Accommodation: the biggest choice
Where you stay sets most of the budget. Zanzibar has every level, from small guesthouses and boutique hotels in Stone Town to all-inclusive resorts and exclusive private-island lodges. The places we book run from simple budget hotels to luxury beach resorts — browse them by comfort level on our accommodations page and in where to stay.
Rates are highest from July to October and over Christmas and New Year, and lowest in April and May.
Safari and Zanzibar packages
Combining a safari with the beach in one trip saves on flights and transfers. Examples from our own packages, price from per person:
- 7-Day Tanzania Great Migration Safari to Zanzibar — from $2,453
- 9-Day Tanzania Safari: Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Zanzibar — from $2,846
- 10-Day Tanzania Top Luxury Wildlife Safari & Zanzibar — from $5,582
Other costs to plan for
- Flights — international flights, plus a domestic flight if you come from the safari parks.
- Transfers — airport to hotel, and between hotels if you split your stay.
- Excursions — Stone Town walks, spice tours, Prison Island, Jozani Forest, snorkelling trips and sunset dhow cruises are paid per trip, often per person. See things to do.
- Food and drink — included on all-inclusive stays; otherwise local restaurants are inexpensive and resort restaurants cost more. Alcohol is pricier than on the mainland.
- Zanzibar's mandatory insurance — see Zanzibar travel insurance.
- Visa — US$50 for most visitors, US$100 for US citizens.
- Tips — for drivers, boat crews and hotel staff; see tipping.
Ways to save
- Travel in the shoulder months — June, early July, September, October or late January to March.
- Choose half board in an area with good local restaurants, rather than all-inclusive.
- Combine excursions in one day (for example Jozani Forest with a spice tour).
- Book a safari and Zanzibar together for one set of international flights.
