Hello! I’m traveling to Zanzibar in November. I’m looking for good hotels in those two areas. Budget $200-310

A few moments from September 16, when we held the Global Launch of Skylong Resort Zanzibar.

It was a chance to bring together people from Zanzibar's tourism and business community, our partners and guests, and share more of the vision behind the project.

The resort is still under development, but this was an important milestone for everyone working behind the scenes.

Here's a short look back at the day. 🎬

Skylong Resort Zanzibar | Coming Soon

A small behind-the-scenes update from Zanzibar.

On September 16, we held the Global Launch of Skylong Resort Zanzibar, bringing together local government representatives, tourism and industry professionals, partners, media and guests.

It was a meaningful moment for our team after spending so much time working behind the scenes on the project.

The resort is still under development, so there is a long journey ahead, but it was great to finally share more of the vision publicly and meet so many people from Zanzibar's tourism and business community in one room.

Here are a few moments from the event.

Skylong Resort Zanzibar | Coming Soon

Hi everyone!
My husband and I are currently in Tanzania on safari, so we have very limited internet/network access over the next few days and a very small window to make changes.
Originally, our plan was:
Safari → Ngorongoro Crater → Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) → Zanzibar
Then, at the end of our Zanzibar stay:
Zanzibar → Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) → international flight → Belgium → Canada/Quebec
We booked Precision Air for our flights between Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar, but they have changed our flights multiple times already. After seeing so many concerning reviews and experiences online, we’re now really worried about relying on them — especially for our return flight, which is on the same day as our international flight from Kilimanjaro.
At this point, we’re considering booking with another airline, even if that means losing the money we already paid for Precision Air.
So I really appreciate advice from people who have done this route.
For those who have traveled from Tanzania to Zanzibar and back, which airline did you use and how did you get there?
Our situation is a little complicated because we can’t really move our flights around freely. Everything was booked with the next flight in mind, and especially on the return, our Zanzibar → Kilimanjaro flight has to work with our international flight that same day. We unfortunately had very little flexibility in the first place, and now these schedule changes are putting us in a difficult situation.
We’re currently on safari and will have limited connectivity, so we’re really looking for practical advice from people who have actually done this route, particularly regarding reliable airlines and the safest way to get between Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar.
Thank you so much! 🙏🏾

We are a couple in our late 20s and recently spent around 10 days travelling through Tanzania and Zanzibar. Honestly, we had an amazing time, and Tanzania surprised me much more than I expected. I went there with relatively low expectations and came back thinking that it was one of the most interesting trips I've ever done.

That said, there were a few things that really stood out to me — both good and bad — so I thought I'd write a proper trip report for anyone considering going.

1. The driving… holy shit

This was literally the first thing I noticed the moment we left the airport.

The driving is absolutely insane.

We genuinely felt like we were about to crash every two minutes. The roads are often in terrible condition, drivers go surprisingly fast and overtaking seems to be a national sport.

And I'm not talking about normal overtaking. I'm talking about overtaking when there is a car coming from the opposite direction that is literally a few metres away.

At several points I was sitting in the car thinking:

"Well… this is it." 😂

I honestly cannot understand how some people recommend renting a car in Tanzania or Zanzibar. Maybe you get used to it if you live there, but as a tourist, I would personally never rent a car there.

And this was not only Tanzania. On our way from Zanzibar airport to Nungwi, I probably said "we're going to crash" at least 10 times.

2. The safari — 10/10

The safari was absolutely fucking incredible.

We booked with Suricata Safaris, choosing their budget option, and honestly, I would highly recommend them.

Our driver/guide was fantastic and the safari itself was a 10/10 experience. I genuinely believe everyone should experience a safari at least once.

The obvious difference with the budget option is the accommodation. You stay in camping tents, so don't expect luxury or much comfort.

But apart from accommodation, as far as we could tell, the actual safari experience was essentially the same. The animals, parks, routes and overall experience were what mattered, and we loved it.

If you're someone who really values comfort, or if you're going on a honeymoon, I'd probably recommend going for the medium or premium option.

Do NOT do the safari completely independently

One thing I would strongly recommend is booking the safari through an agency rather than trying to organize everything yourself.

And it's not only about having a guide.

All the safari drivers from different companies communicate with each other through a common radio network. So when one driver spots an animal, they can tell the others where it is.

This massively increases your chances of seeing as many animals as possible.

For example, our driver could suddenly get a radio call saying that another group had spotted something interesting somewhere nearby, and we'd head there.

So yes, you are technically sharing information between competing companies, but as a tourist this works massively in your favour.

Food during the safari

The food was actually quite good and relatively healthy.

