11 Day Trips in Zanzibar, From Cheapest Day Out to Big Week

1.Nungwi Turtle Aquarium Guided Half-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 197 reviews · 2.5 - 5 hours · from $22Our pick

Ride from your Zanzibar hotel to Nungwi for a guided visit to a natural tidal pool where rescued green turtles are fed and rehabilitated. You can swim with them, buy seaweed from their caretakers, and learn about fishing nets, baby turtles, and pollution. The trip may include Kendwa Beach, with private transfers and an English-speaking guide.

“it was great. the guide knew his way around very well and took us also to visit a village before we went to see the turtles. we can recommend the tour”

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2.Stone Town and Prison Island Private Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 104 reviews · 6 hours · from $90

Spend six hours with a small group exploring Stone Town’s markets, Arab Fort, slave market, curved doors, and Freddie Mercury’s former home, then boat to Prison Island. Guides such as Haji, Hamdu, and Hassan add strong local context. Swimming is possible, but weather can change the beach portion.

“Our guide was excellent he paced the tour well, tailoring it to our physical limitations and interests, highly recommended.”

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3.Mnemba Island Atoll Guided Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 37 reviews · 9 hours · from $150

Spend nine hours exploring Zanzibar’s south coast and Mnemba Atoll with private pickup, a guide, and bottled water. You’ll snorkel, seek dolphins, rest on a sandbank, meet red colobus monkeys at Jozani Forest, swim in Kuza Cave, see Paje Beach, and stop at The Rock. Guides such as Barouk, Sadil, and Timur have handled flexible, guest-focused days.

“Ottima escursione per chi vuole concentrare più posti in un unica giornata”

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4.Half Day Trip on Nakupenda with Prison Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 27 reviews · 3 - 6 hours · from $55

From Stone Town, you’ll cross by dhow to Prison Island for its 1893 prison, giant Seychelles tortoises, and peacocks, then continue to Nakupenda sandbank for swimming, snorkeling, fresh fruit, and optional seafood lunch. Guides such as Abu and Ali speak English and French, and private or small-group trips are available.

“Il appartient à tout à chacun d'apprécier ou non ce genre de journée... Très bonne organisation même s'il y a eu un petit couac sur l'horaire de prise en charge mais rien de grave... Nakupenda: Une eau transparente, des dégradés de bleu magnifiques... Un peu de monde mais sans plus... Il est possible d'y faire du snorkeling et de se poser un peu... L'île prison et ses tortues XXL des Seychelles... Sans oublier Ali notre guide francophone pour cette demi-journée, encore une belle rencontre, pleine de bienveillance et d'échanges... Merci!”

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5.Private Full Day Trip Exploring Zanzibar Nature

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 21 reviews · 9 hours · from $198

Spend nine hours with guide Osman and a private vehicle exploring Jozani Forest, Pete village, mangroves by canoe, and the Zanzibar Butterfly Centre. You’ll see red colobus monkeys, learn about village life, eat a Swahili lunch, and travel in English, French, or German. Hotel pickup and entrance fees are included.

“We had the best day with Osman and Whaled! Osman is so knowledgeable about the nature and wildlife in the forest and mangroves. The visit to 2 villages in Pete was really interesting, seeing how local people live and work. Lunch in the 2nd village was amazing! Some of the best food we've had all holiday. Would highly recommend booking this excursion !”

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6.Private Full Day Trip to Stone Town, Spice Farms and Jozani Forest

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · from $150Top rated

Spend 7 to 8 hours exploring Zanzibar with a private guide and air-conditioned transport. Walk through Stone Town’s markets, doors, and historic sites, learn how spices are grown and used, taste coconut and tropical fruit, then look for Zanzibar’s red colobus monkeys in Jozani Forest. Pickup is offered, and the day ends at the starting point.

“Jozani forest trip is soothing, interesting and funny due to Monkeys and nature. Mangrove forest is surprising and interesting, nice exploration, good guide for both. Spice farm is the best part, staff is funny, welcoming and deserves all tRead more”

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7.Private Full Day Trip Exploring the Zanzibar Nature

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · from $199

Spend about 10 hours exploring Zanzibar’s natural side with private pickup, a forest guide, bird sightings, the Zanzibar Butterfly Centre, a village visit, local Swahili lunch, and a canoe ride through mangroves. Guides including Abdul, Osman, Othman, Khalid, and Said may help shape a relaxed day away from the busy beach circuit.

“Amazing tour, a must if you are visiting Zanzibar and would like to experience something different. Would 100% recommend”

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8.Full Day Trip to Stone Town, Spice Farms and Prison Island

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 7 reviews · from $175

Spend about nine hours exploring Zanzibar by private car and boat. Walk through spice farms, taste fresh fruit and coconut water, tour Stone Town landmarks, then visit Prison Island for giant tortoises, swimming, and snorkeling. Your guide, private transport, boat charter, and snorkeling gear are included, while lunch costs extra.

“This tour is incredible if your into photography is a photographers paradise from lush green of the spice farm to the exotic alleyways of Stonetown to prison island with its azure waters is just stunning. Ally was an incredible guide, I felt it wasn’t a guide with me back a good Read more”

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9.Day trip to the Rock Restaurant & relax on mtende beach

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 6 reviews · 6 hours · from $95

Travel by private vehicle to The Rock Restaurant in Pingwe, then spend time at white-sand Mtende Beach near Makunduchi. You get hotel pickup and drop-off, an English-speaking guide, and Mtende entrance included. Driver Mohamed has also shared local life, sugar-cane drinks, and extra sights with some visitors.

“It was a super activity, we first visited the Rock, this imposing building on the ocean shore, I came to the restaurant itself without a reservation, tried exotic cocktails and traditional desserts there, the view from the restaurant to the endless distance of the ocean is simply charming. Then we went to Mnetde beach, another secret exotic place. On the way you could see villages of local residents, children playing, and immerse yourself in their everyday life. The driver Mohamed, a very kind and sweet man, told me about life in Zanzibar on the way, treated me to a drink made from sugar cane and various exotic fruits. A lot…”

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10.A Day Trip To Saadani National Park From Dar es salaam / Zanzibar

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4 reviews · from $689

Leave your Dar es Salaam hotel at 6:00 am for Saadani National Park, a beachfront reserve about two hours away. A private guide takes you along village roads and the Wami River before a five-hour game drive. Lunch, bottled water, park admission, and round-trip transfers are included. Wildlife may include elephants, lions, giraffes, buffalo, zebras, hippos, crocodiles, and sable antelope.

“We like to recommend a wonderful safari in Saadani National Park. We had the pleasure to experience this trip that was organized by Experience Zanzibar Tours and Safaris. Our guide Nestor had a broad and profound knowledge of the safari.Read more”

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11.Full day trip (Spice tour, Prison island and Stone Town tour )

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3 reviews · from $140

Spend 7 to 10 hours with a private guide such as Mohammed, combining Jambo Spice Farm, Stone Town’s slave-history sites, and Prison Island. Expect a spice lunch, boat transport, giant Aldabra tortoises, prison ruins, and time for swimming or snorkeling. Hotel pickup, bottled water, and an air-conditioned vehicle are included.

“Just back from an absolutely amazing 6-day safari adventure in Tanzania, organised by Acatree tours Safari for our group of 2 adults and 2 children. A huge shout out to Anna for planning a trip that surpassed all of our expectations and left us Read more”

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