Itinerary Zanzibar

Seasonality: July is an excellent time to visit Zanzibar: it’s the cool, dry season with pleasant temperatures, low humidity, and lots of sunshine—ideal for beaches and exploration.

💰 Budget overview

Category	Amount
✈️ Transport	2200 USD
🏨 Accommodations	1050 USD
🧳 Gear	150 USD
🗺️ On-site	600 USD
Total	4000 USD

🗺️ Activities & landmarks

🇹🇿 Zanzibar City (Stone Town) - 2 days

☀️ Daytime

• [ ] 🏛️ Stone Town Walking Tour ⭐⭐⭐ (~3h)

  • UNESCO World Heritage Site; maze of historic alleys, vibrant markets, old slave market, Sultan’s Palace. Guided tour highly recommended.

• [ ] 🏛️ House of Wonders (Beit-al-Ajaib) ⭐⭐ (~1h)

  • Iconic Omani-influenced palace now a museum (restoration may limit access); insight into Zanzibari culture.

• [ ] 🏛️ Old Slave Market & Anglican Cathedral ⭐⭐ (~1.5h)

  • Powerful and moving history on the legacy of slavery.

• [ ] 🎨 Princess Salme Museum ⭐ (~1h)

  • Fascinating story of Zanzibar’s rebellious princess and cultural exchanges.

• [ ] 🌳 Forodhani Gardens ⭐⭐ (~1h)

  • Lively seaside park, especially at dusk, with great street food and local life.

• [ ] 🏙️ Darajani Bazaar ⭐ (~1h)

  • Traditional market; great for spices and local goods.

• [ ] 🏙️ Kelele Square ⭐⭐ (~1h)

  • Elegant colonial atmosphere; great for wandering and people-watching.

🌙 Evening & night

• [ ] 🍸 The Rooftop Tea House (Emerson Spice Hotel) ⭐⭐ (~2h)
  • Atmospheric terrace for sundowners with panoramic views of Stone Town.

🍽️ Must-try food spots

• [ ] 🍜 Forodhani Night Market ⭐⭐⭐
  • Zanzibar pizza, grilled seafood, sugarcane juice. Street vibe, ~5–10 USD/meal.

🔁 Optional if time permits

• [ ] 🏙️ Visit Hamamni Persian Baths (~1h)
  • 19th-century baths, interesting architecture; sometimes closed for restoration.

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🇹🇿 Nungwi & Kendwa (North Coast) - 3 days

☀️ Daytime

• [ ] 🏖️ Nungwi Beach ⭐⭐⭐ (~4h)

  • Iconic white-sand beach with turquoise water, swimming at all tides, lively vibe.

• [ ] 🏖️ Kendwa Beach ⭐⭐⭐ (~3h)

  • Gorgeous and quiet, excellent swimming and water sports, famous for sunsets.

• [ ] 🤿 Snorkeling & Diving (Mnemba Atoll Trip) ⭐⭐⭐ (~6h)

  • World-class coral, dolphins; half- or full-day boat trips from Nungwi.

• [ ] 🛕 Nungwi Village Tour ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Local crafts, dhow (boat-building) yards, cultural immersion.

• [ ] 🐢 Baraka Natural Aquarium ⭐⭐ (~1.5h)

  • Feed and swim with green sea turtles; fun and educational.

• [ ] 🏄 Water Sports (SUP, kayaking, parasailing) ⭐ (~2h)

  • Operators found along the beach; book on site.

• [ ] 🚤 Dhow Sunset Cruise ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Traditional sailing, Swahili music, and stunning sea views.

🌙 Evening & night

• [ ] 🍸 Nungwi Beach Bars (Cholo's, Gerry's Bar) ⭐⭐ (~2h)
  • Relaxed and friendly atmosphere, live music on some nights.

🍽️ Must-try food spots

• [ ] 🍜 The Jetty at Essque Zalu ⭐⭐⭐
  • Top-rated seafood, ocean views. ~20–40 USD/person.

🔁 Optional if time permits

• [ ] 🚲 Cycle along the northern coast (~2h)
  • Scenic ride; bicycle rentals available.

