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Discover Zanzibar - The Swahili Coast , Your Way
Spice walks, sunset dhow cruises, Mnemba coral reefs, UNESCO Stone Town culture, seamless bush-to-beach air transfers across the Swahili coast. — small-group island tours priced honestly, with a real guide on WhatsApp whenever you need one.
Our story
I grew up beside Zanzibar's airport, watching planes land. I spent over a decade in aviation, at the check-in counter, in dispatch, and as Branch Manager of Safarilink Zanzibar. Now I plan your Zanzibar holiday and your safari as one smooth trip. I know where trips break, so I fix it before you pay. Come for the beaches, add the safari.
Maria Majaaliwa Thomas
Founder & Owner
Why book with us
Honest prices
Park fees, transfers and taxes are itemised and included. What we quote is what you pay.
Flights, luggage and visas checked
Before you pay, we check your flights, luggage limits, visas and timings, so your island days and your safari fit together.
Local guides
Zanzibari guides who grew up here and know which beach suits which month.
Your language
We reply in English, Swahili, Russian, Italian, German, French, Spanish, Dutch and Chinese.
Popular Right Now
Signature small-group and private itineraries with verified pricing, licensed master naturalists, and zero surprise park fees.
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Zanzibar & Iconic Sanctuaries
Zanzibar
Zanzibar is a group of islands in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of mainland Tanzania. The main island, Unguja, is usually just called Zanzibar, and it is where we work. Pemba, the second island, is a quieter add-on. Zanzibar suits couples, families and groups who want warm sea, white sand and some history in the same week, and it works as the beach end of a safari trip. A normal day starts with breakfast near the sea, then a morning outing: a boat trip to see dolphins or snorkel, a walk through the old streets of Stone Town, or a visit to a spice farm. The afternoon is for the beach. Evenings are for grilled seafood, sunset cruises and music. The coast you choose changes the holiday. The north (Nungwi and Kendwa) has water you can swim in at any tide. The east (Paje, Jambiani, Matemwe, Michamvi) has tides that pull the sea far out at low water, which is good for kite surfing and walking the flats but not for a swim at every hour. The long rains fall from March to May, and some months bring seaweed to parts of the east coast. We run airport transfers, day tours and beach trips from Zanzibar airport, and we combine the island with Tanzania safaris. Pick your beach area below, then check the transfer and the tours that start there.
Nungwi
Nungwi is at the northern tip of Zanzibar and is one of the island's most popular beaches. It suits couples and groups who want swimming at any tide, resorts, restaurants and sunset cruises in one place. Days are simple. Swim in the morning, take a dhow or boat trip, eat lunch by the sea and walk to the village or the point for sunset. Dhow building is still done on the beach. The trade-off is that it is busy. The village is lively, there are many hotels and you will meet other visitors. For something quieter, look at Matemwe or Jambiani. The sea is calm, which is why Nungwi is good for swimming rather than for kite surfing. Nungwi is far from the airport at the other end of the island (about 1 hour 15 minutes by road). We run the transfer, boat trips and sunset cruises from here. Kendwa is a short drive south.
Stone Town
Stone Town is the old part of Zanzibar City and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the best place on the island for history and culture: narrow lanes, carved wooden doors, Swahili houses, old markets and the waterfront. Freddie Mercury was born here in 1946. Go in the afternoon. From about 3pm the heat drops and the streets get busy, and it is a good way to end a tour day. But plan your must-see stops before 5pm, because they close: the old slave market site, the main market (Darajani), Jaws Corner, Memories of Zanzibar (the souvenir emporium), the Catholic museum and the Anglican Church of Tanzania, the two Christian sites on the route. The trade-off is that the lanes are a maze, shops will invite you in, and the middle of the day is hot. A local guide saves time and explains what you are looking at. Cars cannot enter many streets, so we park at the edge and walk. Stone Town is 15 to 20 minutes from the airport and is the usual first or last stop on a trip. It joins well with Prison Island and the sandbank on one day: do Prison Island first, the sandbank second and Stone Town third.
Kendwa
Kendwa is the beach just south of Nungwi, known for soft white sand, clear water and strong sunsets. It suits couples, groups and anyone who wants a lively beach with more to do than most of the island. Kendwa Rocks, the beach hotel, has a DJ playing music from daytime until evening. Then a band takes over and plays rock, with a projector next to the stage showing photos of wildlife and people's journeys. More water sports run here than on most other beaches. In the evening you will see Maasai dancers jumping and entertaining on the sand, and you can get your hair plaited in the Maasai small plait style if you want. The sunset dhow cruises leave from the beach. There are private and shared cruises of one to two hours. As the dhow goes out, a crew plays coastal Swahili songs on drums and percussion (tabla, dumbek, daff, shakers, zeze and bongo). A tray of fruit, nuts, cassava chips and chevda is served. The boat has a lower deck and an upper deck for photos and video. On the way back, close to shore, guests can jump from the dhow, swim, and climb back on before docking. You see other dhows and speed boats pass, and the water is clear enough to see the bottom. The trade-off is noise and crowds in the evening, so choose a hotel away from the beach bars if you want quiet. We run the transfer from the airport, the sunset cruises and trips to Mnemba from Kendwa.
