Your tailor-made itinerary will offer you the very best of the destination while fully meeting your criteria and budget. Length of stay, safari route, means of transport used, activities enjoyed, accommodation: every aspect of your tailor-made trip to Tanzania can be customised to offer you a unique and memorable experience. With Off Road Tanzania, your trip to Tanzania and Zanzibar will be unlike any other!
Relaxation and discovery on the beaches of Zanzibar
After exploring the land of the Big Five, nothing beats an escape to the most beautiful beaches of the Zanzibar archipelago to round off your stay in style. Off the coast of Tanzania, in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the Spice Island invites you to relax and get away from it all. Its heavenly white-sand beaches and turquoise waters provide the perfect setting for those looking to recharge their batteries, while also offering the ideal playground for diving enthusiasts and water sports lovers.
Discover Zanzibar’s underwater world
Set off to discover the underwater world of the Indian Ocean! Whether you are a beginner or an experienced diver, you will be captivated by the island’s turquoise waters and its marine riches, coral fauna, and the near-constant presence of turtles, spotted and leopard rays, dolphins, moray eels and reef sharks.
The best dive spots in north Zanzibar are around Ras Nungwi and within the Mnemba atoll. The three most renowned sites in this atoll are certainly Kichwani, Big Wall and Wattaboni, especially for the large number of dolphins present! Each then has its own specialities. Wattaboni Channel is ideal for seeing many fish and green turtles. Big Wall surprises with its depth and the beauty of its underwater architecture. As for Kichwani, it offers a real medley: brain coral, stag-horn coral, Napoleon wrasse, shark and manta ray!
On the Ras Nungwi side, you will come across large schools of groupers, green turtles and a few whitetip sharks. On the Small Wall side, you will see rays, Napoleon wrasse and Zanzibar’s endemic butterflyfish. Finally, if you head to Kokota and its reefs, you can admire moray eels, octopuses and nudibranchs!
Kizidi is a superb spot for night dives. Hammerdead is a flagship diving site in the south with its eagle rays, huge moray eels and numerous sharks: blacktip sharks, reef sharks, grey sharks and even hammerhead sharks!
Unforgettable safari in Tanzania with Off Road Tanzania
Cultural encounters in Tanzania and Zanzibar
The first part of your combined Tanzania – Zanzibar journey will invite you to discover the way of life and traditions of the local tribes. Meeting the Maasai, Hadzabe or even the Datoga people will give you unforgettable moments of sharing. An immersive experience at the heart of Tanzanian culture. By extending your stay on the Spice Island, you will discover a culture, heritage and history shaped by many influences. Zanzibari cuisine reflects the richness and cultural diversity of Zanzibar, mixed, surprising, spicy and refined. In this cuisine influenced by the whole world (Bantu, Indian, Arabic, but also English, Portuguese and Chinese), fresh produce from the sea takes pride of place. Taking part in a local cooking class is one of the immersive and authentic activities that will allow you to discover the secrets of this gastronomy with its many flavours!
The must-sees during your stay with Off Road Tanzania
A stay on the Zanzibar archipelago after a safari in the tracks of the Big Five in Tanzania is not just synonymous with idleness. The points of interest are many, and there are plenty of activities to enjoy in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
Wander through the lanes of Stone Town
Stone Town, a must on the island of Zanzibar! This city with its very distinctive atmosphere and architecture owes its uniqueness to a wonderful blend of African, Arab, Indian and European culture. As you stroll through the lanes of this iconic city on the spice island, you will discover the former slave market where the first Anglican church in East Africa was built, the House of Wonders, the bustling Darajani Market, the sumptuous carved doors with their studded wood, the old Arab fort, the former embassies of the United States, Germany and England, as well as other more unexpected treasures such as Freddie Mercury’s house!
