Zanzibar – The soulful spice in your Safari adventure.

Want to end your Safari with a little salt in your hair and a swirl of spice in the air. That’s Zanzibar. 

I always get excited when guests ask, “Should we add Zanzibar to our Safari?” My answer? A resounding YES! If your Safari feeds the wild part of your soul, then Zanzibar is where your heart slows down, your senses wake up, and your connection deepens… not just to the land, but to the people who call it home. 

Upendo Beach - one of the beach resorts we enjoy sending you.

The perfect pairing: Safari + Zanzibar 

After days in the bush tracking lions, sipping sundowners under acacia trees, and waking to the calls of hornbills, there’s something magical about trading your hiking boots for flip-flops. 

You might see Zanzibar as a relaxing post-Safari “add-on,” but the reality is that it’s part of Tanzania’s beating heart. I always recommend visiting after your Safari, so you get to soak in that wild energy first… and then let the island bring you gently back to earth.

Via Sam Vox, a brilliant photographer who captures Zanzibar magically.

Stone Town: Zanzibar’s cultural heartbeat 

Stone Town is where Zanzibar tells its story. It’s not polished. It’s real, layered in history, and oozing character in every crumbling coral wall and carved wooden door. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a kaleidoscope of cultures (African, Arab, Indian, European) all woven together in narrow alleyways and buzzing bazaars. 

You’ll walk past colorful markets where spices fill the air and women wear kangas printed in Swahili proverbs. You’ll hear the call to prayer echo off centuries-old minarets as kids dart through the streets kicking homemade soccer balls. The scent of cardamom and grilled octopus floats through the evening air, and if you pause to look up, you’ll see balconies crafted hundreds of years ago, each one telling its own small tale of this island’s layered past. 

My kids in 2015. Watching in awe the kids jumping in Forodhani, Stone Town, Zanzibar.

Evening meal preparation in bustling Forodhani, Stone Town, Zanzibar

Anglican Church - a place of history

House of Wonders - place fit for a king.

Coffee break after exploring the sensory overload meat market.

Zanzibar’s history as a trading hub means you’ll taste Indian and Persian influences in the food (don’t skip a bowl of spicy biryani or Zanzibari mix). If adventurous, enjoy the Forodhani food scene in the evening. You may have passed the local market on your Stone Town tour.

You’ll see majestic Omani architecture near centuries-old churches. You’ll learn about the dark legacy of the slave trade, and witness how modern Zanzibaris carry their past with strength and grace. 

People here are proud of their heritage – and wonderfully open to sharing it with curious travelers. A guided walking tour is one of the best ways to explore the labyrinthine alleyways on your first day. After that, take it slow, get deliciously lost, and let the street rhythms lead you. 

Local etiquette note:
Zanzibar is predominantly Muslim, so dressing modestly in town is appreciated (think shoulders and knees covered). 

Humpback whales? Just another bonus! 

Want one more wild, heart-stirring reason to go? 

Between July and August, Zanzibar sits along the migration route of Humpback Whales traveling with their calves from the chilly waters of South Africa toward the warmer currents of Somalia. Seeing a mother and baby breach against a Zanzibari sunset? It’s the kind of moment that lives with you forever. 

This is the magic of combining Safari and sea. You go from spotting lion cubs on dust-colored savannas to watching whale tails slice through sapphire surf. 

Zanzibar is a vibe-shift… in the best possible way. 
It’s the celebration after the Safari. The soul after the thrill. 

If you’re dreaming of an adventure that’s wild, warm, and wonderfully human, Zanzibar is calling. And I’d love to help you answer. 

Best time to visit Zanzibar

Zanzibar is a year-round destination, but the two peak seasons are June to October (dry, sunny, ideal for beaches and water activities) and December to February (warm and mostly dry, perfect for combining with a Tanzania Safari over the holidays). The long rains run April to May and are worth avoiding if possible. If humpback whales are on your wish list, plan for July to August.

Frequently asked questions about Zanzibar

How do you get to Zanzibar from the Serengeti?

Most guests fly from the Serengeti or Arusha into Zanzibar's Abeid Amani Karume International Airport — it's a straightforward connection, usually via Dar es Salaam or direct on a charter. We handle all the logistics so you don't have to think about it.

How many nights do you need in Zanzibar?

We recommend a minimum of three nights to do it justice — one to explore Stone Town, two to properly unwind on the beach. Four or five nights is the sweet spot if you want to add a spice tour, snorkelling, or a day trip to Prison Island.

