12 Days Zanzibar Excursions

A 12-day, 11-night Zanzibar excursion offers an immersive and well-rounded experience, blending relaxation, cultural exploration, and thrilling adventures. With plenty of time to unwind on stunning beaches, partake in diverse water activities, and delve deeply into the island’s traditions and history, this journey provides a perfect mix of leisure and discovery. The extended duration allows travelers to explore at a comfortable pace, savor authentic cuisine, and connect with the local culture, ensuring a truly enriching and unforgettable getaway. This excursion is ideal for those seeking to fully embrace Zanzibar’s charm and beauty.

DAY1: ARRIVAL IN ZANZIBAR.

Pick up from the Airport/Ferry terminal and transfer to your hotel in Stone Town.

Overnight at your selected hotel in Stone town (WEST COAST)

DAY2: PRISON ISLAND + NAKUPENDA SANDBANK.

PRISON ISLAND.

After breakfast (09:00am) we will pick you up for Prison Island and Nakupenda sandbank.

Prison Island was formerly owned by Arab merchants and was privately used as a place of keeping rebellious slaves. The prison was built in 1893 as a central prison for Zanzibar, hence the name “PRISON ISLAND”. The Island is also a sanctuary of Gigantic Tortoises, Dikdiks, Peacocks, Mangrove forest and holds a prison.

NAKUPENDA SANDBANK.

From 1:00 pm you will move to Nakupenda (I love you in Swahili) sandbank (30 minutes) by boat. Nakupenda is a Swahili word that means “I love you” this is an ideal place near stone town where you can relax, swim, and snorkel. At 1:30pm you will enjoy your seafood barbeque, soft drinks, tropical fruits under the shade of built up umbrellas, and you will have to relax by swimming and snorkel until 03:00 pm before riding back to Stone Town for your dinner and overnight.

Overnight at your selected hotel in Stone town (WEST COAST)

DAY3: SAFARI BLUE, STONE TOWN.

After breakfast we will pick you up at 09:00 am for the Safari Blue where we will drive to Fumba village where our sailing boat will be awaiting to take you to Kwale Island for BLUE WATER SAFARI. We will sail in a beautiful traditional wooden dhow, snorkel over the reefs of Menai Bay conservation area, feast on a Swahili influenced seafood buffet that include Fish on coconut source, Rice, French Fries, Calamari, Lobster, Prawns, tropical fruits etc. We will visit a Baobab tree believed to be more than 600years old then sail to the back of the island then go through to a place called blue lagoon where the place is full of natural diversity because it’s surrounded by mangroves & coral rocks and the water is crystal clear and warm, the trip ends at 04:00 pm and we will drive you back to your hotel.

Overnight at your selected hotel in Stone town (WEST COAST)

DAY4: STONE TOWN, SPICES FARM, JOZANI FOREST – EAST COAST.

STONE TOWN.

After breakfast go for a stone town tour f or a cultural and local experience. The tour takes around 2 hours whereby our guide will take you all around the narrow streets of stone town and to various museums such as the slave market, the historical old fort and later on our guide will escort you to the market for shopping if interested. Stone town is a world heritage site whereby the uniqueness of the town is majestic since it has been standing for hundreds of years

Learn the culture and history of the capital city of Zanzibar with a Guide of your language before driving to the Spices farm

SPICE TOUR.

Learn about rare tropical fruits, spices and other rare species of plants that grow in Zanzibar and tropical areas.

You will have a chance to eat, smell and taste different fruits and spices; hence you will understand why Zanzibar is referred as the spice Island. Later you’ll get a chance to see a local guy climb up a coconut tree to the top, he’ll sing local songs to entertain, and you will have a pleasure of drinking fresh coconut juice from the coconut tree.

After the whole experience you’ll be given our traditional made ornaments which are made by coconut leaves such as a crown, tie, necklace and bracelets as gifts to take.

The trip normally takes around 1-3hrs hours.

JOZANI FOREST.

The park is spread out over roughly 19 square miles (50 square kilometers), this national park is a popular spot for a full- or half-day visit, both because of its adorable mammals and its wide variety of birds, some of which are endemic to Zanzibar. While it’s easy to spend a whole day here, many tours to the park also include visits to other island destinations, including spice plantations and Paje Beach, just east of the park.

This is the only National Park in Zanzibar.

The best time to visit the park, and Zanzibar in general, is during the dry season, which runs from June through September. The park opens fairly early in the morning, and visiting first thing in the day is a good idea if you want to avoid both crowds and the heat of the day.

Jozani is a home to a rare species of Monkey indigenous to Zanzibar only – Zanzibar Red Colobus Monkey, Blue Monkeys and other small animals including Duikers and birds.

Visit also the Mangrove Forest during the hike.

Overnight at your selected hotel in (EAST COAST)

DAY5: LOCAL SAILING EXPERIENCE, HIDDEN PARADISE, KUZA CAVES.

LOCAL SAILING + HIDDEN PARADISE

Early in the morning, our driver guide will pick you up at 09 :00 am for a full day special package covering the south east of Unguja Island whereby the trips exploration starts at the east coast for local sailing activity which is advantageous to experience the East coast of Zanzibar where you’ll do snorkeling, local fishing , watch colorful star fish and even see locals doing sea weed farming then a drive to Mtende beach at Makunduchi, Mtende is an outstanding natural beach which is a great place to swim and watch out God’s creation.

After spending some time at Mtende we will transfer you to the rock restaurant at Michamvi later on we will drive to kae funky Michamvi for a sunset view and acrobatic entertainment. Kae is a great place for entertainment and connecting with people and it is a perfect spot to take pictures.

The trip ends after sunset and then transfer to the hotel.

HIDDEN PARADISE CONSISTS

Mtende Village
Mtende Beach
Shanga Restaurant
The Rock Restaurant

Overnight in your selected hotel in the (EAST COAST).

DAY6: BLUE LAGOON, MAALUM CAVE.

Today we have a chance to visit a Blue Lagoon – a natural sandbank with a lot of fish concentration including Starfish which are rarely seen.

This tour will end with a natural swim at Maalum natural cave.

This cave is naturally owned and gives a stunning natural swimming experience in Zanzibar.

Overnight in your selected hotel in the (EAST COAST).

DAY7: MNEMBA ISLAND, SWIMMING WITH SEA TURTLES & SUNSET CRUISE

Early morning at 0 8:00 am we will pick you up to Matemwe beach for Mnemba Island Dolphin tour. It’s a double snorkeling experience where You will have a chance to do snorkeling with Pods of Dolphins, Later on go for Mnemba Island for snorkeling at a beautiful coral for colorful aquatic and sunbathing, the picnic involves tropical fruits before sailing back to the shores.

The driver will be waiting at the parking lot for a drive to the sea turtles aquarium at around 01:00pm

SWIMMING WITH SEA TURTLES

At 02:00 pm we will have reached at the Sea Turtles aquarium where you’ll get a chance to swim with these beautiful creatures where by the aquarium holds a variety of different sea turtles and other marine species, you will have an opportunity to feed and swim with them. The activity will take around 2 hrs.

SUNSET CRUISE

Later on at 4 pm we will drive to Kendwa beach for sunset cruising around the coast line on a dhow. This is another relaxing and sometimes romantic for honeymoon couples. Drinks, fruits and Zanzibar tasty snacks are offered on board, the cruise can be accompanied by Zanzibar Taarab music or Africa Ngoma dance. The trip normally takes around 2 hours, from 04:00 pm to dusk.