Everything you need to know about Zanzibar spices
The famous “spice tour” is one of the island of Zanzibar’s flagship attractions. It is in the centre of the island that you will find the farms and spice plantations that once dominated Zanzibar’s economy. Vanilla, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, lemongrass, nutmeg, black pepper, jackfruit — you will discover a multitude of spices in their natural state there. All your senses will be alert during this experience.
Discover the sandbanks of Safari Blue at Fumba
This sea excursion aboard a traditional sailing boat allows you to discover sumptuous white sandbanks. The paradise setting offered by these waters, as warm as they are translucent, is ideal for sunbathing, swimming and snorkelling. The excursion also includes a stop with a tasting of delicious seafood: lobster, squid, prawns and other tasty fish.
Swim with dolphins at Kizimkazi
During a snorkelling excursion in the turquoise waters of the Zanzibar archipelago, you will discover fascinating mammals: dolphins! To meet these charming animals, you will depart from Kizimkazi, a small village in south-west Zanzibar. Who knows, you may even share a swim with them!
Meet the giant tortoises of Prison Island
Prison Island is a stop not to be missed during your trip to Zanzibar. A short distance from Stone Town, the island of Changuu, in Swahili, bears traces of its past. Indeed, this island was the starting point and transit area for many slaves waiting for their assignment. Today, it is inhabited by curious residents: the Aldabra giant tortoises, from the Seychelles. A surprising island to discover during a stay in Zanzibar in Tanzania.
Explore Jozani Forest
A visit to Jozani Forest, located in the south-east of Zanzibar island, is well worth the detour. There you will discover small monkeys unique in the world: the red colobus monkeys. Impossible to miss them! Even if they let you come close, avoid touching them, for your own safety, but also for theirs! The forest walk continues with the discovery of the island’s mangroves, an ecosystem of considerable importance. Protected and revered by the locals, mangroves are natural regulators capable of coping with phenomena such as tsunamis and even rising oceans.
Authentic and comfortable accommodation for your adventure
There is a wide variety of accommodation in Tanzania. For your safari in the heart of the vast Tanzanian wilderness, several options are available to you. Tented Camps combine the charm and authenticity of a safari tent with the comfort of a hotel room. These high-end camps offer panoramic views over the surrounding savannah while guaranteeing quality services. Mobile camps, which are more basic, move with the rhythm of the Great Migration to offer you a unique experience as close as possible to the animals. These camps, made up of mobile tents, blend into the landscape for a more intimate approach to a safari in Tanzania.
For your magical interlude on the island of Zanzibar, you also have a choice of different types of lodges. It is up to you to choose between the charm of smaller establishments offering comfortable bungalows on the beach, or the premium services of luxurious lodges with sea views and private pools. At Off Road Tanzania, we offer you the accommodation solution best suited to your wishes for your adventure in Tanzania and your relaxing stay in Zanzibar!
Prepare your trip to Zanzibar and Tanzania with the advice of Off Road Tanzania
With the advice and tips from our local travel agency, planning your combined Tanzania trip will be easy!
Vaccinations to have before travelling to Zanzibar in Tanzania
Only one vaccine is compulsory for travel to Tanzanian territory: the yellow fever vaccine. It must be administered at least 15 days before the departure date for travel to Tanzania. While the vaccines for typhoid, hepatitis A and B, meningitis and rabies are not compulsory, they are still strongly recommended. The same applies to preventive malaria treatment.
Visa and administrative formalities for a stay in Tanzania
Entry into Tanzanian territory is conditional on holding a valid passport with at least two blank pages. A tourist visa worth $50 is also required for any trip to Zanzibar in Tanzania. This visa can be obtained in 3 different ways: online, at the Tanzanian embassy or on arrival at the airport. If you choose to apply for your visa before your trip, make sure you allow plenty of time, as processing times can be quite long. Administrative formalities at the airport also require a little patience. The visa application can take nearly 2 hours depending on how busy it is.