Which part of Zanzibar is best for beaches?

The north and northeast coasts — Nungwi and Kendwa — offer the calmest, clearest water year-round. The east coast (Paje, Jambiani) is stunning but can have seaweed seasonally. We'll recommend the right area based on when you're travelling.

Africa from the air – Adventures that take you higher

There’s something unforgettable about standing in the middle of the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania or Masai Mara, Kenya as wildebeest thunder past or watching hippos laze in the Zambezi River, Zambia as your guide whispers stories of the bush. But if you want an entirely different view – one that will take your breath away and stay with you forever – look up. 

And then? Take off. 

Mighty Zambezi River as I was leaving Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia.

Exploring Africa from the air is about seeing familiar landscapes from an entirely new angle. Whether you’re floating in a hot air balloon over endless plains, flying low over the tangled channels of the Okavango Delta in Botswana, or paragliding along the dramatic cliffs of Victoria Falls, Zambia from above is pure magic. 

Here’s how to take your Safari to new heights (literally!). 

Mighty Zambezi River as I was leaving Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia.

Hot air balloon Safaris: sunrise and silence 

With my daughter on our Spring Break Safari 2022 in Southern Serengeti, Tanzania with Serengeti Balloon Safari.

We have many guests adding Balloon Safaris to their trips this summer 2026- from big families taking over a whole balloon and floating over the Mara River, low and slow, to couples enjoying the sunrise from a balloon over the Central Serengeti plains. We can’t wait for them to experience these magical moments.

One of my absolute favorite Safari moments is floating peacefully in a hot air balloon above the golden grasses of the Serengeti or Masai Mara. Everything is so still… and the world is waking up beneath you. Herds moving gently below, giraffes on a journey, and elephants casting long shadows across the plains. You never know what you will see when up in the sky.

You’ll take off just before sunrise, and with any luck, you’ll catch that first golden light painting the land in warm amber hues. When I say it’s magical, I really mean it. 

Hot air balloon Safaris are offered in several places, including the Tarangire and Ruaha National Park, Tanzania. It’s always a smooth early morning experience followed by a bush breakfast and bubbly under a flat-topped acacia.  

Heli flips & light aircraft: Into the wild we go 

via Helicopter Horizons

Flying into remote Safari parks is part of the adventure! There’s nothing quite like landing on a makeshift bush airstrip while your pilot radios a quick message: “We may need to circle once – there’s a zebra on the runway.” (Yes, it happens. Often. And trust me, it never gets old.) 

From the air, you’ll see the land unfold: verdant wetlands, deep escarpments, glittering rivers, and even herds beneath you that you wouldn’t spot from the ground. The first time I flew over the Okavango Delta in a four seater plane, I was stunned by the sheer geometry of it. The way water, reeds, and tracks form a natural patchwork quilt, stirred by the movement of elephants, buffalo, and hippos below. 

Want an even more heart-thumping experience? Opt for a low-altitude helicopter ride over the Okavango Delta, the Zambezi River when or through the dramatic red canyons of Namibia. You’ll feel every curve, every cliff. It’s wild freedom in every sense. 

Daredevils welcome: Skydives & paraglides 

Microflight via Livingstone’s Adventure, Victoria Falls, Zambia

For my thrill-seekers, Africa is a playground waiting to be experienced upside down, inside out, and freefalling. 

Skydiving over the Namib Desert? The contrast of the bright sky and red dunes is nothing short of cinematic. Or take a leap over Lake Victoria and watch its vastness stretch well beyond imagination. 

Prefer something slightly less vertical? Paragliding over Zambia and Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls lets you soar like a bird across one of the most geologically impressive landscapes on Earth. Thermals carry you over escarpments, lakes, and forests – it’s peaceful... and a lot more accessible than people realize! 

Why flying in Africa feels so different

On my way to Mala Mala Game Reserve in South Africa

Here’s something I love about air travel in Africa – it’s never just “a flight.” It’s a story. A moment. Maybe it starts with the car gently herding giraffes off the runway. Or it’s your pilot who’s been flying for 30 years and has tales to share that make your jaw drop. Or maybe it’s the fact that your ‘airport’ is a grassy clearing with no terminal in sight… just zebras hanging out near your luggage. 

These little moments? They give your Safari an edge. A touch of magic. A different kind of freedom. 

If you’re dreaming of Africa, don’t just think land cruiser and beautiful places-to-stay (though you know I love those, too). Let’s add the sky to your story. 

Up, up… and Safari on.