Zanzibar is the standard finish line for a Tanzania safari, and for good reason — it's a short flight from Arusha or the Serengeti and swaps dust for turquoise water in under an hour.
Picking a base
- Nungwi & Kendwa (north): swimmable at all tides, best sunsets, liveliest nightlife
- Paje & Jambiani (east): kitesurfing, quieter, big tidal swings
- Stone Town: history, spice tours, day-trip base rather than a beach base
June–October and December–February are the dry, sunny windows. Avoid mid-March to May if beach time is the priority — the long rains hit hardest then.