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🇹🇿 Jozani Forest & South East (Paje/Jambiani) - 2 days

☀️ Daytime

• [ ] 🌳 Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park ⭐⭐⭐ (~3h)

  • Home to red colobus monkeys, boardwalk through mangroves.

• [ ] 🏖️ Paje Beach ⭐⭐ (~3h)

  • Bohemian surf vibe, excellent for kitesurfing, wide sandy beach.

• [ ] 🏖️ Jambiani Beach ⭐⭐ (~3h)

  • Tranquil, authentic village feel, local seaweed farming.

• [ ] 🏞️ Butterfly Centre ⭐ (~1h)

  • Interactive, small sanctuary near Jozani.

• [ ] 🚤 Blue Safari (Sandbank Picnic, Snorkeling from Fumba) ⭐⭐⭐ (~6h)

  • All-day excursion with fresh seafood lunch; pristine reefs, wild dolphins.

🌙 Evening & night

• [ ] 🍸 Mr. Kahawa (Paje) ⭐⭐ (~2h)
  • Great beach bar, chill vibe, cocktails, local music.

🍽️ Must-try food spots

• [ ] 🍜 The Rock Restaurant ⭐⭐⭐
  • Iconic overwater restaurant, reserve in advance! ~30–50 USD/person.

🔁 Optional if time permits

• [ ] 🚣 Kayak in the mangroves (Jambiani) (~2h)
  • Peaceful, scenic surroundings.

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🎬 Films & series to watch

🇹🇿 Zanzibar City (Stone Town)

• [ ] 🎬 The Ghost and the Darkness (1996) — ⭐ 6.8 — Adventure set in East Africa — Amazon Prime
• [ ] 📺 Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown - Tanzania (2014) — ⭐ 8.7 — Deep dive into Swahili food and culture — CNN

🇹🇿 Nungwi & Kendwa

• [ ] 🎬 The African Queen (1951) — ⭐ 7.7 — Classic romance/adventure filmed partly near Zanzibar — Prime Video

🇹🇿 Jozani & Southeast

• [ ] 📺 BBC: Indian Ocean with Simon Reeve (2012) — ⭐ 8.5 — Episode on Zanzibar — BBC iPlayer

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🍜 Local specialties

🇹🇿 Zanzibar City (Stone Town)

• [ ] Zanzibar pizza
• [ ] Urojo (Zanzibari mix soup)
• [ ] Octopus curry

🇹🇿 Nungwi & Kendwa

• [ ] Grilled seafood platter
• [ ] Chipsi mayai (Omelette with fries)
• [ ] Mishkaki (grilled meat skewers)

🇹🇿 Jozani & Southeast

• [ ] Pweza wa nazi (octopus in coconut)
• [ ] Pilau (spiced rice)
• [ ] Boku-boku (spiced beef stew)

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📍 Maps - places to pin

🇹🇿 Zanzibar City (Stone Town)

1. Stone Town
2. The Rooftop Tea House (Emerson Spice)
3. Darajani Bazaar
4. Tembo House Hotel
5. Forodhani Night Market

🇹🇿 Nungwi & Kendwa

1. Nungwi Beach
2. Cholo's Bar
3. Essque Zalu Zanzibar
4. The Z Hotel
5. The Jetty (Essque Zalu)

🇹🇿 Jozani & Southeast

1. Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park
2. Mr. Kahawa
3. The Rock Restaurant
4. Upendo Beach Hotel
5. Paje Beach

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✈️ Transport to book

• [ ] ✈️ London → Zanzibar City
• [ ] 🚅/🚗 Zanzibar City → Nungwi & Kendwa
• [ ] 🚅/🚗 Nungwi & Kendwa → Jozani & Southeast
• [ ] ✈️ Zanzibar City → London

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🏨 Accommodations

City	Nights	Accommodation	Price
Zanzibar City	2	Tembo House Hotel	300 USD
Nungwi & Kendwa	3	The Z Hotel	500 USD
Jozani & Southeast	2	Upendo Beach Hotel	250 USD
Total	7		1050 USD