Add dates

Things to do in Zanzibar Archipelago

Our most recommended things to do in Zanzibar Archipelago

From Zanzibar: 3-Day Safari Selous with Flights

1. From Zanzibar: 3-Day Safari Selous with Flights

Explore Selous Game Reserve/ Nyerere National Park, the largest protected game reserve on the African continent. Flying in early in the morning from Zanzibar to Selous. Enjoy several activities in the area and a full-day game drive., while staying overnight at our Africa Safari Selous accommodation. After two nights and three days of exploring you will fly back to Zanzibar. You will be picked up early in the morning at the hotel you are staying for a transfer to the airport. From here you will catch your flight from Zanzibar to Selous Game Reserve/Nyerere National Park. Once you have arrived, our driver will pick you up and bring you to our Africa Safari Selous accommodation. From here you will start exploring the surroundings by joining a walking safari in the bush. Enjoy a nice warm lunch when returning to the accommodation. After lunch, our driver will take you to the Rufiji River, where you will join a boat safari. The Rufiji River is the largest and longest river in Tanzania and one of the few places where it is possible to see wildlife from the water. You will for example see hippos, crocodiles and many species of birds. When lucky you might even see an elephant or giraffe drinking from the river! After a day full of new experiences our driver will bring you back to Africa Safari Selous. Here you can enjoy a nice meal, a good shower and a comfortable bed. The following morning, after breakfast, your shared safari game drive will start in the largest Game Reserve on the African Continent, with a mid-morning coffee/tea break. During the game drive you will explore the wildlife and environment of Tanzania. Our driver guides have a lot of experience with the area and the wildlife and love to tell you everything about it. Experience an authentic safari bush lunch in the middle of the National Park! During break-time, a warm lunch will be served at set tables in the bush. After lunch, you will continue with the game drive. After enjoying a full day game drive you will head back towards our Africa Safari Selous accommodation. Enjoy another evening and night of relaxation while sleeping in the Tanzanian Bush. The following morning, after breakfast, you will be brought to the airstrip of Selous Game Reserve / Nyerere National Park, from where your flight back to Zanzibar will depart. From here our driver will be awaiting you to bring you back to your hotel.

From Zanzibar: Mikumi Day Safari

2. From Zanzibar: Mikumi Day Safari

Explore the unique Tanzanian nature and wildlife while joining us for a day safari to Mikumi National Park. Fly early morning from Zanzibar to Mikumi National Park, the fourth-largest National Park in Tanzania. Enjoy a full-day game drive and an authentic restaurant lunch during the break time. Fly back to Zanzibar late afternoon. You will be picked up early in the morning at the hotel you are staying for a transfer to the airport. Following this, your flight will depart from Zanzibar to Mikumi National Park to begin your shared safari game drive. During the game drive you will explore the wildlife and environment of Tanzania. Your driver guides have a lot of experience with the area and the wildlife and love to tell you everything about it. Experience an authentic restaurant lunch in the afternoon. After lunch, continue with the game drive, then get driven back to the airstrip for your flight back to Zanzibar. Once you arrive back in Zanzibar, enjoy a transfer back to your hotel.

Zanzibar: Quad Bike Adventure Tour to a Local Village

3. Zanzibar: Quad Bike Adventure Tour to a Local Village

Meet your guide at the office of the activity provider then drive along the main road going to Pwani Majangani, for about 4 km. The tour usually stops for a few minutes at a local shop where you can buy some food to offer as a present to the village. After this small pit stop, you leave the tarmac road to ride the quad off-road through the rice fields, where your guide stops for about 15 minutes to explain the economy, culture, and habits of the villages in the middle part of the island. After this explanation, the excursion goes ahead through the environment of the island to arrive at the local village, where you'll stop for about 1 hour. Travelers will have the opportunity to stay with the children, play with them, and be in contact with the community of the village. After this first contact, your guide will offer guests local fresh fruits (Madafu, seasonal fresh fruit). Next, head to the House of Mad, a typical home in the rural village, as your guide discusses the life and culture of the Zanzibarian people. Before getting back on the quad, visit plantations of cinnamon, cloves, lemon grass, and other varieties, which are cultivated by the people of the village. You finally leave the village riding to Pwani Majangani to reach the fishermen's village. At the village, you will stop for a few minutes to explain the difference between the rural village and the community based on the coast of the Island. Following the sand road, passing through the fishermen's houses, you arrive at the beach where you will stop for a few minutes before heading back to the starting point.

