Zanzibar. The island of endless shimmering beaches, lapping waves and long, lazy sunsets viewed preferably from a hammock. Sound familiar? Of course it does, but that’s is just the tip of the piña colada of what you can do on this sultry Indian Ocean island. Dig a little deeper and you’ll discover a whole host of activities to try your hand at. Find out about the top things to do in Zanzibar. And if all you’re looking for are those endless beaches, then that’s fine too – you are on holiday after all.
Wander the streets of Stone Town
With its mystical, old-world charms and exotic mix of Arabic, African and European influences, Stone Town is the historical and cultural heart of Zanzibar. The tangled alleyways are made for getting lost in and there’s something intriguing around every cobbled corner: gaze at the intricate doors and ornate mosques, barter for coffee from the local merchants or uncover the ghosts of the past in a museum or two. If you don’t feel like tackling the labyrinth of streets yourself, book a local guide to show you all the secrets.
Recommended lodge: The Swahili House
Take a dhow trip at sunset
Think Zanzibar, think white-sailed dhows billowing across the horizon. These traditional wooden boats are everywhere around the island, with crews spending their days fishing at sea before returning with jam-packed nets in the evening. And that’s when you can commandeer one! Gliding up the coast at sunset is an unbeatable way to see the island in all its palm-fringed glory. Make sure to head to the north-east tip of the island and float around the glorious Mnemba Atoll for the best views of the sinking sun, cocktail in hand. This is definitely one of the top things to do in Zanzibar.
Recommended lodge: Xanadu
Learn to kitesurf
If the presence of some much-needed golden rays, a long white beach and burbling turquoise ocean makes you feel like you can take on anything, why not try your hand at kite-surfing? With it’s long coastlines and shallow bathtub-warm waters, Zanzibar’s east coast is a kitesurfer’s dream and there are numerous schools to choose from, satisfying both beginners and the more advanced surfer-chicks (and dudes). Try the dedicated Zanzibar Kite Paradise school at White Sands Resort on deserted Paje beach – you’ll never want to kitesurf anywhere else.
Recommended lodge: Zanzibar White Sand
Visit a turtle project
If you’re lusting after the wildlife you left behind on safari, one of the top things to do in Zanzibar is spending an afternoon with the endangered turtles at the Mnarani Project in Nungwi. Started in 1993, the project protects Hawksbill turtles (hunted for their patterned shells) and Green turtles (hunted for meat) and provides community education in the dangers of poaching these beautiful creatures. Book your visit from Matemwe Lodge (the staff here collect green turtle nests from their beach and hand them over for safe keeping at the project) and hear about the conservation efforts, swim with the turtles and explore Nungwi beach.
Recommended lodge: Matemwe Lodge
Take a spicy island tour
The Spice Island: most have heard Zanzibar’s exotic moniker, but do you know the history behind the island’s aromatic heritage? Get the lowdown on a spice tour to the exotic plantations dotted around the island, where cloves, nutmeg, lemon grass and black pepper grow next to jackfruit, mango and the somewhat ‘fragrant’ Durian fruit – we’ll leave the verdict on that one up to you! Spice tours are available from most hotels on the island, but most of the plantations are closer to Stone Town, if you want to avoid a long journey.
Recommended lodge: Zanzibar Serena Inn
Dive the depths of the Indian Ocean
Another one of the top things in Zanzibar. With scuba-diving becoming ever more popular on the list of holiday pastimes, an abundance of dive schools have sprung up around the beaches of Zanzibar. And while there’s never a bad place to dive in those balmy turquoise waters, we might have a favourite, and it goes by the name Mnemba Island. Just one sandy mile in circumference, the island is the epitome of beach bliss but what makes it even better is the protection zone that surrounds it, conserving coral reefs where clouds of tropical fish rub shoulders with Giant turtles and bottlenose dolphins. Quick, grab your flippers!
Recommended lodge: Mnemba Island
Party on Kendwa Beach
Once the preserve of sarong-wearing, full-moon partying backpackers, Zanzibar’s northern beaches have upped their game in the last few years with a host of new swishy hotels. And thank goodness for that, as Kendwa and Nungwi beaches really are the perfect spot for a quintessential pastel-hued sunset. Head right into the thick of things and grab a Konyagi (local gin) from a grass-topped beach bar before dancing until the sun comes up again or check into Kilindi for a more sophisticated sundowner on the terrace. Everyone who has experienced Kendwa will agree it is one of the top things to do in Zanzibar.
Recommended lodge: Kilindi
