Comparison · Nairobi vs Zanzibar · Kenya / Tanzania
Nairobi 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: Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Nairobi for Nairobi National Park, Elephant orphanage and a short break; choose Zanzibar for Stone Town, Beaches, beaches and a milder winter. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 603 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 603 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Nairobi
- January–February and June–September
- Best time for Zanzibar
- January–February and June–September
Side by side
| Nairobi | Zanzibar | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Kenya | Tanzania |
| Known for | Nairobi National Park, Elephant orphanage and Giraffe Centre | Stone Town, Beaches and Spices |
| Best time to visit | January–February and June–September | January–February and June–September |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 7 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $120–$250 | $120–$250 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | February, 26°C (79°F) | January, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | June, 21°C (70°F) | June, 28°C (82°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 3 | 3 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 5 |
| Beaches | — | Nungwi |
| Airports | NBO, WIL | ZNZ |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Nairobi for…
Nairobi National Park, Elephant orphanage and a short break. Nairobi sits at about 1,795 metres on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, and its biggest surprise is Nairobi National Park, where lions, black rhinos and giraffes roam grassland about 7 km south of the city centre. Most visitors spend one to three days…
Choose Zanzibar for…
Stone Town, Beaches, beaches and a milder winter. 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
| # | Nairobi | Zanzibar |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nairobi National Park | Stone Town |
| 2 | Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage | Forodhani Gardens night market |
| 3 | Giraffe Centre | Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe) |
| 4 | Karen Blixen Museum | Former slave market and Christ Church |
| 5 | Nairobi National Museum | Darajani Market |
Food compared
| Nairobi | Zanzibar |
|---|---|
| Nyama choma | Zanzibar pizza |
| Ugali | Urojo |
| Sukuma wiki | Pilau |
| Kachumbari | Biryani |
Which is cheaper?
Nairobi and Zanzibar cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $120–$250 in Nairobi and $120–$250 in Zanzibar (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Nairobi on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Nairobi and Zanzibar are about 603 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Nairobi and 7 in Zanzibar.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Nairobi or Zanzibar cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $120–$250 in Nairobi and $120–$250 in Zanzibar (estimates).
+Is Nairobi or Zanzibar better for a first trip?
Pick Nairobi for Nairobi National Park, Elephant orphanage and a short break, or Zanzibar for Stone Town, Beaches, beaches and a milder winter.
+How far is Nairobi from Zanzibar?
About 603 km in a straight line.