A jewel of the Indian Ocean – ancient coral-stone cities, pristine reef-fringed beaches, and the fragrant legacy of centuries of trade. Pair your Tanzania safari with an unforgettable island escape.
From pristine reefs to fragrant spice farms – the island offers a remarkable variety of experiences beyond the beach.
Nungwi and Kendwa offer calm swimmable water year-round. Paje and Jambiani on the east coast draw kitesurfers. Warm 28–30°C water and extraordinary aquamarine seas.
45+ dive sites year-round. Mnemba Atoll produces dolphins, turtles, whale sharks (Oct–Feb), and pristine coral gardens.
Hands-on tours through clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla plantations. Finish with a multi-course spice lunch prepared on the farm.
Sail aboard a traditional wooden dhow with cold drinks and fresh seafood as Stone Town’s minarets fade astern at sunset.
Changuu Island hosts century-old giant tortoises. Off Kizimkazi, resident dolphin pods are observable year-round on guided snorkel tours.
Zanzibar Island is the perfect finale to any Tanzania safari – UNESCO Stone Town, spice-scented interiors, and white-sand beaches on warm turquoise waters just 35 km off the coast.
Wild Gaze Safaris arranges seamless extensions from the northern circuit: transfers, boutique-to-luxury beach lodges, and curated island excursions included.
A living museum of Swahili, Arab, Indian, and European cultures compressed into a labyrinth of coral-stone streets, carved doorways, and sun-bleached arcades.
Stone Town is an extraordinary place to explore. The ancient maze of narrow streets is a patchwork of historic coral-stone buildings, their facades shaded by elegantly carved balconies, loggias, and verandas that cling precipitously overhead. The cumulative effect – the call to prayer woven through market sounds, the scent of cloves and cardamom, the flash of silver jewellery – is unlike anywhere else in the world.
Stone Town gives a genuine, unvarnished glimpse of Zanzibar's essence: the sights, sounds, and smells of the market, harbour, mosques, and restaurants. The Sultan's Palaces and landmark buildings such as the House of Wonders and the Arab Fort have been thoughtfully restored. In the evenings, Forodhani Gardens fill with smoke from the harbour-front barbecue stalls and the glow of the curio markets, where the whole city seems to gather in the warm sea air.
Built by Omani Arabs in the late 17th century over the ruins of a Portuguese chapel, the Old Fort is the oldest surviving structure in Stone Town. Today it hosts craft stalls, an open-air amphitheatre used for live performances, and a pleasant café – the ideal first stop on any walking tour.
The tallest and grandest building in Stone Town, the House of Wonders was the first building in East Africa to have electricity and an elevator when it was completed in 1883 for Sultan Barghash. Its tiered facade and sweeping harbour views make it one of the island's most iconic landmarks.
As dusk falls along the harbour front, Forodhani Gardens transforms into Zanzibar's most atmospheric open-air dining experience. Vendors grill fresh seafood, Zanzibar pizza, sugarcane juice, and urojo soup by gaslight as locals and visitors mingle in equal numbers – a world apart and well worth savouring.
Zanzibar's main covered market buzzes from dawn with fresh fish, tropical fruit, live poultry, and sacks of whole spices – cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg. The adjacent Darajani bazaar is the place to find Kangas, silver jewellery, and hand-carved furniture at local prices.
One of the most important historical sites in East Africa, the former slave market – once the largest in the Indian Ocean world – is now home to an Anglican cathedral and a sobering underground memorial. A guided tour here provides essential context for understanding Zanzibar's complex past.
Jun–Oct & Dec–Feb for dry beaches and diving. Short rains Nov; long rains Apr–May.
ZNZ Airport from Dar, Nairobi & Arusha. Fast ferries from Dar (~2h). We arrange all transfers.
Tanzania visa covers Zanzibar. East Africa Tourist Visa available. We handle permit logistics.
Private vehicle transfers between airport, Stone Town & resorts. Stone Town best explored on foot with a guide.
USD cash widely accepted. Malaria prophylaxis recommended. Bottled water only.
Muslim island – modest dress in towns. Ask before photographing people. Respect Ramadan customs.
Most northern circuit safaris can include a seamless 3–5 night Zanzibar extension. We handle all transfers, accommodation, and island activities.