Day trips · Zanzibar · Tanzania
5 best day trips from Zanzibar
Where to go when you want a day away from Zanzibar, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
The classic day trip from Zanzibar is Mnemba Atoll (About 1 hour by road and 20–40 minutes by boat). The closest option is Jozani Forest, about 35 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 5
- Closest
- Jozani Forest (35 km)
- Most popular
- Mnemba Atoll
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mnemba Atoll | 55 km | About 1 hour by road and 20–40 minutes by boat | Road transfer to Matemwe or Nungwi, then boat | Couples, Families, Beach |
| Jozani Forest | 35 km | About 45 minutes by car | Taxi, tour or dala-dala towards the east coast | Families, Culture |
| Kizimkazi | 55 km | About 1 hour 15 minutes by car | Taxi or tour | Families, Culture |
| Pemba Island | 80 km | About 30 minutes by plane | Domestic flight from Zanzibar or ferry | Quiet stays, Couples |
| Dar es Salaam | 75 km | About 2 hours by fast ferry | Fast ferry from Stone Town | Culture, Solo travellers |
The day trips
55 km · About 1 hour by road and 20–40 minutes by boat
1.Mnemba Atoll
The island's top snorkelling and diving area, a protected reef ring around a private island with clear water, reef fish, turtles and frequent dolphins.
- Getting there
- Road transfer to Matemwe or Nungwi, then boat
- Best for
- Couples, Families, Beach
35 km · About 45 minutes by car
2.Jozani Forest
The national park's red colobus monkeys, endemic to Zanzibar, can be seen at close range, and a mangrove boardwalk shows the coastal ecosystem.
- Getting there
- Taxi, tour or dala-dala towards the east coast
- Best for
- Families, Culture
55 km · About 1 hour 15 minutes by car
3.Kizimkazi
A south-coast fishing village for dolphin-watching boat trips and one of East Africa's oldest mosques, with inscriptions from the early 12th century.
- Getting there
- Taxi or tour
- Best for
- Families, Culture
80 km · About 30 minutes by plane
4.Pemba Island
Zanzibar's greener, hillier and far less visited northern island has clove plantations, mangroves and some of the region's best wall diving; better as an overnight than a day trip.
- Getting there
- Domestic flight from Zanzibar or ferry
- Best for
- Quiet stays, Couples
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75 km · About 2 hours by fast ferry
5.Dar es Salaam
Tanzania's largest city has the National Museum, the Kariakoo market, the fish market and a lively waterfront; most travellers pass through rather than stay.
- Getting there
- Fast ferry from Stone Town
- Best for
- Culture, Solo travellers
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- Dala-dalas — shared minibuses and converted trucks — run from Darajani in Stone Town to villages across the island; cheap and slow, with stops on demand.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Zanzibar?
Mnemba Atoll. The island's top snorkelling and diving area, a protected reef ring around a private island with clear water, reef fish, turtles and frequent dolphins.
+How long does it take to get from Zanzibar to Mnemba Atoll?
About 1 hour by road and 20–40 minutes by boat — Road transfer to Matemwe or Nungwi, then boat, about 55 km.
+How long does it take to get from Zanzibar to Jozani Forest?
About 45 minutes by car — Taxi, tour or dala-dala towards the east coast, about 35 km.