Explore the Islands of Zanzibar
Two big islands, a southern marine park and a ring of pristine island escapes. Pick an island to explore on the map and see how to get there.
Zanzibar Island (Unguja)
The heart of the archipelago. Stone Town's UNESCO-listed lanes, aromatic spice farms, Jozani Forest's rare red colobus monkeys, and white-sand beaches on every coast.
Fly into Zanzibar Airport (ZNZ) or take the high-speed ferry from Dar es Salaam (approx. 1h 45m).
Beach resorts, Stone Town cultural walks, ocean safaris, and spice tours.
layersTravel times are approximate. Switch between fast navigation, satellite aerial, and ocean floor views with the layer button.
Things To Do & Micro-Adventures
Spice tours, coral reef snorkeling, Stone Town heritage walks, and sunset dhow cruises with certified local guides.
Lunch at The Rock Restaurant
The Rock is a restaurant built on a rock in the sea at Michamvi Pingwe, on the east coast. You arrive by a short boat ride at high tide, or on foot across the sand at low tide, and sit down to a seafood lunch with the water all around you. The menu is built on seafood with Zanzibar ingredients and an Italian touch: grilled seafood platters, lobster, the fish of the day and a coconut tiramisu. The tide decides how you arrive, so we check it before we set the time. Tables need a reservation, and we make it for you. Meals are paid at the restaurant, and the prices are higher than in the beach cafes. Many guests follow the lunch with a walk on the quiet beach at Pingwe.
Bwindi Gorilla Trek
A trek starts early with a briefing and a guide. You walk through thick forest on steep paths to find a gorilla family, which can take from a couple of hours to most of a day. When you find them, you spend one hour with them from a safe distance. Porters can carry your bag. The walk can be hard, wet and muddy. Visitors must be at least 15 years old and healthy, with no cold or flu, because gorillas can catch human illness. Permits are limited and cost a lot [ADD: current UWA permit price]. Sightings are very likely but never guaranteed.
Volcanoes National Park Gorilla Trek
A trek starts at the park office in the early morning with a briefing and a guide. You walk through farmland and then bamboo and forest, on steep and often muddy paths, to find a gorilla family. When you find them, you spend one hour with them from a safe distance. The search can take from 2 to 8 hours, depending on where the family is. Permits are limited and expensive [ADD: current RDB permit price]. Visitors must be at least 15 years old and healthy, with no cold or other illness, because gorillas can catch human illness. The walk can be hard and wet, and porters are available and recommended. Sightings are very likely but never guaranteed.
Lodges & Beachfront Sanctuaries
From private oceanfront villas in Kendwa to luxury safari camps in the wild — authentic hospitality across every style.
Mwiba Lodge & Luxury Wildlife Sanctuary
Tucked away on 129,000 secluded acres of private wildlife concession in the Southern Serengeti ecosystem, Mwiba Lodge overlooks the freshwater Arugusinyai River gorge. Perched upon massive granite boulders, the lodge combines natural slate stone, weathered timber, and hand-woven thatch to fit harmoniously into the surrounding wilderness. With just ten double suites, guests enjoy complete privacy, personal butler service, and daily game drives guided by experienced local naturalists.
Kendwa Rocks
Kendwa Rocks is the best known beach hotel on Kendwa beach, on the north-west coast of Zanzibar. It stands right on the sand, with a pool, a beachside bar and a lively evening scene: a DJ by day, a live band at night, full moon parties with fire shows and a bonfire on the beach at sunset. Maasai dancers perform on the sand in the evening. Rooms range from standard rooms beside the main building, some with sea view balconies and furniture made from reclaimed dhow wood, to theme rooms and coral stone bungalows in tropical gardens, superior theme rooms and beach houses near the beach and pool, and pool bungalows with a private sun deck and plunge pool. The beach is lively in the evening, so ask us for a room away from the bar if you want quiet. Half board is available.
Qambani
Qambani is a small luxury hotel of six villas at the northern tip of the Michamvi peninsula on the east coast of Zanzibar. The villas have thatched roofs, sea views and pools, and stand in a tropical garden beside a white sand beach. Villas have one or two bedrooms, and the hotel has a lounge with a bar, a restaurant, a media room, a gym, a wellness area and two swimming pools. It can be booked on full board or self catering, and watersports and island activities are arranged through the hotel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Clear, practical advice before you book your East African journey.
Still Have Questions?
Message our resident safari planners on WhatsApp — we answer itinerary, flight, and gear questions in real time.
chatChat with Safari SpecialistNotes From The Field
Packing tips, spice-route heritage, and wildlife tracking advice written by our local expedition curators.
What to Pack for a Safari and Beach Holiday in Tanzania and Zanzibar
How to pack light for 15kg bush flight luggage limits without missing any safari essentials, evening wear, or reef-friendly beach gear.
Serengeti Great Migration: Best Months, River Crossings, and Safari Tips
A practical guide to the seasonal movements of over 1.5 million wildebeest and zebras across the Serengeti plains, and where to position yourself throughout the year.
Traditional Swahili Dhow Sailing: Handcrafted Boats of the Spice Coast
Without blueprints or modern naval software, master shipwrights in Nungwi shape coconut-coir lashed wooden hulls that have navigated the trade winds for centuries.