After five amazing (and tiring) days on safari in Tanzania — exploring Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti — we flew straight from Kilimanjaro Airport to Zanzibar. What followed was six blissful nights of white sand, warm breezes and slow mornings in Jambiani and a short stop in historic Stone Town.
If you’re planning your own trip to Zanzibar, here’s everything we loved (and a few things we’d do differently).
Arrival & First Impressions
We landed late at night in Stone Town (around 10 PM), but decided to take a taxi straight to Jambiani. The drive took about 90 minutes, getting us to our beach hideaway around midnight. We fell straight into bed, ready to start fresh in the morning.
Morning Magic in Jambiani
The next day, we stepped out of our room and straight onto soft, white sand. The beach stretched endlessly in both directions. We honestly couldn’t believe we were in such beautiful place. We wandered a few doors down for a beachside breakfast of fresh fruit and pancakes.
What To Expect in Zanzibar
After early safari starts and long drives, Jambiani was the perfect antidote. We slowed down and let the days unfold. We had originally planned loads of activities, but in reality we did very little!
Jambiani itself was laid‑back but not isolated, authentic but not overly touristy. The beachfront is mostly lined with hotels and guesthouses and the village of Jambiani runs along the back. For us, it was a great mix of local life and tourist infrastructure. In comparison, we visited the popular town of Paje and didn’t like it. It was busy and overcrowded with tourism and hawkers. Jambiani had a much slower vibe and we were relieved it was where we’d chosen to stay.
You can walk for hours along the beach in either direction at low tide. We mostly swam in the mornings, as by the late morning the tide goes very far out and by the evening the waters get choppy.
The most unforgettable aspect of Zanzibar was how incredibly friendly the people are. Locals often sing a playful tune called Jambo Bwana (meaning “hello, sir”) and it became an infectious soundtrack wherever we went. We met several Maasai on the beaches, many of them young guys visiting from the mainland to sell handmade crafts during the tourist season. They were chatty and huge Premier League fans, keen to talk football or have a kick-around with anyone willing.
Things to Do in Zanzibar
While we spent plenty of time relaxing, sunbathing (read: sitting in the shade) and swimming, we did a few great activities that we’d recommend:
Kitesurfing in Jambiani
Jambiani is one of Zanzibar’s best spots for kitesurfing thanks to its consistent winds, shallow lagoons and wide-open stretches of beach. Luke took lessons at Zanzi Kite, a local school, and absolutely loved it. Even beginners will find it friendly and approachable. For those already confident, you can hire gear and head straight out.
Playing Padel Near Jambiani
A short tuk‑tuk ride away, there’s a very well-kept padel court. They had plenty of slots available to book, but it’s better to go early or late because it gets sweaty in the midday sun!
Renting a Scooter to Explore
One of our trip highlights was renting a scooter for the day — just $15 (around £12). We rode up the coast to Pingwe Beach, a quieter, beautiful stretch of sand with a slightly more upmarket feel. We parked at Boutique Hotel Matlai and ate at the Vietnamese restaurant on their grounds. They serve excellent vegetarian dishes right on the beach — an unexpected but amazing find.
Sunset Dhow Adventure
One evening, we booked a traditional dhow boat sunset cruise, captained by “Captain Cappuccino” — a 16‑year‑old in a captain’s hat and no shirt. We’d expected a romantic sail, but the waves were rough, and it turned into more of an adrenaline ride than a sunset glide! If you’re planning a dhow trip, go in the morning or early afternoon when the sea is calmer!
A Day Trip to Paje
Paje is about 10-15 minutes away by tuktuk, or you can walk along the beach in around 2 hours (it’s a sweaty walk!) It’s one of Zanzibar’s liveliest hubs, full of restaurants, cafes, bars, and shops. While we preferred Jambiani’s slower pace and found Paje to be too touristy, it has a lot more dining options and the coconut iced coffee at Hanoi Cafe is a real treat.
Sightseeing in Stone Town
On our final day, we returned to Stone Town to explore its winding alleyways, historic buildings and colourful spice stores.
The Slave Museum at the Anglican Cathedral was well worth a visit. The cathedral stands on the site of East Africa’s largest slave market, and beneath it, you can visit the cramped underground chambers where enslaved people were once held. Outside, the memorial sculpture depicting chained figures in a pit is haunting and powerful, which was a sobering reminder of Zanzibar’s history.
We spent the rest of the day shopping for souvenirs, wandering cobbled streets and finished with a relaxed rooftop lunch overlooking the sea. One day was the perfect amount of time for Stone Town and we stayed here for the night before flying home.
Food & Drink Highlights
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Offline Wine Garden – A garden wine bar in Jambiani with a relaxed vibe and a great selection of bottles. They have good dinner options, including great tofu options which is rare in Tanzania.
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@Home Cafe – Our favourite cafe in Jambiani. The Spanish iced coffee with condensed milk is rich, sweet and a little addictive. Despite growing their own coffee, it isn’t easy to find good, freshly ground coffee, so this was a real treat. They also do great weekend brunch bagels and toasts.
- Hanoi House Cafe Paje – I promise you the coconut iced coffee here will be the best iced coffee you’ve ever had. Definitely stop by just for that if you’re near Paje.
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Duyen – Vietnamese Homecook by Kim – A beach-side gem serving fantastic Vietnamese dishes on the sand.
Accommodation in Jambiani
We stayed at Ha Beach Boutique in Jambiani and had a mixed experience. The room wasn’t as shown online, the generator failed on arrival (no power the first day), we later lost hot water, and breakfast at their sister hotel (Ha Beach) was repetitive (and they only had instant coffee).
That said, our room was spacious, nicely decorated, and opened right onto the sand with beautiful beach and sea views. The staff were friendly and worked hard to rectify all the issues. Overall, Ha Beach Boutique is a nice, beachfront hotel worth considering, but not without caveats.
Other places we’d consider next time:
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Kudos Beach Apartments – Modern, minimalist apartments right on the sand. Note: there’s no swimming pool. The apartments look stunning and modern, and would be a great option if you want to cook some of your own meals.
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Belvedere Resort Zanzibar – A charming, well-rated resort with a tropical garden setting, direct beach access and a swimming pool. Ideal if you want a balance between ocean swims and long, uninterrupted pool sessions.
Zanzibar is the perfect place to recover from a tiring safari. Soft white sands, blue water, incredible warmth from the locals, and activities if you want them.
