Zanzibar

With stark-white beaches, lush palm trees and fringing coral reefs, Zanzibar is Tanzania's main beach/resort destination. The island is just 40km/25miles away from Dar-Es-Salaam. Apart from magnificent coastline and reefs, it has the historical UNESCO listed Stone Town and various nature parks, so this is more than just a beach-destination!

Zanzibar’s coral reef structure ensures abundant marine life. The reefs are shallow, also ideal for less experienced divers and snorkelers. The sloping banks and vertical drop-offs are great for more experienced divers. Zanzibar hosts over 350 marine life species and include large gamefish like Barracuda, Kingfish, Tuna and Wahoo, Napoleon Wrasse, Manta Rays and Sharks.

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About

The archipelago of Zanzibar consists of two islands: Unguja, better known as Zanzibar, and Pemba Island. These islands are about 50 km (32mi) off the Tanzanian coast, close to the equator. Zanzibar is mainly focused on tourism, but has been prosperous in the past due to its spices, such as Cloves, Cinnamon, Ginger, Lemongrass, Nutmeg, Pepper and Vanilla. Today, Unguja …

Zanzibar

Diving

Zanzibar is a flat, palm-tree dotted island surrounded by a coral reef structure that ensures abundant marine life. The reefs are shallow with sloping banks and vertical drop-offs with hard and soft corals hosting more than 350 species of Indo-Pacific marine life. Large gamefish like Barracuda, Kingfish, Tuna and Wahoo hunt together with large Napoleon Wrasse, Manta Rays and Sharks. …

Zanzibar

Climate: when to go

The best season for a vacation is from mid-June until the end of November, as well as from mid-December until mid-March. High season runs from July to September and from mid-December to mid-January. If you want to avoid the crowds (and higher prices) October is a nice, calm month, also weather-wise. March is also a good option, since the rainy …

Zanzibar

Where to go: diving locations

The best diving is mostly on the northern end of the island, mainly on the Northwest around Tumbatu Island and Kendwa and on the Northeast around Mmemba. The Mmemba Atoll, also referred to as Mmemba Island, is about 3km off Zanzibar’s north-east coast and should be on your shortlist. Encircled by a large coral reef, this small island has nice …

Zanzibar

Top Dives

The Mmbemba Atoll is one of Zanzibar’s highlights. Big Wall, on the east side of the Atoll and at the start of the Pemba Channel is a wall-dive, and often a drift-dive. Big fish are spotted here and during the season there are occasional sightings of Whale Sharks. Leven Bank is at the open sea on the north of Zanzibar. …

Zanzibar