One of Africa’s cheapest islands has new TUI hotels, UK flights and white sandy beaches
THE sun-soaked archipelago of Zanzibar off the coast of East Africa should be your next holiday destination if you want a bargain holiday.
Not only has TUI recently opened a number of new hotels, but the island rarely drops below 28C.
The capital of Zanzibar is Zanzibar City, which is made of two parts, Stone Town and Ng’ambo, which were historically divided by a creek.
The newer portion of the city is known as Ng’ambo, Swahili for ‘the other side’.
Stone Town is the historic side where you’ll find the Old Fort, Christ Church Cathedral — the oldest church in East Africa, and the Sultan’s Palace.
Interestingly, Stone Town is also famous as the birthplace of Queen lead singer, Freddie Mercury.
There’s also Darajani Bazaar, a market where you can buy local snacks and spices—and discover why Zanzibar is nicknamed ‘Spice Island’.
A popular evening spot is Forodhani Gardens, a popular street market in the main square and a place locals and tourists enjoy Swahili and Zanzibari dishes.
Zanzibar isn’t particularly expensive; a beer can cost around 5,000 shillings, which is about £1.
Zanzibar’s coastal location means there are incredible beaches, one of the most popular being Nakupenda Beach Nature Reserve.
Nakupenda Beach was voted one of the best beaches in Zanzibar on TripAdvisor last year. One visitor described it as having “crystal-clear waters, powdery white sand, and a serene atmosphere”.
Many others said Nakupenda Beach is the perfect location for swimming and snorkelling if you want to spot some marine life.
It’s also worth noting that no beaches are off limits as they are all open to the public.
Zanzibar is very walkable place, but if you need to travel a little further, there’s also the option of taxis and the local bus, called dala dala.
Journeys on the bus shouldn’t cost more than 2000tzs (60p) – which would be the average amount for a trip from Stone Town to the village of Nungwi in the north.
TUI offers 20 all-inclusive holidays to Zanzibar with prices ranging from £1,242pp up to £2,509pp.
The newest TUI hotel is The Mora Zanzibar, which opened in spring 2024 and can be found on the north-east coast of Zanzibar’s main island, Unguja.
Away from the hustle and bustle of Stone Town, Unguja is on the quieter end of the island with lots of locals making a living from seaweed farming and fishing.
The hotel has four bars and restaurants, a buffet restaurant, two pools and a spa.
For children, there’s a kids’ club and cinema screenings as well as an ourdoor playground.
They also have watersports, snorkelling, tennis courts and places to play football, there’s also a gym, hot tub and sauna.
As for rooms, they offer suites with either garden or sea views – both of which are equally beautiful.
Flying to Zanzibar can be slightly more complicated as there are currently no direct flight routes from the UK.
The shortest flight from the UK involves a stopover in Ethiopia or Istanbul before continuing to Zanzibar International.
Flight time is from 13 hours but can be longer depending on the connection time, with some flights taking over 18 hours.
We found a return flight through Skyscanner that stopped at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport before continuing to Zanzibar for £484.
The weather in Zanzibar generally never slips below 28C, but it does have a dry and wet season.
Generally, the best time to visit is from June to October, the rainier months are between March and May, with lighter showers between November and December.
Other Important Facts To Know About Zanzibar
Here is some more information to know before heading on your winter break...
Holidaymakers travelling to Zanzibar will be required to pay a $44 (£34) insurance fee from September 1, 2024. According to Zanzibar’s Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Saada Mkuya Salum, the mandatory fee will provide visitors coverage for up 92 days during their stay on the island.
Holidaymakers will receive health protection for any health-related issues that may arise during their trip.Visitors will also be insured against lost baggage, passport loss, accidents, and emergency evacuations.
The local currency is the Tanzania shilling (TSh) with £10 being around TSh29,102. Most hotels will accept US dollars or Tanzanian shillings; some hotels will take credit cards, but there are few ATMs, so take out enough money before your trip.
While bikinis and shorts are fine at most resorts, it is a Muslim country, so you should cover your knees and shoulders when travelling around.
You must also get a tourist visa which can be applied for online, and cost around £40 per person.