I am travelling to Zanzibar on 11/9/26 - how much in advance should I complete the visa process and does it expire?

What other documents would I need to complete?

Can I do everything online which I would prefer

Thanks

I'm currently booking my honeymoon to Zanzibar with plans to visit in late november/early December.

My Fiancé is Muslim and wears hijab, and I'm looking to find a perfect balance of seclusion yet also activities and having enjoyable experiences as we are definitely more outgoing and like to do lots of activities.

What I'm struggling with in particular is the range of options available. Some resorts/villas/hotels are super expensive, and are out of my price range, and those that tend to fall within the price range seem not have the quality or fall short in what I'm looking for.

To give some context, I've enquired at a few places e.g. White Sands, Tulia, but both seem a little pricey costs wise. Does anyone have some advice as to best approach? A few things important to me are beachfront, private pool (although not completely necessary), Breakfast catering at the minimum (lunch and dinner I don't mind heading out to eat).

Thank you

Whats the rain like at the moment? We arrive on Friday and from the weather app it looks like we won't see the sun at all? Is it really that bad?

I know we are coming in the rainy season but everywhere i read to expect afternoon thunderstorms not all day pouring rain.

What are some indoor activities to do in Stone Town and Paje?

Hey for someone who wants spontaneous events and nightlife events, I saw someone here posting about a whatsapp group that you can get daily updates about Zanzibar nightlife. But that group is full. Is there a chance someone else have a group I can join?

Hello. Has any European left Europe and married and lives the village, traditional life in Zanzibar? My partner worries that I could never adapt to their system and simple life which is way different from European lifestyle especially while living in the village, where water scarcity persist and electricity cutouts and so on. I would be glad if any could share their experience if any.

Dar es Salaam

Zanzibar

Diani

Mtwapa

Kilifi

Watamu

Malindi

Mambrui

Nyali

Hi everyone,

I’m an EU citizen and have visited Zanzibar several times. I’m now considering testing a small tourism-related service there and would really appreciate insights from people with real-world experience.

Here’s my situation:

1. I don’t want to give up my residency in my home country for now (at least not within the next 12–24 months).
2. I can spend up to ~7 months abroad per year, but I need to be in my home country for about 5 months annually.
3. The business would require a tourism licence, and I would need to work with 1–2 local professionals (likely as independent contractors) for operational delivery.
4. My role would be limited to marketing, client acquisition, and coordination.
5. Ideally, I want to proceed in a way that is as compliant as possible, but with low commitment initially, in case the idea doesn’t work.
   • Is there any way to legally test a concept short-term (e.g. a couple of months) before setting up a company?
6. If I were to set up a sole proprietorship in my home country, what practical issues would that actually solve (beyond tax/invoicing), given that operations take place in Tanzania?
7. From what I understand, neither a tourist visa nor a business visa fully covers running a tourism activity locally.
8. Would it be compliant to act purely as a coordinator/marketer while local licensed partners deliver the service?
9. If the idea doesn’t work, I would simply stop and return home.

In short:
I’m trying to find a path that is legally sound, but also allows me to test the business with minimal risk and commitment.

👉 How do foreign entrepreneurs in the tourism space actually operate in Zanzibar in the early stages?
👉 Any practical advice or lessons learned would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

My husband and I are traveling to Zanzibar next week for 10 days. How’s the weather been like lately? Ive read that May is the tail-end of rain season?

Hi all,

In September 2025, I was approved for a Tanzania multiple entry visa that was valid for one year (so expires September 2026). I took two week trip in September. Now, Im thinking of coming back in June/July and would like to know if I need to re-apply for a visa.

I would appreciate any advice. Thank you.

I'm a solo female traveller coming to Zanzibar in July but I just was a bit unsure of my itinerary. Any advice would be great!
I like to relax and am very happy to lay on the beach, but also want to see the sights. My plan was to spend the first two nights in Stone Town and then base myself in Paje for 4 nights and spend my last night in Stone Town as I would likely leave early on the last day. So it looks like:

#1: Arrive in Stone Town

#2: Stone Town

#3: Stone Town to Paje

#4: Paje

#5: Paje

#6: Paje

#7: Paje To Stone Town

leaving on day #8

I want to do a day of scuba diving while in Paje (any dive shop recommendations welcome!) but apart from that the activities I have so far are:

Stone Town:

• Prison Island
• Spice Farm Tour
• Nakupenda

Paje/East coast:

• Salaam Cave
• Joazni Forest
• Mtende Beach
• Maalum Cave

How does this sound?

Thank you in advance!!

