Fish

Attraction

-6.276, 39.426

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Sea Turtles

Attraction

-6.276, 39.427

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Tortoises

Attraction

-6.277, 39.426

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Spinning Coaster

Attraction

-6.167, 39.203

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amani

Viewpoint

-6.164, 39.219

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Spice Farm

Attraction

-6.085, 39.252

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Red Colobus Monkey

Attraction

-6.271, 39.419

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Freddie Mercury's House

Attraction

-6.162, 39.188

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✦ White-sand beaches and coral reefs

✦ Historic Stone Town (UNESCO)

✦ Spice farms

✦ Swahili trading heritage

✦ Natural pairing with a safari

About Zanzibar Island

Zanzibar's main island, Unguja, combines white-sand beaches and coral reefs with a deep Swahili, Arab, Indian and European trading history. The historic heart, Stone Town, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of carved doors, narrow lanes and old merchant houses.

The island is famous for its spice farms — cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon — and pairs naturally with a mainland safari as a beach finish.

BOA's guidance on timing: June to October and December to February

Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe)

Stone Town's oldest building

The Old Fort, or Ngome Kongwe, is Stone Town's oldest building, an Omani-era fortress on the seafront that today hosts cultural events and craft stalls within its walls.

Stone Town's oldest building
Seafront location
Cultural events and crafts

Best: Year-round

House of Wonders

The landmark of the Stone Town seafront

The House of Wonders (Beit-el-Ajaib) is a grand 19th-century former palace on the Stone Town waterfront and one of its most iconic buildings. It has been under restoration in recent years following a partial collapse.

Iconic seafront palace
19th-century architecture
Under restoration in recent years

Best: Year-round

Forodhani Gardens

Stone Town's waterfront gathering place

Forodhani Gardens line the Stone Town seafront beside the Old Fort and come alive each evening with a popular street-food market. By day they're a relaxed place to watch the harbour.

Evening street-food market
Seafront setting
Relaxed harbour views

Best: Year-round

Darajani Market

Stone Town's main bazaar

Darajani Market is Stone Town's main bazaar, a crowded warren of stalls selling spices, fish, produce and everyday goods. It's the sensory heart of the old town's daily commerce.

Spices and produce
Lively local bazaar
Heart of Stone Town trade

Best: Year-round

Anglican Cathedral (Mkunazini)

A cathedral built on a place of memory

Stone Town's Anglican Cathedral was built on the site of the former slave market, and its grounds include a memorial to the victims of the slave trade. It's a moving and historically important site.

Built on the former slave market
Memorial to the slave trade
Important historic site

Best: Year-round

Old Dispensary

An ornate seafront landmark

The Old Dispensary is one of Stone Town's most ornate buildings, a balconied late-19th-century landmark on the seafront that has been carefully restored as a heritage site.

Ornate carved balconies
Restored heritage building
Stone Town seafront

Best: Year-round

Jan 85

Feb 93

Mar 78

Apr 25

May 72

Jun 89

Jul 98

Aug 97

Sep 98

Oct 88

Nov 69

Dec 78

Scored from three years of rainfall and temperature at this park — taller is better for game viewing. Green (short) months are wetter: thicker bush, wildlife more dispersed.

10 Days Photo: Tanzania Wild Sky / Pexels

10-Day Northern Circuit + 3–4 Nights Zanzibar

From $3,500 pp

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12 Days Photo: Tanzania Wild Sky / Pexels

12-Day Premium Safari + 5 Nights Zanzibar (All-Inclusive)

From $6,000 pp

View Itinerary →

5 Days Photo: Brett Bennett / Pexels

5-Day Safari + Zanzibar Weekend (Budget)

From $2,000 pp

View Itinerary →

14 Days Photo: Shakur Leni / Pexels

14-Day Grand Tanzania (Safari + Kilimanjaro + Zanzibar)

From $5,000 pp

View Itinerary →

10 Days Photo: Ákos Helgert / Pexels

10-Day Ultra-Luxury Honeymoon Circuit + Private Balloon + Zanzibar Villa

From $10,000 pp

View Itinerary →

9 Days Photo: Kilinge Adventures / Pexels

9-Day Multi-Generational Safari + Zanzibar

From $4,000 pp

View Itinerary →

Zanzibar Island

About Zanzibar Island

At a glance

Every attraction, plotted

Historical Sites

Slavery Memorial

Mtoni Palace Ruins

Portuguese Arch

Bi Khole Ruins

Unguja Ukuu Ruins

Dunga Ruins

Old Cannons

Karume Monument

Old Cannon

Mangapwani Slave Chamber

Freddy Mercury House

Mr. Johi Sawmill

Viewpoints & Other Attractions

Bharmal Building

The Old Dispensary

Sea Water Lagoon

The Big Tree

Fish

Sea Turtles

Tortoises

Spinning Coaster

amani

Spice Farm

Red Colobus Monkey

Freddie Mercury's House

Why people come here

About Zanzibar Island

Places worth your time

Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe)

House of Wonders

Forodhani Gardens

Darajani Market

Anglican Cathedral (Mkunazini)

Old Dispensary

When to visit Zanzibar Island

Safaris visiting Zanzibar Island

10-Day Northern Circuit + 3–4 Nights Zanzibar

12-Day Premium Safari + 5 Nights Zanzibar (All-Inclusive)

5-Day Safari + Zanzibar Weekend (Budget)

14-Day Grand Tanzania (Safari + Kilimanjaro + Zanzibar)

10-Day Ultra-Luxury Honeymoon Circuit + Private Balloon + Zanzibar Villa

9-Day Multi-Generational Safari + Zanzibar

Ready to explore Zanzibar Island?