Zanzibar: Tour of Jozani Forest and the Rock Restaurant

4. Zanzibar: Tour of Jozani Forest and the Rock Restaurant

Join us for an exciting tour and visit the Jozani Forest and the Rock Restaurant in one day! This tour can be either done in the morning or afternoon and takes half a day. Our driver will be ready to pick you up from your hotel. You will first visit the Jozani National Park, home to the Red Colobos Monkey and the only National Park in Zanzibar. Enjoy walking around this beautiful nature park with a guide. After your visit to Jozani National Park you will continue your adventure and will be taken to the Rock restaurant, which is an extraordinary seafood restaurant located on a rock in the middle of the Indian Ocean. The perfect place to take some nice holiday pictures!

Zanzibar: Changuu Island and Stone Town Tour with Lunch

5. Zanzibar: Changuu Island and Stone Town Tour with Lunch

The tour begins with a private boat trip to Changuu Island, also known as Prison Island or Turtle Island. The island earned its name after it was purchased in 1893 by the British First Minister of Zanzibar who constructed a prison complex here. Although no prisoners were ever housed on the island, it was eventually used as a quarantine station for yellow fever sufferers, and later became home to more than 50 tortoises who still live there today. On the island, enjoy some free time to explore the beauty of this wild paradise, and get up close to the tortoises that roam freely. Some of the tortoises here are more than 100 years old, and you can even get close enough to feed them and take photos. You can also find peacocks and antelope on the island, then cool off in the crystal clear waters during a snorkel session in search of marine life, colorful fish, and coral reef. After your visit to Changuu Island, head towards one of the most historically prominent and artistic destinations in East Africa, Stone Town. Upon arrival, admire the fascinating architecture of the town, which dates back to the 19th century, and reflects the diverse influences of Swahili, Arab, Persian, Indian and European cultures. Learn about how the town earned its UNESCO World Heritage status, and then visit the Old Slave Market and the City Market. Here you can shop for almost anything whilst soaking up the authentic East African atmosphere and meeting the locals. Once you’ve wandered through the market it’s time to visit the Palace Museum, the local House of Wonder, and of course Freddie Mercury’s former home. There’s also time for a trip to the Peace Memorial and the Natural History Museum before ending the tour with a delicious local lunch at a traditional restaurant.

From Stone Town: Private Tour to Prison Island

6. From Stone Town: Private Tour to Prison Island

Visit Prison Island on a private 3-hour tour, and discover the rich history and beautiful natural surroundings of this location. Meet your guide in Zanzibar, or select the option including hotel pickup, then enjoy the ride to the island on a traditional dhow. Learn how this small island gained its name and explore the place that is now home to more than 50 tortoises, some over 100 years old.   Feed the tortoises and take up-close pictures with them, as you keep a look out for the peacocks and antelope that also live there. After discovering the island and its history, take the opportunity to snorkel in the clear waters off the coast amongst tropical fish and colorful coral. At the end of your tour, return to Zanzibar, where you’ll be dropped off in the city center, or at your hotel.

Zanzibar: Prison Island & Jozani Forest Guided Tour

7. Zanzibar: Prison Island & Jozani Forest Guided Tour

Come and experience a unique place called Prison Island and learn more about Zanzibar’s history. Prison Island gets its name from the prison built to condemn Zanzibari citizens to be isolated from the island. The prison was previously owned by an Arab to house his rebellious slaves, the prison was never actually used, and the island is now home to a tortoise sanctuary and a hotel. Prison Island is 20 minutes away from Stone Town by boat and has spectacular coral reefs for you to enjoy. Giant tortoises shuffle through the trees, with the infinite patience that old age brings. Originally thought to be from the Comoros Islands and Seychelles, some of these tortoises are thought to be over 100 years old. After the trip to the tortoise sanctuary, you´re left to explore the island. If you´re feeling active, you can follow one of the hiking trails, snorkel in the crystal clear waters in search of colourful tropical fish darting through the reef or soak up some sun on the white beach. Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park, Zanzibar Tanzania Jozani Forest is in the south of the island and is the largest area of mature forest in Zanzibar. A car will take you there, and a guide will walk you around the ancient hardwood forest and mangrove swamps. It is also home to the Red Colobus monkeys, unique to Zanzibar, with less than 2000 remaining in the world. A boardwalk around the mangrove swamp at the end of the tour and a visit to the giant turtle sanctuary is also included.