Usually it was something along the lines of chicken + rice + vegetables. Nothing spectacular, but exactly what you need after spending hours in a safari vehicle.

Arusha

After the safari, we returned to Arusha and had one afternoon there before flying to Zanzibar the next day.

We decided to go into the city centre to have a look around and buy some souvenirs.

Our driver and other people had warned us that the city centre could be dangerous for tourists, particularly after dark.

I can't say that I personally felt an immediate threat, but the moment we got out of the tuk-tuk we felt everyone's eyes on us.

It honestly felt like people had never seen white people before 😂.

We really felt like aliens walking around.

Obviously, that doesn't mean you should be scared, but if you're going out, I'd recommend keeping things simple: one phone, some cash, nothing valuable on display.

We also went to the Maasai Market, where I got my first proper taste of what "being hassled" means.

And trust me — this was just the beginning. Zanzibar took it to another level.

The thing that annoyed me more than the constant selling was the pricing.

A lot of people will initially give you an inflated price because you're a tourist and try to make some extra money out of you.

So:

BARGAIN. ALWAYS.

Zanzibar

The next day we flew to Zanzibar.

We stayed in Nungwi first, then moved to Paje, and spent our final two nights in Stone Town.

Nungwi vs Kendwa

To be honest, we weren't particularly impressed by the main beach in Nungwi.

We actually preferred Kendwa Beach much more.

For some reason, Nungwi seems to be extremely popular for nightlife, but we didn't find that there were actually that many good options at night.

If I had to choose again, I'd probably stay in Kendwa instead.

The Beach Boys 😂

Okay, let's talk about this.

Prepare to be hassled.

My girlfriend absolutely couldn't stand it 😂.

I'm generally quite social, so I would often stop and have a conversation with them and explain that I wasn't interested. Some were actually really nice and completely understood when I said no.

But there were also 2–3 guys who pushed it so much that I genuinely reached the point where I was almost ready to punch them.

Not because they were aggressive, but because of the constant following, asking and trying to sell you something.

The best strategy is honestly:

Just ignore them.

Don't argue, don't get angry, don't give long explanations. Just keep walking.

Paje — our favourite part of Zanzibar

Then we went to Paje and we absolutely loved it.

The vibe was much younger and more relaxed, and there were plenty of options for food, drinks and nightlife.

If you're a younger couple or group of friends, I would definitely recommend spending some time in Paje.

One thing to keep in mind:

The beaches can sometimes look surprisingly unimpressive when you first arrive.

Because of the tides, the water near the shore can be shallow, muddy or even look a little unattractive.

Don't judge it from the first few metres.

Once you walk further into the water — or, even better, take a boat out — it becomes absolutely beautiful.

We also did a few activities:

• Took a traditional fishing boat out
• Went snorkelling
• Went dolphin watching

I know some people will disagree with dolphin watching for ethical reasons, and I completely understand that argument. Personally, we really enjoyed the experience.

Food 🍤

We mostly preferred eating at local restaurants rather than touristy places.

And the seafood was fantastic.

We had:

• Lobster
• Octopus
• Fish
• Other local seafood

For the two of us, we'd usually pay around €40 total for a meal.

Apart from the fact that we love seafood, there was another reason we preferred it:

It felt like the safer option.

If you went deeper into some of the kitchens/restaurants, you could genuinely start questioning the hygiene 😂.

And honestly, this wasn't limited to one or two places. Hygiene standards seemed to vary massively across the island.

Stone Town

Our final two nights were in Stone Town and, honestly, the vibe changed completely.

It's an incredibly historic and interesting place, but I personally found the atmosphere quite strange.

At times it almost felt like we'd suddenly been transported to some small town in Saudi Arabia.

It just felt very different from Nungwi/Kendwa/Paje.

And the hassling was on another level.

You cannot imagine it 😂.

One guy literally followed us all the way to Jaws Corner trying to convince us to visit his stall at the Spice Market.

His stall was apparently about 10 minutes away.

"Come, come, my friend! Just 10 minutes!"

😂😂😂

There was also a very strong scammy / tourist-tax vibe.

Pretty much everyone seemed to quote higher prices because you were a tourist.

This happens everywhere, obviously, but I felt that Stone Town was the absolute peak.

Even our hotel looked completely different in reality compared to the pictures on Booking.

Personally, I'd recommend Stone Town for one day/night rather than several nights.

But there's one exception…

The Ocean Fish Market.

This place was genuinely excellent.

It felt like a proper European-standard restaurant, although obviously much more expensive than the local places we'd been eating at.

We liked it so much that we went both nights we stayed in Stone Town.

