Beaches, beaches, beaches in Zanzibar! The beautiful beaches on the Indian Ocean are something to see in person. The beauty is exquisite. After a fun filled week of safaris on the mainland of Tanzania take a few days to relax and explore the island of Zanzibar.

While it may be hard to leave the beautiful beach in Zanzibar, there is so much history to explore on the island. Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is beautiful itself. A city tour introduces you to the unique architecture and elegant old buildings. Wander through the narrow streets, visit the museum, shop the local markets.

Learn about the many spices grown on the island, such as cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg etc. by taking a Spice Farm Tour.

Visit Jozani Forest- a national park where you can see the endemic Red Colobus monkeys and hike the rainforest.

Explore the coral reefs on a snorkeling and/or diving trip. The water is so clear all you need is your goggles.

The Baraka Aquarium in Nungwi is where you can swim with sea turtles.

Take a boat ride over to Prison Island and visit the Aldabra tortoises that reside in a sanctuary there. You can feed and pet them. Some are over 100 years old. The history of Prison Island is worth the visit. Learn of the history of slave trading in past centuries.

Accomodations on Zanzibar are all breathtaking beach views or perhaps you want the hustle and bustle of the city. Many hotels in Stone Town are quaint original buildings.

And don’t forget to visit the Freddie Mercury (of the band Queen) Museum. Stone Town was his boyhood home. The museum is located in the house where Freddie lived before his family moved to England.

You can complete your visit with horseback riding on the beach, kayaking, sunset boat cruises, and BBQ dinners in the evenings on beaches.

Getting to Zanzibar is via airplane or ferry. From the mainland of Tanzania, typically Dars es Salaam, a ferry ride should take less than 2 hours.