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Powder-white sand, dhow sails on a turquoise horizon, and the scent of cloves drifting from spice farms — Zanzibar earns its reputation. But the island rewards a little planning: beaches differ wildly with the tides, Stone Town deserves at least a full day, and there is one new rule every visitor must know before boarding the plane.
Since 1 October 2024, all foreign visitors to Zanzibar must buy the official inbound travel insurance — US$44 per adult (US$22 for children aged 3–17), valid for up to 90 days. Buy it online through the official visitzanzibar portal before you fly and show the QR-code receipt at immigration; it covers medical and emergency assistance across the archipelago and is checked on arrival alongside your Tanzanian visa.
Where you stay shapes your trip. Nungwi and Kendwa in the north stay swimmable all day (the tide barely retreats), Paje on the east coast is the kitesurfing capital, and Stone Town — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — is where you come for carved doors, spice markets and the Forodhani night food market, where grilled seafood skewers and Zanzibar pizza cost a couple of dollars.
Zanzibar is half beach and half history — plan for both, or you have only seen half the island.
Buy the mandatory $44 inbound insurance online before you fly — it is checked at immigration.
Pick Nungwi or Kendwa for all-day swimming; Paje for kitesurfing.
Give Stone Town a full day — and stay for the Forodhani night market.
Take a spice-farm tour; it is the story of the island in one afternoon.
Dress modestly away from the beach — Zanzibar is a conservative island.
Fly into Abeid Amani Karume International via Nairobi or Addis from Accra, and the island does the rest. Our Zanzibar Beach Retreat pairs a north-coast resort with a Stone Town day and a sunset dhow cruise — insurance, transfers and guides all arranged before you land.
Thank you for the insurance heads-up — a couple on our flight had to queue and pay at the airport while we walked through with our QR code in two minutes.
Stayed in Kendwa on Navigate Africa's recommendation and swam every single hour of the day. The Forodhani night market was the food highlight of my year.
Stories, guides and travel news from the Navigate Africa team — taking travelers from Ghana to the globe since 2018.
