Should you go on vacation to Zanzibar in 2021? Let's take a look at the reviews of tourists and decide! Up-to-date information about holidays on the island during a pandemic.
The picturesque island of Zanzibar is part of Tanzania. It lies in the clear waters of the Indian Ocean and is separated from the African mainland by a wide strait. For Russian tourists, Zanzibar is still exotic, because there are no direct flights to it and you have to get there with transfers.
Everyone who has visited the island is delighted with its beauty. According to tourists, Zanzibar is attractive for its wide beaches, tall coconut trees and the opportunity to go diving in coral reefs. In addition, while on holiday in Zanzibar, you can get acquainted with the distinctive culture of the local people, influenced by Africa, Persia, Arabia, India, China and Portugal.
Holidays in Zanzibar now
Compared to Cuba, where locals are very afraid of the coronavirus, everything is calm in Zanzibar. In the current reviews of tourists about COVID-19, there are almost no mentions - everyone is so happy to be in the warmth and by the sea that they quickly forget about the pandemic.
As of January 2021, the conditions for entering the country are very soft:
- No disease certificate is required, but travelers with covid symptoms will be tested. The service is paid - $ 80. However, if the test is positive, the insurance company will reimburse the costs.
- You also need to fill out a health questionnaire.
- The visa is issued at the airport for $ 50.
In general, it seems like certificates and tests are not needed if you fly on a direct flight, but tourists write that even during transit at the border they simply check the temperature, no one asks for information. You need to wear a mask at the airport.
lina_joy_: "There are #hakunamatata everywhere, there are no equipment and TVs, the Internet, everyone has push-button telephones, and no one is intimidated by the coronavirus, for them it is a white disease. Suspicious and suppressed by globalization of whites, I would add. It's ordinary real life.
snus71: "What's with the covid? A popular question, without which there is nowhere. But it is not there! The President of Tanzania showed some wisdom and said (he himself did not hear, but from the words of the locals):" In Africa, millions of people die every year from malaria, AIDS and hunger. Are you scared of a runny nose? "Tanzania was declared a country free of covid. No tests - no sick! As a result: no certificates are needed upon arrival, no masks and social distances, only in some places in tourist places (hotels , for example) there are disinfecting dispensers at the reception, and the temperature is measured when disembarking from the Dar es Salaam - Zanzibar ferry. weeks I have lost the habit of the muzzle. "
When is the best time to rest
Zanzibar is located in the tropics and it is always warm here. The island lies in the southern hemisphere, so it is hotter and drier in the winter months than in the summer. FROM june by December the average air temperature during the day reaches + 26 ° С, and with january by May it rises to + 28 ° С ... + 37 ° С.
The climate on the island is governed by monsoon winds. According to tourists, holidays in Zanzibar are great in any month, except for the rainy season. IN april-May and November there are heavy downpours and malaria mosquitoes are active. At other times of the year, it also rains, but this rarely happens and does not affect the rest at all.
Travelers who can hardly stand the heat come to the island in marchand also with june by October... During these months, little rain falls, and the daytime temperature does not rise above + 23 ° С ... + 28 ° С. Fans of diving and snorkeling usually travel to Zanzibar in winter, when the sea becomes especially calm and clear.
Reviews about the beaches of Zanzibar
The Tanzanian island of Zanzibar, according to tourists, is one of the best places in the world for a beach holiday. Warm climate, clear sea water, clean sand and good infrastructure attract vacationers from all over the world here.
According to reviews for 2019 and 2020, the north coast is great for holidays in Zanzibar. There are many hotels, guesthouses and diving centers in the Nungwi area. A wide sandy beach stretches north of the headland Ras Nungwi... Behind the shipyards, it becomes noticeably narrower. At the very promontory there is a white tower of the lighthouse, not far from which there is a lagoon where sea turtles are bred.
There are also good beaches in Zanzibar on the western coast of the island - Kendwa and Boo Boo Boo... These are budget vacation spots where youth companies prefer to spend their time.
Some tourists like to relax on the eastern, oceanic coast of Zanzibar. Sandy beaches Matemwe, Kiwengwa, Pongwe, Uroa, Michamvi, Paje, Bweju, Dongwe and others lie to the south and north of Chwaka Bay. However, all the beaches on the east coast have one drawback - they are heavily exposed during low tides.
Check out our roundup of the best beaches in Zanzibar.
Reviews of Zanzibar hotels
Zanzibar has luxury 4 * and 5 * hotels, budget bed and breakfast hotels, inexpensive guesthouses and hostels. The most expensive hotels are on the first line and offer guests additional services - spas, gyms and a free shuttle to the main attractions of the island. Find out more about prices for holidays in Zanzibar.
