10 Best Things to Do in Zanzibar : Attractions, Activities & Places to See
Zanzibar is a dream tropical destination and a must visit once in a lifetime, this beautiful island is a world famous beach destination surrounded by white sands, turquoise waters and swaying palm trees. This tropical paradise is perfect place to relax after an Africa safari or summiting the continent’s tallest mountains.
Zanzibar has so much to offer and in this article, we highlight the 10 Best Things to do in Zanzibar, as well as its attractions, activities and places to see.
- Stone Town
The Stone Town is the very centre of Zanzibar Island and no more than a 90 minute drive from any given point of the island. In this ancient town there is a lot to see and do including a visit to Freddie Mercury’s home where he lived for the first few years of his life.
Explore the maze of streets, lined with souvenir filled shops and admire the beautiful wooden doors at every turn. If you are into collecting antiques and eclectic treasures along your travels, check out Zanzibar Curio on Hurumzi Street. Here you are likely to find something truly unique and impressive.
After shopping you can go for coffee at the Zanzibar Coffee House on Tharia Street, they have the best coffee and cakes in town. Head straight to the rooftop and sip your coffee as you overlook the Stone Town rooftops. Also, they provide cute rooms if you are looking for a place in Stone Town.
- Anglican Cathedral and Slave Trade Exhibit
Zanzibar Town was once a slave trade capital of East Africa and on this island there is much to be learned about how slavery caravans made their way through East Africa with this port as the base.
Within the slave trade exhibit are harrowing accounts of this era. Guides will also show you through some of the spaces in which slaves were kept while waiting to be sold at market. The chains on the walls within these dark confined spaces are surreal reminder of a not so distant past. A visit will take you an hour or two at most and will leave you understanding a little more about the history surrounding slavery.
The Anglican Church was built on top of where the slave market once stood. A stained glass window inside the church serves as a reminder of David Livingston’s opposition towards slave trading.
- Old Fort and Open Air Markets
Take a walk around and through the old fort, here you will find small open air stalls with local artists displaying their work. Walk around the courtyard and amphitheatre before making your way across to the Forodhani Gardens. While here you can sit in one of the nearby restaurants overlooking the water for a cool refreshment
- Darajani Market
If you are interested in trying some of the local fruits and vegetables, maybe some fish, spices or grass mats then make your ways over to the Darajani Markets. They are an interesting place to get some fresh fruits. This is a market for the locals and is an amazing place to wander through and enjoy Zanzibar customs and culture.
- Snorkeling Tips
On the western side of the Island you will find a boat to take you on a snorkeling experience. The calm waters surrounding Ugunja and Pemba are packed with spectacular coral reefs and tropical wildlife, making it a year-round snorkeling paradise.
The Mnemba Atoll Marine Reserve is an underwater conservation area on Mnemba Island housing vast corals and rare aquatic life. These delicate ecosystems take you into a spectacular underwater world of bright corals that are home to Green Turtles, Seahorses, Trumpetfish, Moray Eels and Napoleon Wrasse among others.
The perfect places to do snorkeling in Zanzibar are Wattabomi and West Gardens, visiting the Kichwami Reef, the Aquarium and the Big Wall, all varying from 12 to 50 meters in depth.
Snorkeling is also perfect in the waters around Tone Town, where shipwrecks lay strewn upon the ocean floor and rainbow coral reefs support a vast array of aquatic life.
- Reef Walk
The reefed coastline of the south eastern beaches of Zanzibar are extraordinary, for a reef walk you will need some reef shoes as it is pretty tough to walk through the sludge, avoiding sea urchins. Walking on the reef without shoes is a bit a slow trip as you will need to navigate around the dangerous underfoot.
You will need to search, but when you start looking there are giant starfish, eel, clown fish, urchins, soft corals and more. Time a walk for low tide and off you go take a walking stick as this will also help you balance when you need it.
Note: Follow the well-worn tracks and respect your surroundings. It’s always tempting to touch things when you are that close, however unless you’re an expert let’s leave them alone so the next generation can enjoy.
- Sunset Drinks at Michamvi
The Kae Beach Bar at Michamvi is a great place to visit if you want a few afternoon drinks beside the sea. This lively little beach bar is the perfect place to visit and is in quite a remote location. You will need to have access to a car or take a taxi to get there
Ignore the strange feeling that you are been driven to the middle of nowhere, the narrow path through the mangroves which is the only way in and out.
- Spice Garden Tour
If love things spice related, take a spice garden tour while on a Zanzibar Holiday take a spice garden tour. On this tour you will learn about the health benefits of specific spies as well as how they are grown and harvested for different purposes.
Cloves for example is a great remedy for tooth ache, on this tour you can chew on one of these spices.
- Swimming with Dolphins
Swimming with the dolphins is one of the most amazing things to do in Zanzibar and it generally happens in the southern part of the island.
If you are lucky, you will catch these beauties on a snorkeling and or diving trips out to Mnemba. Dolphins like to swim curiously back and forward passed the reef. If you happen to be 18 meters below the surface on a dive at the same time that they cruise past, it can come as a bit of a surprise. Especially if you weren’t expecting to see dolphins.
You will see them while diving and then again the following day when you are snorkeling with other visitors. The dolphins appeared very interested and continue to swim around the reef and boats for about 30 minutes before disappearing.
- Visit the Prison Island (Changuu)
Just a 20-minute boat ride from Stone Town is the Prison Island also known as Changuu, the island is home to a sanctuary of Giant Tortoises and makes for a great half day trips.
The Prison Island used to serve as a quarantine island for people arriving to Zanzibar. Also, and perhaps the more significantly, four giant tortoises gifted from the Seychelles were brought to this island and they quickly multiplied. Over the years, these tortoises where deemed endangered but due to conservation efforts to protect them, they have multiplied.
To get to prison island, head to the beaches of Stone Town and you will find boats ready to take you to the island
