20/07/2026
ZANZIBAR DUMP 🌴🐢✨
I’ve just got back from 2 incredible weeks in Zanzibar with my family and I can honestly say… it’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. The holiday blues are VERY real right now 😭💙
We split our trip between the north, east coast and Stone Town, and I’m so glad we did because each area felt completely different.
📍 North (Nungwi & Kendwa)
This was the classic postcard Zanzibar — turquoise water, white sand and barely any tides. We stayed at Riu Palace Zanzibar and it was genuinely outstanding. The food, service, grounds and beach were all 10/10.
Our favourite experiences here:
🐠 Snorkelling around Mnemba Island
🐬 Looking for dolphins
⭐ Swimming among hundreds of starfish
🌅 A traditional dhow sunset cruise (highly recommend!)
💃 Sunset at Kendwa Beach where there’s music, dancers, acrobats and the best atmosphere.
📍 East Coast (Jambiani, Paje, Michamvi & Pingwe)
This side felt much more authentic and relaxed. We stayed in Jambiani and could literally walk straight onto the beach from our accommodation. The scenery here is unreal — huge lagoons, palm trees and dramatic tides that completely change the beach throughout the day.
Must-do’s:
🍽 The Rock Restaurant — yes, the one on the rock in the ocean!
💦 Maalum Caves — crystal-clear freshwater caves that are perfect for a relaxing swim.
🚶♀️ Long beach walks during low tide (I could have done this for hours).
📍 Stone Town
We only stayed one night but I’d definitely recommend adding it to your itinerary. It’s much closer to the airport and perfect for exploring the island’s history. We wandered through the narrow streets, visited the old town and watched sunset at Forodhani Gardens.
A few things that genuinely surprised me about Zanzibar 👀
🍉 Fresh fruit is EVERYWHERE!
👗 Don’t overpack fancy outfits. Most places are very laid-back and I ended up living in linen sets, bikinis and flip flops.
🦟 Bug spray is essential. The mosquitoes were definitely more noticeable in the evenings than I expected.
🚗 The roads can be very bumpy, so don’t underestimate transfer times between different parts of the island.
📶 WiFi was much better than I expected in most hotels and restaurants, but an eSIM made life SO much easier when travelling between areas.
My top Zanzibar tips ✈️
• Stay at least 10 days if you want to explore properly. The distances between areas are much bigger than people expect.
• Check the tide schedule before booking your hotel — it makes a huge difference to your beach experience.
• Bring water shoes because there can be sea urchins in some areas.
• Carry some cash (USD or Tanzanian Shillings) for tips and small purchases.
• Dress respectfully when visiting villages and Stone Town.
And if I could give one piece of advice? Choose your hotel based on the coast, not just the hotel photos. The north is best for swimming all day, while the east is best for dramatic scenery, lagoons and that iconic Zanzibar low-tide experience. 🌊
This was genuinely a bucket-list trip for me and I’m already dreaming about going back. If Zanzibar is on your list, feel free to ask me anything in the comments or message me — I’ve literally just done the trip myself so I can help with a real itinerary, hotel recommendations and what I’d do differently next time. 💌
Is Zanzibar on your bucket list? 👇🌴
