Outdoors · Zanzibar · Tanzania
8 best outdoor things to do in Zanzibar
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Moongateclimber, Public domain
Quick answer
Start with Spice farm tour, Prison Island (Changuu) and Nakupenda sandbank. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 20–25 hours across 5 areas; all charge for entry.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 0
- Time to see them all
- 20–25 hours
- Areas
- Central Unguja, Off Stone Town and Matemwe
Outdoors in Zanzibar
Experience · Central Unguja
1.Spice farm tour
Choose a small farm tour that includes lunch, and bring cash for buying spices directly from the farm.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Food
- Nature
- Kids
Island · Off Stone Town
2.Prison Island (Changuu)
Combine it with the Nakupenda sandbank on a half-day boat trip from the Stone Town waterfront.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- History
- Outdoors
Beach · Off Stone Town
3.Nakupenda sandbank
Go with an operator that brings shade and leaves no rubbish behind; there are no facilities on the sandbank.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
- Kids
Nature · Central Unguja
4.Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park
Visit on the way to the east-coast beaches, and keep the recommended distance from the monkeys.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Nature · Matemwe
5.Mnemba Atoll snorkelling
Book with a licensed dive centre or operator and go early, before the wind picks up and the boats arrive.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Active
- Outdoors
- Couples
Neighbourhood · Southern Unguja
6.Kizimkazi
Choose a dolphin operator that does not chase or crowd the animals, and do not jump in on top of a pod.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- History
- Outdoors
Aquarium · Nungwi
7.Mnarani turtle conservation pond
A short, easy visit with children while staying in Nungwi.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Nature
Experience · Nungwi
8.Nungwi dhow yards and sunset
Walk past the dhow builders in the afternoon, then take a sunset sail from the beach.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Views
- Outdoors
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Central Unguja | Spice farm tour and Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park | Half a day + 2 hours |
| Off Stone Town | Prison Island (Changuu) and Nakupenda sandbank | Half a day + Half a day |
| Matemwe | Mnemba Atoll snorkelling | Half a day |
| Southern Unguja | Kizimkazi | Half a day |
| Nungwi | Mnarani turtle conservation pond and Nungwi dhow yards and sunset | 45 minutes + 2 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 3 low cost, 5 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Spice farm tour; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 7 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Central Unguja): Spice farm tour, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Central Unguja): Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Off Stone Town): Prison Island (Changuu), at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Off Stone Town): Nakupenda sandbank, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 5 (Matemwe): Mnemba Atoll snorkelling, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 6 (Southern Unguja and Nungwi): Kizimkazi → Mnarani turtle conservation pond, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 7 (Nungwi): Nungwi dhow yards and sunset, at least 2 hours.
The best months to be outside
- June: highs of 28°C (82°F), about 5 rainy days, moderate crowds. The dry season begins, with fresher temperatures and steady winds for kitesurfing.
- July: highs of 28°C (82°F), about 5 rainy days, very busy crowds. Cooler, dry and breezy; peak season with European summer holidays and safari combinations.
- August: highs of 28°C (82°F), about 5 rainy days, very busy crowds. Peak season, dry and pleasant, with the coolest sea of the year; book early.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Nungwi — Northern tip with lively beach bars, dhow builders and swimmable water
- Jambiani — A long fishing village of seaweed farms and quiet guesthouses
- Matemwe — Quiet north-east coast facing Mnemba Atoll
More of Zanzibar
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Zanzibar?
Spice farm tour. Farms in the countryside north of Stone Town show cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla, lemongrass and tropical fruit growing, with guides who explain their uses and often finish with a spiced lunch.