A week in the parks is intense: early starts, long drives, a great deal to take in. A week on the coast afterwards is the natural counterweight, and it is why so many Tanzania trips end on the Indian Ocean. Zanzibar is the obvious choice — an hour by air from the safari, and a completely different pace. Here is how to fold it in without the two halves fighting each other.
Safari first, then the beach
The order matters. Early mornings and long game drives are far easier to face before a week of doing nothing than after one. Do the safari while you have the energy, and let the beach be the reward — not the other way around. Our Safari & Zanzibar is built in exactly this order for exactly this reason.
How long to give it
Fewer than four nights and the island barely registers before you are packing again; the travel days eat too much of it. Four to six nights is the sweet spot — long enough to unwind properly, short enough to keep the trip from sprawling. A week is a genuine holiday in its own right.
Which coast
Where you stay shapes the week more than anything. The north (Nungwi and Kendwa) has deep water that swims at any state of the tide and the liveliest atmosphere. The east coast has wide white sand and a big tidal range — at low water the sea retreats a long way, which some love and some do not expect. The south-east suits kitesurfers. Matemwe, in the north-east, is the base for the best snorkelling and diving, off Mnemba. There is no single best coast; there is the one that fits how you want to spend the week, and the tides are worth understanding before you choose. The full detail is in the Zanzibar guide.
A night in Stone Town
However you spend the beach days, one night in Stone Town at the start or end is worth it — the carved doors, the market, the Forodhani food stalls at dusk. One night, not three; it is a place to absorb briefly rather than base yourself.
Zanzibar is not a safari and does not pretend to be. It is the second half of a trip that begins in the parks — the slow, warm, salt-and-sand end to a fortnight you will not forget.
Common questions
Should I do safari or Zanzibar first?
Safari first. Early starts and long game drives are much easier before a week of relaxing than after one, so let the beach be the reward at the end of the trip.
How many nights should I spend in Zanzibar after safari?
Four to six nights is ideal — long enough to unwind properly once travel days are accounted for, without the trip sprawling. Fewer than four barely registers.
Which part of Zanzibar is best?
It depends on how you want to spend the week. The north swims at any tide and is liveliest; the east has wide sand and a big tidal range; the north-east is best for diving and snorkelling. There is no single best coast.
How do you get from the safari to Zanzibar?
By air. Flights from the northern safari region to Zanzibar take around ninety minutes and land close to Stone Town.