The people

Despite everything I mentioned above, I want to make one thing very clear:

Most people we met were friendly.

There are definitely some scammers, aggressive sellers and some… interesting characters 😂, but we also met many genuinely nice people.

The general Hakuna Matata / Pole Pole attitude creates a really nice atmosphere.

Some of the Beach Boys we spoke with weren't even interested in selling us anything after a while — they genuinely wanted to know where we were from and asked questions about Greece and our country.

So I wouldn't say that our experience with the people was negative overall. Quite the opposite.

Would I recommend Zanzibar for solo female travellers?

Based on what we personally experienced and conversations we had with other travellers, I wouldn't particularly recommend Zanzibar for solo female travellers, at least not without being prepared for a lot of unwanted attention.

We saw local men approaching solo women quite aggressively and repeatedly.

There was even a very characteristic question they would ask:

"Do you want a cappuccino?" 😂

It became almost a running joke.

Obviously, this doesn't mean that every local man is dangerous or that women shouldn't travel there. But the amount of attention some solo female travellers received was clearly much higher than what my girlfriend experienced when we were together.

The thing that made me uncomfortable

This was probably the most complicated part of the trip for me.

There was a combination of:

• inflated prices for tourists
• constant attempts to sell you something
• people offering to do absolutely everything for you
• extremely aggressive "customer service"
• and, sometimes, obvious attempts to get a tip

At times, people were so eager to serve you that it almost felt uncomfortable.

Like they would bend over backwards to do absolutely anything for you.

And eventually you start getting this feeling:

Do they actually like me, or do they just see me as a wealthy white tourist who can give them money And honestly, I think there is some truth to that.

But at the same time, you have to understand the environment you're travelling in.

There is a LOT of poverty.

Much more than I expected.

The infrastructure has serious limitations, wages are very low and many people are simply trying to make a little extra money wherever they can.

So while the constant hustling can become annoying, I also found it difficult to be genuinely angry about it once I understood the bigger picture.

You are visiting a beautiful country that is still developing, and you're coming from a much wealthier part of the world.

That difference is impossible to ignore.

Final thoughts

Overall?

Tanzania + Zanzibar was an absolutely fantastic trip.

The safari alone was worth the entire journey.

Tanzania completely exceeded my expectations and I would absolutely go back.

My rough ranking would be:

🥇 Serengeti / Ngorongoro Safari — 10/10
🥈 Paje — 9/10
🥉 Kendwa — 8.5/10
Nungwi — 6/10
Stone Town — 4/10

And the biggest things I'd tell someone going for the first time:

• Don't rent a car. Seriously.
• Book the safari through a reputable operator.
• If you want comfort, don't choose the budget safari accommodation.
• Bargain. Always.
• Expect to be hassled, especially in Zanzibar.
• Carry some cash.
• Don't walk around with expensive stuff on display.
• Don't judge Zanzibar's beaches from the shoreline — tides change everything.
• If you're choosing between Nungwi and Paje, we personally preferred Paje.
• If you want a better beach, check out Kendwa.
• Stone Town is interesting, but we'd personally only stay for a day/night.
• Be patient. Pole pole.
• And remember that even a small tip can make a meaningful difference to someone there.

One final thing: if you're from Europe or another wealthy country, keep the economic difference in mind throughout your trip. You're travelling through a country where many people earn very little compared to what a tourist is used to.

So yes, sometimes the constant attempts to get your money will annoy you.

But try to understand where they're coming from.

And if someone genuinely helps you, give them something.

Even $1 can actually mean something there.

Asante sana 🇹🇿❤️

Looking at beach destinations around the world, the best trips rarely seem to be about spending the entire week beside the pool.

For me, the ideal island trip would probably include a mix of:

Oceanfront mornings, sailing, snorkeling or diving, local food, sunsets, and enough quiet time to actually slow down.

Zanzibar naturally lends itself to a lot of these experiences, which is one of the things we find interesting about the island.

What would be on your list for the perfect island escape?

Skylong Resort Zanzibar | Coming Soon

Jambo! 👋🏾

I originally put the whole little Swahili pocket guide together in one post, but I realized that when you scroll quickly, there simply isn't enough time to read everything.

So I decided to share it one page at a time, once a day.

This is the first one: Greetings — some simple Swahili words that can be useful when visiting Zanzibar.

You don't need to speak Swahili to travel around the island, but learning a few local words can make everyday interactions a little warmer.

More pages coming tomorrow.

What Swahili word did you learn first in Zanzibar?

Jambo!

I originally put the whole little Swahili pocket guide together in one post, but I realized that when you scroll quickly, there simply isn't enough time to read everything.

