Zanzibar holidays,planned from Nairobi

Zanzibar is a short hop from the mainland and a long way from it in every other sense. Stone Town is Omani palaces, Arabian arches and Indian carpentry within a few narrow streets of each other. Inland are the spice farms. On the coast, the tide goes out for a kilometre and comes back turquoise.

Most people come for a week on the sand after a safari. Some come for Stone Town and the reef and never quite get to the beach.

Where you’ll stay

We book across the island rather than in one resort strip: Neptune Pwani and Royal Mandarin at Pwani Mchangani, Breezes and Bluebay on the east coast, Gold Zanzibar on Kendwa’s tideless sand, The Mora on quiet Muyuni Beach, and TUI Blue Bahari in the north-east.

Private island resorts

Three properties take exclusivity further than a resort can.

Bawe Island is the first one-island-one-resort in Africa: no neighbours, no crowds, sunrise villas and a half-board table.

Fanjove Private Island sits under coconut palms behind its own reef, with a historic lighthouse on the point and dolphins that sometimes swim alongside.

The Island Pongwe is adults-only, small, and built for couples who want dinner brought to the sand.

Practical notes

Draft: awaiting owner verification. Entry and health requirements change; confirm the current position with your travel designer before you book flights.

• Our own guidance notes a Zanzibar infrastructure tax paid directly at the hotel on arrival, and mandatory inbound travel insurance issued locally. Both need confirming for your travel dates.
• A yellow fever certificate is generally required. We check your route and tell you exactly what you need.
• Festive-season stays carry minimum-night terms at most properties.