Tanzania's Southern Circuit: Ruaha and Nyerere for Travelers Who've 'Done' the North
Ruaha and Nyerere offer a quieter, wilder Tanzania for travellers who know the north. Here is what makes the southern circuit different.
Read the guide →Written by the Paramount Gorilla Expeditions team, based in Uganda, on Zanzibar beyond the beach.
Zanzibar's beaches are reason enough to visit. However, travellers who never leave the coast miss a rich cultural and natural story. Zanzibar beyond the beach is where the island's history, flavours and wildlife come to life. Adding even one full inland day makes a beach stay much deeper.
This guide covers the best things to do in Zanzibar besides the beach: Stone Town, a spice farm tour, Jozani Forest and a sunset dhow cruise. Each one works as a half-day or a full day. Better still, they fit easily around your time on the sand.
Why plan Zanzibar beyond the beach
Most visitors arrive for the white sand and warm water. That is a great reason to come. Yet Zanzibar beyond the beach has far more to offer than a sun lounger.
For one thing, Zanzibar has a long and layered history. Swahili, Arab, Persian and Indian traders all left their mark. As a result, the old town, the food and even the local farms tell a story you cannot read on a beach.
In addition, the island has wildlife that is found nowhere else. A single inland day gives you culture, nature and a change of pace. Then you return to the beach feeling that you have truly seen Zanzibar.
Zanzibar inland day trips are also easy to arrange. Most are short, and you can mix and match them. We can add any of them to your trip and confirm the details in your quote.
Stone Town Zanzibar: the old town on foot
Stone Town is the historic heart of Zanzibar. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and you can read more about it on the official UNESCO page for the Stone Town of Zanzibar. The old town is a maze of narrow streets, small squares and carved wooden doors. Centuries of Swahili, Arab, Persian and Indian influence shaped it.
It is worth a full day. Even so, a half day will give you a good taste. First, begin in the morning, while the streets are cooler and the light is soft.
Here are some places that most visitors enjoy:
- The carved doors. Many are hundreds of years old, and each one has its own pattern and story.
- The Old Fort, one of the oldest buildings in the old town.
- The House of Wonders, a grand building beside the seafront.
- Darajani Market, where you can see fresh fish, fruit and spices being sold.
- Forodhani Gardens by the sea, which is lively in the evening.
Stone Town also has a painful past. It was once a centre of the East African slave trade. A visit to the former slave market site and its memorial is a moving and important part of any day here.
We strongly suggest a local guide. A guide explains the history you would miss on your own. Moreover, a guide keeps you from getting lost in the lanes. We can arrange a Stone Town Zanzibar guide for you.
A Zanzibar spice farm tour
Zanzibar has long been known as the "Spice Island". A Zanzibar spice farm tour shows you why, and it is one of the best inland experiences on the island.
You walk through working farms with local growers. Along the way, you see, smell and taste cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla and more. Many guides will show you the plant first and then let you try the spice itself. It is a hands-on way to learn how the island's food gets its flavour.
What makes it special is the contact with local people. The growers know every tree, and they are happy to share how each spice is grown and used. Therefore, a spice tour is as much about people as it is about plants.
After that, many travellers add a local lunch, so you can taste the spices in a real meal. A spice tour also pairs well with Stone Town, since the farms are inland and the old town is on the coast. You can do both in one day.
Jozani Forest red colobus monkeys
Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park protects the island's endemic red colobus monkey. In other words, you will not find it anywhere else in the world. The park also has a mangrove boardwalk, so you can walk above the water and roots without getting muddy.
This is a very different ecosystem from the beach. The air is cooler, the trees are tall and the sounds change completely. Because of that, Jozani Forest makes a refreshing break from the sun, and it shows a side of the island that many visitors never see.
Take your time on the walk. Then look up into the trees, and listen as well as look. Red colobus monkeys move around in groups, so patience is often rewarded.
A local guide is advisable. Guides know where the monkeys are most likely to be on the day. They also explain the forest and the mangroves, which makes the walk much more interesting. If you are travelling with us from Uganda, this is a lovely way to follow a gorilla trek with another primate encounter.
A Zanzibar sunset dhow cruise
A trip on a traditional wooden sailing boat at sunset is the classic Zanzibar evening. A Zanzibar sunset dhow cruise is easily arranged from the northern beaches.
The dhow has sailed these waters for centuries. Today, you glide along the coast as the sky turns orange and pink. Most trips are relaxed and quiet, with the sail doing the work and the sea turning gold.
It is the perfect way to end an inland day. After a morning in the old town or an afternoon in the forest, you can simply sit back. For couples, a sunset dhow cruise is also a very romantic finish to the day.
Please remember that sailing times depend on the tides and the weather. We confirm the details for your dates in your quote.
How to fit Zanzibar beyond the beach into your stay
You do not need to give up your beach days. Instead, think of these trips as short breaks in a longer holiday.
Here are three easy ways to plan it:
- One big inland day. Combine Stone Town in the morning with a spice farm tour in the afternoon. End with the sunset dhow cruise on another evening.
- Two shorter outings. Spend one morning at Jozani Forest and another in Stone Town. Keep the afternoons free for the beach.
- One outing for every few beach days. This keeps the holiday relaxed, and it gives you something to look forward to.
When planning Zanzibar beyond the beach for the first time, start with Stone Town. It gives you the best sense of the island. If you have been before, try Jozani Forest or the spice farms for something fresh.
The weather matters too. Some months are wetter than others, and rain can make forest paths slippery. For help choosing your dates, read our guide to the best time to visit Zanzibar.
Plan your Zanzibar beyond the beach days with us
We are a Uganda-based team, and we build Zanzibar stays around safaris in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. Many of our travellers fly to Zanzibar after the bush to rest. A few inland days make that rest more memorable.
Tell us how many days you have, and what interests you most. We will suggest a plan, and we confirm every detail in your quote. Nothing is fixed until you are happy with it.
Things to do in Zanzibar besides the beach: more ideas
You can also combine these trips with other ideas from our journal:
- See a honeymoon safari with Zanzibar for a romantic safari and beach combination.
- Read about diving and snorkelling if you want to explore the reefs too.
- Check entry requirements before you travel, so your documents are ready.
Zanzibar rewards curious travellers. Spend your mornings in Stone Town, your afternoons on the farms or in the forest, and your evenings on the water. Then enjoy the beach even more.
See also: Zanzibar in 2 days, Zanzibar in 3 days, Zanzibar in 4 days, Zanzibar in 5 days, Zanzibar in 6 days and Zanzibar in 7 days.
Plan Zanzibar beyond the beach
Keep planning with our Tanzania Safari: The Ultimate Destination Guide and Zanzibar holiday guide. The Zanzibar Commission for Tourism publishes official visitor information for the islands. We confirm the current fees for your dates in every quote.
On Zanzibar, Swahili is the first language; see our Swahili phrases for travellers guide.
For Zanzibar's food, from urojo to octopus, see our East African food guide.
See also: Lamu Island: A Guide to Kenya's Swahili Old Town, Shela Beach and the Archipelago.
For which area to base yourself in, see our guide to where to stay in Zanzibar.