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Zanzibar

© laranik / Dollar Photo Club

Best time to visit

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Best time to visit Zanzibar is dry winter from June through October. Although it gets touristic at this time of the year, the dry season is best to swim with dolphins. Spring in Zanzibar is a bit rainy, but it gives you a chance to try exclusive cashew nuts and a variety of tropical fruits. Lower rates, fewer crowds and clear skies full of stars are waiting for you during hot and sunny summer from December to March. Remember many lodges are closed during the peak of wet season from mid-March through the end of May.

25 things to do in Zanzibar

Baby Red Colobus Monkeys

January–February Nature

Meet these cute animals at Jozani Forest in Zanzibar

Mwaka Kogwa Festival in Zanzibar

late July Event

Celebrate the Persian New Year in Zanzibar which has neatly been incorporated into tradition

Durian

November Food

Try this exotic juicy "King of Fruit" known as Durian

Yellowfin Tuna Fishing

August–October Activity

This is a truly blessed season for fishermen!

Rainy Season

March, April, May (long rains) | November, December (short rains) Weather

If you are into adventures, you can visit Zanzibar during the rainy season.

Beach Season

June–February Activity

Visit outstanding beaches along the eastern or northern coasts with fishing villages, tropical palms, and mangrove forests washed by the Indian Ocean

Pemba Flying Fox Breeding Season

January–August Nature

See a breathtaking sight as these huge bats take to the air, launching off en-masse as they depart for their evening hunt...for fruit

Breadfruit and Jackfruit

June–August Food

Breadfruit is a great gift for fans of unusual fruits

Coconut Crabs on Chumbe Island

June–March Nature

These giant arthropods quickly climb coconut palm trees and easily crack open their favourite food—coconuts. It is incredible and even a little scary

Cashew

October–February Food

Some say Zanzibar's cashew is the best on the African continent

Kitesurfing

January–February | June–August Activity

Experience the joy of kiteboarding and kitesurfing in Paje

Eid al-Fitr

April 9-10, 2024 Event

This is a time of giving charity and alms—two of the five pillars of the Islamic faith

Carambola (Birimbi, Star Fruit)

April–June | October–December Food

When you cut across it, this fruit looks like a 5-pointed star

Bullfighting on Pemba Island

August–February Event

It is not as bloody as the Spanish version nor as cruel as the Portuguese, but quite a picturesque spectacle

Baobab Blooming and Fruit

December (blooming) | May (ripe fruit) Nature

The circumference of some specimens of baobab exceeds 10 m and its fruits can reach a length of up to 54 cm!

Sauti za Busara (Swahili Music & Cultural Festival)

February 14–16, 2025 Event

Three nights of a rich variety of non-stop live African music at the Old Fort

Whale Watching

June–November Activity

Go on a thrilling ocean adventure and see these majestic marine creatures in Zanzibar

Butterflies

May–July | December–January Nature

Admire these gentle creatures and inspect their lifecycle in a magical garden or butterfly farm or in their natural environmen—Jozani Forest

Shoki Shoki (Rambutan)

December–January | June–August Food

Exotic fruit which captivates with its sweet and fragrant taste

Baby Giant Tortoises on Prison Island

March–April Nature

This colony of Giant Tortoises is the biggest and most gorgeous attraction of this picturesque island

Swimming with Dolphins

January–February | June–October Activity

Swimming side by side with these friendly creatures in their natural habitat is unforgettable

Diving and Snorkeling

June–March Activity

One of the best diving destinations of the world

Marine Turtle Nesting Season

February–July Nature

Watch these baby-turtles in a once-in-a-lifetime struggle for survival!

Spice Harvest and Tours

June–October Food

Clove, cinnamon, turmeric, nutmeg, lemon grass, vanilla, black pepper, cardamom, saffron... This wonderful aroma spreads through the whole island!

Cycling

June–October | January–February Activity

Bike routes winding Zanzibar will let you discover the island's real treasures

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