Zanzibar Day Trips and Excursions

Summary

• Destination
  Island-wide

A menu of guided day trips and half-day tours that can be added to any Zanzibar stay. Choose from culture and history in Stone Town, spice farms and forest walks, or snorkelling, dolphins and sandbanks out at sea.

Travel: Return transport from your hotel

Highlights

• Heritage, spice and nature tours on land
• Dhow trips, snorkelling and sandbank picnics at sea
• Can be combined or added to any beach or Stone Town stay

Excursions

Stone Town Tour

A two to three-hour guided walk that begins at the bustling central market and continues to the cathedral built in 1874, the Zanzibar Museum, Tippu Tip’s House, the former British Club, the Old Fort and the restored Indian Dispensary. It finishes with a stroll through the old town’s narrow lanes.

Spice Tour

Visit the plantations around Kizimbani to pick, smell and taste cloves, star fruit, lemongrass, mangosteen and the ‘lipstick tree’. Weather permitting, a local climber shows how coconuts are harvested, and you may be fitted with a hat or ring woven from palm leaves.

Prison Island

A short boat ride from Stone Town brings you to Prison Island, home to a protected colony of giant tortoises that you can help feed. There is a small sandy beach for swimming, reefs for snorkelling and fine views back towards town.

Jozani Forest

Walk Jozani’s nature trail with a trained guide to see the endemic red colobus monkey, whose numbers have recovered to around 6,000 thanks to conservation. The visit continues along the Pete-Jozani mangrove boardwalk, explaining how the forest supports wildlife and protects the coast.

Dolphin Trip at Kizimkazi

From the southern fishing village of Kizimkazi a motor boat heads out to search for the dolphins that frequent these waters, with the chance to swim alongside them. Afterwards there is snorkelling in the shallows, then a shower, lunch and some time on the beach.

Safari Blue

A full day from Fumba on a traditional dhow in Menai Bay, snorkelling two reefs, swimming at a sandbank, exploring a mangrove lagoon and looking out for dolphins. Lunch is a seafood buffet on Kwale Island with fruit tasting and a climb on an ancient baobab, before sailing back to Fumba.

Mnemba Atoll Snorkelling

Snorkel the reefs of the Mnemba Atoll marine reserve, among the best known in the Indian Ocean, where lionfish, moray eels, stingrays and turtles are often seen in the shallows. Boat trips also run from Nungwi along the north-east coast with a seafood barbecue on Muyuni beach and a traditional sail back.

Sunset Dhow Cruise

An evening on a traditional dhow watching the sun turn the coastline gold, with a short guided snorkel before sunset. Soft drinks and snacks are served from the cool box as the boat sails gently back.

Nakupenda Sandbank Picnic

Sail out to a bright white sandbank off Stone Town to snorkel over colourful corals and tropical fish with guides and good-quality equipment. A Zanzibari seafood lunch is served on the sand before the return trip by sail.

Nungwi Village

Explore the fishing village at Zanzibar’s northern tip, where traditional dhows are still built by hand on the beach. Visit the natural turtle aquarium, where injured turtles rescued from fishing nets are cared for before release.

Swahili Cooking Class

Learn how Zanzibari dishes are prepared with local spices and fresh coconut milk, then sit down to eat what you have cooked. It pairs naturally with a morning spice tour.

Blue Lagoon

A relaxed swimming and snorkelling trip to the calm, clear waters of the Blue Lagoon on the east coast. The shallows are known for their starfish and colourful reef fish.

Included

• Stone Town tour: guide, entrance fees, mineral water, transport
• Spice tour: guide, mineral water, coconut-climbing demonstration (weather permitting), palm-leaf decorations, transport
• Prison Island: local boat, entrance fee, guide, food for the tortoises, mineral water, transport
• Jozani Forest: entrance fee, guide, mineral water, transport
• Kizimkazi dolphin trip: local boat, entrance fee, snorkelling equipment, guide, mineral water, transport
• Safari Blue: local boat, entrance fee, snorkelling equipment, guide, seafood barbecue lunch, water, soft drinks, local beer and Amarula, transport
• Mnemba Atoll: boat, marine park fees, snorkel guide, towels and equipment, fruit and soft drinks or seafood barbecue depending on departure point, transport
• Sunset dhow cruise: dhow sail, sodas and water, crisps and snacks
• Sandbank picnic: local boat, entrance fee, guide, seafood lunch, mineral water, transport
• Transfers in fully insured air-conditioned vehicles with Wi-Fi, chilled water and a cool towel on arrival

Not included

• Tips
• Drinks not listed
• Personal expenses

Senior-friendly and wheelchair accessible

Accessible Travel Kenya caters to everyone. As specialists in inclusive tourism, the company can adapt this trip as a senior-friendly holiday or a wheelchair accessible safari. Tell Accessible Travel Kenya your access needs before you book. The company checks each hotel and excursion for you, arrange accessible airport and hotel transfers, and suggest alternatives where boats, sand or steps would be difficult.

Prices on request: contact Accessible Travel Kenya for a quote for your dates and group.