Prices for tours to Zanzibar for two people in 2021 with a flight from Moscow:
| Category | Accommodation only | All Inclusive |
| 2 * and below | — | — |
| 3* | 130 000 | — |
| 4* | 160 000 | 180 000 |
| 5* | 180 000 | 210 000 |
According to tourists, the choice of a place to stay in Zanzibar in 2021 should start with the beach. Decide on which side of the island you want to sunbathe and swim, and then start looking for a hotel. Russian tourists often stay in hotels Stone Town, and Europeans prefer to leave inland. The most popular hotels are located in resort villages Boo Boo Boo, Nungwi and Kendwa.
The best 5 * hotels in Zanzibar, according to tourists' reviews:
- Park Hyatt Zanzibar
- Zanzibar Serena Inn
- Emerald Dream of Zanzibar
- Hideaway of Nungwi Resort & Spa
- La Gemma Dell'est Resort
- The palms
- Essque zalu zanzibar
The best 4 * hotels in Zanzibar, according to tourists' reviews:
- Royal cliff zanzibar
- Mizingani Seafront Hotel
- Beyt al salaam
- Kilima Kidogo Guest House
- Sea View Lodge Boutique Hotel
- Dhow Inn
Locals are ready to accommodate tourists in bungalows that stand right on the ocean. True, due to the minimum of amenities, this inexpensive accommodation option does not suit all holidaymakers.
Rooms, apartments, bungalows and villas can be found on Airbnb.
Reviews of activities and excursions
Stone Town, which has a UNESCO protected status, is excellent for excursion tourism. According to tourists, it is interesting to see the old fort, the picturesque Forodani gardens, the Prison Island and the house where Freddie Mercury lived. They go to the coastal village of Kizimkazi to visit a beautiful cave and mangrove forest, as well as to swim with dolphins.
Fans of outdoor activities in Zanzibar are eager to go diving and snorkeling on the coral reefs surrounding the island. Sea fishing is also very popular here. This service is easiest to order at Kendwa and Nungwi beaches. From boats that go far out into the ocean, it is easy to catch tuna, sailfish and barracuda.
There are good conditions for surfers on almost all beaches, and for kitesurfers on the east coast of the island.
Read also about food prices in Zanzibar.
Reviews about holidays with children
Zanzibar is one of the best family vacation destinations. Tourists leave a lot of positive reviews about the beaches. The warm sea, fine white sand and shallow depth near the coast are the best for toddlers and children who have not yet learned how to swim well.
In order not to experience unnecessary problems with food and infrastructure, most parents with children stay in all-inclusive hotels.The resort villages on the west coast of Zanzibar are perfect for children. Western beaches suffer less from ebb tides, and the sea is almost always calm here.
In addition to a beach holiday, there is always something to do with children in Zanzibar. The whole family can make interesting plantation excursionswhere the spices are grown. Here, the child will be able to see growing coffee, cloves, peppers, ginger and turmeric with his own eyes.
A trip to the national park can be unforgettable Jozani chwaka, which is inhabited by rare monkeys - red colobus and miniature antelopes - dukers, or duk-dukes. According to tourists' reviews, the Butterfly Park and the territory where many reptiles live are considered popular places for family vacations in Zanzibar - Zala park.
Find out about holidays with children in Zanzibar.
Watch a video about a trip to Turtle Island (or Prison Island) in Zanzibar:
Conclusions: is it worth going
The benefits of rest
During their holidays in Zanzibar, tourists can try many healthy dishes from seafood and fish... Shellfish, shrimp, octopus, squid and sea fish make up 80% of the menu in local restaurants and cafes.
Zanzibarians are friendly, friendly and always glad to tourists. Even without knowing a foreign language, they love to communicate with foreigners.
The island is small by size. Its width is only 80 km, so it is very convenient to move from one end to the other. Most tourists travel around the island on local buses, open minibuses (dala-dala) or use taxi services.
You can get to the mainland from Zanzibar by sea ferry or local plane - air taxi.
Cons of rest
There is almost no nightlife... The exception is evening discos in some hotels. A vacation in Zanzibar is more suitable for couples who are satisfied with a calm beach holiday and the absence of noisy entertainment.
Quality and speed internet even in luxury hotels very low.
On the island you can pay with bank cards only in large shops, hotels and cafes. To check in shops and small cafes, you need to have with you cash.
Unfortunately, in hotels and on the streets theft.
And finally, some more important tips for your vacation in Zanzibar. Beach slippers are essential for swimming on the coral island, as spiny sea urchins are often found at the bottom. In addition, a repellent and a highly protective sunblock will come in handy on your trip.
