5 Best Tours in Zanzibar

Zanzibar is an island made for exploring. Beautiful beaches may be the first reason many people come here, but some of the best memories are made away from the hotel – on the ocean, in Stone Town or discovering the spices that have shaped the island for centuries.

If you are wondering which excursions are really worth adding to your holiday, here are five of our favourite Zanzibar tours.

1. Snorkeling around Mnemba

The waters around Mnemba are one of Zanzibar’s best-known areas for snorkeling. Clear tropical water, colourful fish and coral make this a great choice if you want to experience the Indian Ocean beyond the beach.

Most excursions are made by boat and include time for swimming and snorkeling. You don’t need to be an experienced diver – snorkeling is enough to discover an entirely different side of Zanzibar.

For guests staying in the north of the island, a Mnemba trip is also one of the easier ocean excursions to include in your holiday.

2. Safari Blue

Safari Blue is one of Zanzibar’s classic full-day boat experiences.

The excursion takes you into the waters around Menai Bay in the southwest of the island, with stops for swimming, snorkeling and relaxing along the way. Depending on the tour and conditions, the day can include sandbanks, small islands and a seafood lunch.

It is a longer day than some of the other excursions on this list, but if you enjoy being on the water, it is an excellent way to spend a full day exploring Zanzibar’s marine environment.

3. Stone Town & Spice Tour

These two experiences work particularly well together.

Start by discovering Stone Town, the historic centre of Zanzibar City and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its narrow streets, carved wooden doors, markets and architecture tell the story of the many cultures that have influenced Zanzibar.

Combine Stone Town with a visit to a spice farm and the day becomes even more interesting. Cloves, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg and other spices have played an important role in Zanzibar’s history and economy.

A local guide can show you how they grow, how they are harvested and how they are traditionally used.

If you only have time for one cultural day during your holiday, this is the combination we would recommend.

4. Prison Island

Just off Stone Town lies Changuu Island, better known as Prison Island.

The island is particularly famous today for its giant Aldabra tortoises, but it also has an interesting history. The short boat journey from Stone Town makes Prison Island easy to combine with other activities in the city.

It is a good half-day excursion on its own or can be incorporated into a longer Stone Town day.

And because getting there is part of the experience, you also get another opportunity to enjoy Zanzibar from the water.

5. Sunset Cruise

Not every excursion needs to take an entire day.

A sunset cruise is one of the most relaxing ways to experience Zanzibar’s coastline. Board a traditional dhow, head out onto the Indian Ocean and watch the colours change as the sun goes down.

For couples in particular, this is one of our favourite ways to end a day in Zanzibar.

And because M&M Villas is located in the north-west of the island, sunsets over the Indian Ocean are something we never really get tired of.

Which Zanzibar Tour Is Right for You?

That depends on what you want from your holiday.

If you love the ocean, choose Mnemba or Safari Blue. For history and culture, combine Stone Town with a Spice Tour. Prison Island works well as part of a Stone Town day, while a Sunset Cruise is ideal when you simply want to relax.

At M&M Villas Zanzibar, we can help our guests arrange these excursions and choose tours that fit their interests and holiday plans.

You don’t need to book an excursion every day. Choose a few experiences you genuinely want to see – and leave enough time to enjoy Zanzibar at its own pace.