After much deliberation I have decided to stay at Tembo Kiwengwa Resort while I’m in Zanzibar. Had originally booked a place in Jambiani but wanted something with a bit nicer beach and a little more luxury, while still not being as pricey as Kendwa or Nungwi.

Anyone have any experience with Kiwengwa? Or the Tembo resort there?

Aside from the resort, my plans still include a walking tour of Stone Town, and perhaps a cooking lesson.

🍄 or ☘️

Hey, I’m in Nungwi for a few days and going to Paje after that, could you guys recommend some good places to go out at night. I arrived today and the area where I’m at was pretty dead, I know its low season right now but I’m wondering if I can still enjoy the nights. I read that Che, Baraka and Coccobello were good places but wanting to know your opinion, also if you guys have some recommendations for Paje.

Bok, Molim vas iskustva o putovanju s agencijom Globe Trackers iz Crne Gore; specifično vezano uz putovanje na Zanzibar.

Putovala sam s njima u Afriku točnije u Keniju na safari i bilo je vrlo dobro. Jedina mana je što smo većinu putovanja proveli u transferu s lokacije na lokaciju i što smo se svaki dan budili u 5 ujutro da bi stigli sve obaviti.

Vodiči su odlični, sve je jeftino, iskustvo divno - autentično i skromno. Cjelokupno putovanje top i ja bi svima preporučila ako povoljno žele otići na safari.

Sad planiram u Zanzibar i zanimaju me vaša iskustva.

Hvala

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An exclusive private pool experience is coming to Paje this July. Expect sun-soaked energy, curated music, and a carefully selected guest list.

We are putting together a small, high-quality team to create a seamless and elevated atmosphere.

Open Positions: 🎧 DJ (Afro / House / Amapiano – strong sense of crowd and flow)

🍸 Bartender (premium service, efficiency, and style)

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📩 Serious inquiries only — message directly for details.

I’m truly sorry to hear about your experience, and I understand your frustration. No visitor should feel disappointed during their holiday.

However, as a local from Zanzibar, I would also like to share an honest perspective. Many of us work very hard to provide transport and tour services, but sometimes we face a different challenge — guests negotiating prices far below a fair level. For example, a normal airport transfer is around $40, but some people try to reduce it to $20, which does not even cover fuel, time, and basic expenses.

At the same time, larger companies and hotels often charge higher prices, and those are accepted without question. Independent drivers like us are simply trying to earn a fair living, not to overcharge anyone.

Regarding beach boys, not all of them overcharge or cause problems. Some visitors actually enjoy their services and have very good experiences with them. Like anywhere else in the world, there are both good and bad individuals. That is why it is always important for every visitor to choose the right people to work with, in a respectful and fair way.

From my experience, a great holiday often depends on connecting with the right and trustworthy people.

Also, many people from Zanzibar travel and work in other countries, and sometimes they also face difficult or unfair situations there. No place in the world is perfect — every country has its own challenges. That is why it is not fair to speak negatively about a whole destination based on a few bad experiences.

Zanzibar is not perfect, like any destination in the world, but it is full of kind, honest, and hardworking people. Most visitors who take time to ask for advice, compare options, and choose trusted guides have a very beautiful and peaceful experience here.

We kindly ask visitors not to judge the whole island based on a few negative situations or individuals. At the same time, we as locals continue learning and improving to offer better services every day.

Respect and understanding should go both ways. When there is fairness from both sides, the experience becomes much better for everyone.

We still welcome you and others with open hearts, and we hope one day you may see the true beauty of Zanzibar.

Safe travels.

I don’t know if it’s just me, but honestly… I’ve had to stop eating at Forodhani.

Every time I go there, the vibe is amazing ... the night market, the ocean breeze, the energy, everything feels perfect. You see all the grilled seafood, Zanzibar pizza, mishkaki, sugarcane juice… it looks so good you can’t resist. But man, the aftermath is not worth it for me.

Almost every time I eat there, my stomach starts acting up. At first I thought maybe it’s just one bad stall, so I tried different vendors on different days. Same result. Stomach pain, discomfort, sometimes even worse. It just ruins the whole experience after.

I’m not saying all the food is bad or that everyone will have the same problem clearly a lot of people enjoy it with no issues. But for me personally, it’s become a pattern I can’t ignore anymore. Hygiene could be a factor, or maybe how the food is stored or handled in that open environment… I don’t know.

It sucks because Forodhani is such a big part of the Zanzibar experience, especially at night. I actually enjoy going there, just not eating anymore.

Now I just go for the atmosphere, maybe grab a drink from a place I trust, and that’s it.

Anyone else had the same issue or is it just me?