Zanzibar: Jozani Forest National Park and Spice Farm Tour

8. Zanzibar: Jozani Forest National Park and Spice Farm Tour

Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park, Zanzibar Tanzania Jozani Forest is in the south of the island and is the largest area of mature forest in Zanzibar. A car will take you there, and a guide will walk you around the ancient hardwood forest and mangrove swamps. It is also home to the Red Colobus monkeys, unique to Zanzibar, with less than 2000 remaining in the world. A boardwalk around the mangrove swamp at the end of the tour, and a visit to the giant turtle sanctuary, is also included. Your next spot will be the Spice Farm where you will discover why Zanzibar is called the Spice Island. You will learn all about the fruits, plants and spices planted on the island.

Prison Island: Private Half-Day Tour

9. Prison Island: Private Half-Day Tour

This private guided half day tour can begin any time from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Meet your well-trained guide and boatman as your board your steam-engine wooden boat. Head to the prestigious island and enjoy the 30-minute journey.  Listen to the history of the island and discover the past centuries through the historical buildings, which have served many purposes over the years including a prison, chapel, and hiding place for slaves after the abolition.  Enjoy a swim or snorkel around the colorful coral rocks and turquoise waters. Play with giant tortoises and you may take photographs with these old precious creatures. If you do not have much experience or confidence in the water, you will be provided with a life jacket. 

Zanzibar: Mnemba Atoll Marine Reserve Snorkeling Tour

10. Zanzibar: Mnemba Atoll Marine Reserve Snorkeling Tour

After pickup at your hotel on Unguja, Zanzibar, hop in your private boat toward Mnemba Island. Depending on conditions, reach the coral reef of the Mnemba Atoll Marine Reserve in up to 20 minutes. Once there, explore a reef that is big enough for everyone so you won't feel crowded, even on busy days. Keep your eyes peeled for yellow snapper, barracuda, turtles, and much more. After snorkeling, enjoy a snack stop on a sandbank. Relax under the sun as you savor seasonal fresh fruit and other small bites. Later, head back to shore on Unguja. See local fishermen coming back from the sea and selling their day's catches before being transferred back to your accommodation.

All activities

111 activities found
Sort by:
Page 1 of 7

Other Sightseeing Options in Zanzibar Archipelago

Want to discover all there is to do in Zanzibar Archipelago? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Zanzibar Archipelago

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 721 reviews

I had an absolutely wonderful day tour of Dar es Salaam with Mike. This young man met me at the Ferry Terminus on my arrival, the first thing I saw when exiting the building, was my name held high in black and white. He gave me the required history of the area we were in and then he took me around the area before we drove to the next point. My tour lasted approximately six hours, and Mike kept me engaged all the way, he is a wealth of information and very knowledgeable about Dar. We covered so many places and only break for lunch. He also provided bottled water to keep me hydrated. He was very patient with my many questions, and his main interest was making sure I had a great experience. I now have a wonderful knowledge of this wonderful city. There was so much information at hand, and so fascinating. We also visited the tourist market where I was able to purchase all my souvenirs, and I found the fish market to be a memorable experience. Mike turned a good vacation into a great one.

Customer service was great for the little hiccups I had. Boat driver was amazing. Guide was good and nice. At the end i was ready to not be haggled anymore after the boat ride to do other things in very touristy spots. Overall great experience with get your guide and will use it again.

Hyggelige og behjelpelige folk. Spesielt fornøyd med vår guide som kun hadde jobbet knapt en måned. Anbefales å ta denne aktiviteten tidlig på dagen slik som vi gjorde. Bra sammensatt og man opplevde mye på kun 3 timer! Marta og Ingrid.

It was an amazing experience, we could not have been happier. I recommend it wholeheartedly. And Ahmad was the best guide/driver one can possibly imagine.

It was a fantastic experience! Thank you very much! Additional thanks for our guide! :)