Suitable equipment for a combined safari – Zanzibar trip
Here are a few tips on the equipment best suited to a trip combining safari and relaxation in Tanzania. The space available inside the 4x4s and the planes used for travel within Tanzania means you need to pack light. It is better to opt for a travel bag and a small suitcase. A safari in Tanzania followed by a stay in Zanzibar requires a wide range of equipment and accessories. For the safari side, pack lightweight, hard-wearing clothing, good walking shoes, a cap or hat, sunglasses, insect repellent, a torch, a camera and binoculars. The relaxing side of a stay in Zanzibar involves a small change of wardrobe. Bear in mind, however, that the population in Zanzibar is predominantly Muslim, so choose loose-fitting clothing that covers the arms and legs.
When to go to Zanzibar?
Temperatures, sunshine levels, type of stay (adventure, relaxation, combined), must-see events, observing local wildlife and flora, activities: all these are factors to take into account when choosing the ideal time for a stay in Tanzania and Zanzibar. As Tanzania’s climate is favourable for much of the year, the choice of period will depend above all on the experience you want to have during this trip. The best time to visit Tanzania and the Zanzibar archipelago varies from one traveller to another. The dry season, from June to September, offers optimal conditions for a safari in Tanzania followed by a few days of relaxation on Zanzibar’s paradise beaches. It is also at this time of year that the Great Migration takes place in the north of Serengeti National Park. The hot season, which runs from late December to late February, is the most popular period for travellers who want to spend their winter holidays at the beach. Note that the rainy season, which extends from March to May, is still less favourable for a stay on the beaches of the spice island.
The cuisine of Zanzibar
Zanzibar cuisine is the reflection of the island’s extraordinary cultural diversity, a blend of traditions, astonishing, spicy and refined. This fusion cuisine is indeed a formidable melting pot of influences from all over the world: Bantu, Indian, Arabic, but also English, Portuguese and Chinese! Given its geography, it is of course home to many fresh seafood products, the very ones proudly displayed at Stone Town’s huge fish market: lobsters, squid, octopus, tuna, mackerel, etc.
Side dishes are often drawn from the staple foods of Bantu culture, namely sweet potatoes, cassava, beans and plantains. There is nothing more delightful after a scuba diving session!
To highlight the latter, one can rely on the influences of the Persians, Omanis and Yemenis who landed on the Swahili coast with their many spices, their citrus fruits, as well as coconut, mango and rice.
To crown it all and reach an explosion of flavours, we can rely on the strong influence of Indian merchants who introduced masala, chutney, curry, biryani, samosas and fish cakes into Zanzibar cuisine.
Plats typiques de Zanzibar
- Pilaf rice or pilau: with dried fruit and coconut milk, potatoes, onions, spices and rice. A classic!
- Sorpotel (recipe from Goa, Portuguese colony in India): meat cooked in a masala, tamarind and vinegar. Very tasty!
- Spice Cake : don’t expect to find any psychotropic substances in this recipe! Instead, you’ll enjoy a real cocktail of flavours thanks to the presence of many spices: cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and chocolate.
- Boku Boku : meat cooked with corn, ginger, cumin, chilli, tomato and onions. Flavoursome and delicious!
- Date and hazelnut bread : Traditional bread made with dates and hazelnuts, with eggs and vanilla.
- Pepper shark: Pepper and other spice speciality intended to accompany seafood and fish.
- Pweza wa nazi : Octopus boiled in coconut milk, curry, cinnamon, cardamom, garlic and lemon juice. Original and subtle!
Commit to preserving nature with Off Road Tanzania
As a destination management company in Tanzania, we work daily towards the development of sustainable and eco-friendly tourism. Beyond organising more environmentally responsible stays and helping to raise travellers’ awareness of the preservation of Tanzania’s wildlife and flora, we carry out real initiatives with local communities. Travelling in Tanzania and Zanzibar with Off Road Tanzania means helping to ensure a better distribution of the benefits of tourism for local people, contributing to the preservation of Tanzania’s natural resources, and above all experiencing an authentic adventure and memorable moments of sharing. A lasting commitment and projects that have a real impact on local life.
