Written by the Paramount Gorilla Expeditions team, based in Uganda, on planning a honeymoon safari and Zanzibar beach stay.
The classic honeymoon structure is still the best: five to seven nights on safari, then four to six nights on Zanzibar's coast. Safari mornings start early and beach mornings do not, so couples tell us they were glad to get the early starts out of the way before switching into rest mode.
The honeymoon safari leg
Ask for these when you book:
- A private vehicle, not a shared one.
- A room or tent with a private deck or plunge pool, where available.
- A bush dinner or sundowner set-up, which many camps arrange with advance notice.
- A couples-focused or adults-only property, if you want to avoid busy family camps in school holidays.
See private vs group safari and milestone safaris and proposals.
The Zanzibar honeymoon leg
- Northern beaches (Nungwi and Kendwa): a livelier scene with restaurants and sunset dhow cruises.
- East coast (Michamvi and Pongwe): quieter and more secluded.
Add one inland day for Stone Town and a spice tour. See Zanzibar beyond the beach.
A sample two-week plan
- Days 1 to 6: safari in the Serengeti or the Masai Mara, ideally across two camps so you see two landscapes.
- Day 7: fly to Zanzibar and spend a night in Stone Town, with a spice tour the next morning.
- Days 8 to 13: beach time on the north or east coast, with a sunset dhow cruise or a snorkel trip if you want one.
- Day 14: fly home.
Our Gorillas, Migration & Zanzibar Honeymoon (14 days, from US$11,800 per person) follows a similar shape and adds mountain gorillas at the start. For a shorter break, the Kenya & Tanzania Honeymoon Safari (10 days) covers the safari leg on its own.
Keep it seamless
A private transfer straight from your last safari camp to the coast helps the two weeks feel like one trip. Time your dates for the dry season. See the best time to visit Zanzibar and the Seychelles and the best time to visit Tanzania.
Before you go
Check visa requirements and safari costs. If gorillas are on your list, see combining Tanzania with gorilla trekking.
See also: Seychelles Grand Island Explorer: Mahé, Praslin & La Digue.
Plan your honeymoon safari and Zanzibar
Keep planning with our Zanzibar holiday guide, Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Beach Week and Zanzibar Family Beach Holiday. The Zanzibar Commission for Tourism publishes official visitor information for the islands. We confirm the current fees for your dates in every quote.
A few Swahili words add warmth to a honeymoon; see our Swahili phrases for travellers guide.
For a quieter second island, see our Pemba Island guide.
Combining the beach with gorillas? See our Uganda honeymoon safari guide.
Honeymooning in Kenya instead? See our Kenya honeymoon safari guide.
Honeymooning on the mainland first? See our Tanzania honeymoon safari guide.