Comparison · Mauritius vs Zanzibar · Mauritius / Tanzania
Mauritius vs Zanzibar
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: "dronepicr", CC BY 2.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
Choose Mauritius for Lagoon beaches, Le Morne Brabant and free sights; choose Zanzibar for Stone Town, Beaches, lower day-to-day costs and a short break. Zanzibar is generally less expensive, and the two are about 2,531 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 2,531 km
- Less expensive
- Zanzibar
- Best time for Mauritius
- April–May and September–November
- Best time for Zanzibar
- January–February and June–September
Side by side
| Mauritius | Zanzibar | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Mauritius | Tanzania |
| Known for | Lagoon beaches, Le Morne Brabant and Dholl puri | Stone Town, Beaches and Spices |
| Best time to visit | April–May and September–November | January–February and June–September |
| Ideal stay | 9 days | 7 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $150–$300 | $120–$250 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | January, 30°C (86°F) | January, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | July, 24°C (75°F) | June, 28°C (82°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 3 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 5 |
| Beaches | Trou aux Biches | Nungwi |
| Airports | MRU | ZNZ |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Mauritius for…
Lagoon beaches, Le Morne Brabant and free sights. Mauritius is a volcanic island in the Indian Ocean, about 65 km long and 45 km wide, almost entirely ringed by a coral reef that shelters calm, shallow lagoons. Resorts and guesthouses line the coast: busy Grand Baie and Trou aux Biches in the north, long…
Choose Zanzibar for…
Stone Town, Beaches, lower day-to-day costs and a short break. Zanzibar's main island, Unguja, lies about 35 km off the Tanzanian mainland and combines Stone Town — a UNESCO-listed Swahili trading town of coral-stone houses, carved wooden doors and narrow lanes — with a coastline of white-sand beaches and coral reefs…
Top sights compared
| # | Mauritius | Zanzibar |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Le Morne Brabant | Stone Town |
| 2 | Black River Gorges National Park | Forodhani Gardens night market |
| 3 | Chamarel Seven Coloured Earths and waterfall | Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe) |
| 4 | Grand Bassin (Ganga Talao) | Former slave market and Christ Church |
| 5 | Île aux Cerfs | Darajani Market |
Food compared
| Mauritius | Zanzibar |
|---|---|
| Dholl puri | Zanzibar pizza |
| Farata | Urojo |
| Gâteaux piments | Pilau |
| Rougaille | Biryani |
Which is cheaper?
Zanzibar is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $120–$250 per person there, against $150–$300 in Mauritius (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Zanzibar on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 2,531 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 17 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Mauritius or Zanzibar cheaper?
Zanzibar is usually less expensive: about $120–$250 a day mid-range against $150–$300 (estimates).
+Is Mauritius or Zanzibar better for a first trip?
Pick Mauritius for Lagoon beaches, Le Morne Brabant and free sights, or Zanzibar for Stone Town, Beaches, lower day-to-day costs and a short break.
+How far is Mauritius from Zanzibar?
About 2,531 km in a straight line.