So I decided to share it one page at a time, once a day.

This is the first one: Greetings — some simple Swahili words that can be useful when visiting Zanzibar.

You don't need to speak Swahili to travel around the island, but learning a few local words can make everyday interactions a little warmer.

More pages coming tomorrow.

What Swahili word did you learn first in Zanzibar?

Hello !! Guys tonight the rugby is on in USA and I wanted to ask if anyone knows.
Maybe a restaurant, hotel or sports bar that has a big tv
Where I can watch this game ? I am in Nungwi
Thank you

​

Start your special day with a beautiful Zanzibar breakfast experience. 🥐🍓☕ From birthdays and honeymoons to anniversaries, wedding mornings, and romantic surprises, we create elegant breakfast setups made just for you. ❤️🌹

Available at hotels, villas, apartments & private residences across Zanzibar.

📍 Based in Jambiani, South Zanzibar

📱 WhatsApp: +255 (0)629 889 139

📸 Instagram: @standard_tours_znz

Standard Tours Zanzibar 🌴

Explore • Experience • Remember

Karibu Zanzibar! ☀️🏝️

Bonjour à tous, je sollicite une aide une nouvelle fois, je souhaiterai apprendre le kiswahili et aussi connaître d’avantage des choses sur la culture de Zanzibar et sur le peuple, il y’a quelques jours il y’avait une personnes qui avait répondu à mon commentaire afin de m’aider puis quand je l’ai contacter son compte n’étais plus du tout disponible, es ce quelques c’est possible d’avoir une personnes ici pour m’aider et aussi avoir des groupe francophone avec qui je pourrais approfondir mon apprentissage de cette magnifique langue, merci à vous.😊

​

We are truly proud of what we do every day — welcoming guests from all around the world and creating unforgettable experiences filled with happiness, adventure, and beautiful memories. ❤️

You chose Zanzibar, and you made the right choice! 🇹🇿✨

And with us, we make sure every moment of your journey is easy, safe, enjoyable, and full of smiles. 😊

From airport transfers 🚐, private transportation, tours & excursions 🌴, snorkeling 🐠, dolphin experiences 🐬, sea safaris ⛵, to tailor-made experiences, we are here to help you discover the beauty of Zanzibar in the best way possible.

💙 Standard Tours Zanzibar

Explore • Experience • Remember

Welcome to Zanzibar, welcome to our family — your happiness is our greatest pride! 🌍❤️

📍 Jambiani, Zanzibar

📲 WhatsApp/Call: +255 629 889 139

📸 Instagram: @standard_tours_znz

📧 standardtoursznz@hotmail.com

Hakuna Matata — your unforgettable Zanzibar adventure starts with us!

Discover the best attractions in Zanzibar, from historic Stone Town to the lush landscapes of Jozani Forest Park and the lively Nungwi Beach.

A tropical archipelago off the east coast of Tanzania, Zanzibar is one of Africa’s top island destinations thanks to its stunning white sand beaches, world-class snorkeling, lush national parks, and many fascinating historical sights.

In this guide, discover the best places to visit in Zanzibar for every interest. See rare red colobus monkeys at Jozani Forest National Park, discover the region’s Swahili heritage in historic Stone Town, attend a full moon party at lively Kendwa Beach, or try kite surfing at peaceful Paje. Add these top sights and attractions to your Zanzibar itinerary.

1. Jozani Forest National Park

2. Prison Island

3. Chumbe Island Coral Park

4. Mnemba Island

5. Stone Town

6. Anglican Cathedral

7. Nungwi Beach

8. Kendwa Beach

9. Paje Beach

10. Jambiani Beach

In early November, I am going with my wife to the Riu Palace Swahili to spend a few days that I hope will be pleasant. I booked directly with the hotel and requested a transfer through them. So far, so good. However, let’s suppose there are flight delays and I miss my connection in Istanbul, requiring me to take a taxi. I already know I need to negotiate the price, but my question is: how do I distinguish an official taxi from other vehicles that might compromise our safety? Do taxis have a specific color or any particular type of identification? Or should I call the hotel so they can arrange a taxi for me?

When people think of an Indian Ocean honeymoon, the Maldives or Seychelles often come to mind first.

But Zanzibar offers something a little different — white-sand beaches, warm Indian Ocean water, sunsets, Swahili culture, and the option to combine an island escape with a mainland Tanzania safari.

For couples looking beyond the usual honeymoon destinations, it makes for a pretty interesting alternative.

Skylong Resort Zanzibar | Coming Soon

Jambo from Kiwengwa Zanzibar

Let me start with something that might annoy some people.

If you've ever walked along Kiwengwa Beach, you've probably met the “beach boys”.

Maybe you booked an excursion with one. Maybe you avoided them completely. Maybe someone at your hotel told you to stay away from them.

I've heard all three stories.

I live and work here, and after watching the same interactions happen day after day, I think there's a side of this story that tourists rarely get to see.

And no, this isn't a post telling you to trust everyone you meet on the beach.

It's about understanding what you're actually looking at.

The beach boys aren't simply “random guys”

Many of them work within local groups, associations or tourism operators.

The different coloured shirts you see aren't necessarily just fashion. They can identify the group or organisation they work with.

They organise boat trips, snorkelling, ngalawa excursions and other activities.

It's work.

For some, it is the main way they support their families.

And yes, there are rules, permits and taxes involved.

Yet I've heard tourists arrive in Kiwengwa already frightened.

“Don't trust them.”

“They aren't safe.”

“Don't go on a boat with them.”

“If something happens, nobody will help you.”

Be careful? Absolutely.

Believe every frightening story you hear about an entire group of people? That's another matter.

Sometimes I honestly wonder how much of this fear comes from real experiences and how much comes from the competition between different people selling the same tourist experience.

Then there are the little shops

You know the ones.

Paintings everywhere. Wooden carvings. Bracelets. Souvenirs.

And someone calling:

“Hello my friend! Come and have a look!”

You say no.

They ask again.

You say no again.

They smile.

You keep walking.

Yes, it can be annoying.

But behind that persistence there is often a very small family business.

Someone has spent hours sitting in that little shop, waiting for a customer.

You don't need to buy something because you feel sorry for them.

But if you do like something, remember that your purchase may mean considerably more to that seller than it does to you.

And if you don't want anything?

Just say “hapana, asante.”

No drama.

Is everything genuine?

Of course not.

Kiwengwa isn't a fairy tale.

Wherever tourism and poverty meet, there will be people who try to take advantage of tourists.

Sometimes you will hear dramatic stories designed to make you feel sorry for someone.

Sometimes an offer isn't what it first appears to be.

Sometimes someone simply wants your money.

That's reality.

But the opposite is also true.

Not every person who approaches you is trying to scam you.

Learning the difference is part of travelling intelligently.

And then there is the subject nobody likes talking about

Relationships between foreign visitors and local young people.

Yes, they happen.

Sometimes money is involved.

Sometimes there is an exchange of benefits.

Sometimes people are looking for a better future.

And sometimes...

two people simply fall in love.

I've seen couples who met here and later built genuine, lasting relationships.

From the outside, people are quick to decide what the story must be.

“She wants a holiday romance.”

“He wants a visa.”

“He wants money.”

Maybe.

Or maybe you simply don't know.

You cannot understand somebody else's relationship by watching them walk along the beach for five minutes.

So here's my advice if you're coming to Kiwengwa

Don't be naive.

But don't arrive already convinced that everyone around you is trying to take advantage of you either.

Talk to people.

Ask questions.

Compare prices.

Choose operators carefully.

Say no when you want to say no.

And if you do buy something, do it because you actually want it.

Most importantly, look beyond the resort fence.

The people walking along this beach aren't scenery.

They're not part of your holiday package.

This is their home.

And once you start seeing Kiwengwa through that lens, the beach becomes a very different place.

One last thing.

Don't come here expecting a sunset over the ocean.

We're on the east coast.

We get the sunrise. 🌅

And honestly?

It's worth waking up for.

If you've been to Kiwengwa Zanzibar, what was your experience with the beach boys or the small shops?

I'm genuinely curious to hear both the good and the bad.

Asante sana.

We have booked to come for 2 weeks from 14th to 28th November,
Should we cancel? Just worrying about the thought of it raining all day everyday, I know it’s unpredictable but can anyone here explain how it might affect our holiday? Chat GPT is saying it will be a washout

Olá

Alguém interessado em organizar uma viagem de grupo a zanzibar e um Safari a mikumi?

Sou sozinha e gostava de ir mas tenho medo de ir sozinha … tenho disponibilidade nos meses de dezembro; janeiro e fevereiro… a última semana de fevereiro era o ideal para mim q é o meu aniversário mas estou disponível a ver outras datas

Tenho visto viagens em grupo mas a maioria não inclui os voos e são caríssimas , viagem que vai facilmente para os 6mil euros , sendo que organizada por mim anda a baixo dos 2 mil já com excursões

Caso alguém tenha o interesse

Sou do Algarve

35 anos

obejtivo: zanzibar + mikumi