General Information

Weather and Climate

Zanzibar experiences ideal holiday weather for most of the year. The heat of summer is seasonally often cooled by windy conditions, resulting in pleasant sea breezes, particularly on the North and East coasts. Being near to the equator, the islands are warm all year round, but officially, summer and winter peak in December and June respectively. Zanzibar is blessed with an average of 7-8 hours of sunshine daily.

Short rains can occur in November but are characterized by short showers, which do not last long. The long rains normally occur in April and May although this is often referred to as the 'Green Season’ and it typically doesn't rain every day during that time.

Getting to Zanzibar

Most airlines offer trips to Zanzibar. It is three hours flight from OR Tambo International if you are flying from Johannesburg, and certain Airlines offer direct flights to Zanzibar. However if you do not get a direct flight, Zanzibar is only a short ferry trip away from the mainland of Tanzania’s capital city Dar es Salaam.

Visas and Entry Requirements

All visitors require a passport, valid for the duration of their stay. Preparations are under way for visitors to obtain visas at any entry point, and this time-saving facility is available to visitors arriving at Zanzibar International Airport. Other points in Tanzania currently offering visa on entry are Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro International Airports, and Namanga on the road border between Tanzania and Kenya. Nationals of some countries do not require visas, so it is advisable to check with your nearest Tanzanian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate prior to visiting.

Guidelines

Zanzibar is unspoilt by the unpleasant effects of mass tourism - the number of visitors to the island is still low, but has been on the rise throughout the 1990's. It is our hope that increases in tourism do not impact adversely on the magic of Zanzibar, and we humbly ask all visitors to follow a handful of guidelines, ensuring they will not offend the traditional values of the local people or harm the environment in any way. It is typical of the Zanzibaris' friendly nature that they will not harass you for infringing these guidelines, but you should be aware that this is merely politeness, and is not an excuse for ignoring them!

• Please ensure that you dress modestly when off the beach. Women should not expose too much leg and chest, and topless sunbathing is also strongly discouraged.

• If you have children and are bringing them to Zanzibar, please make sure that they don't display their expensive toys in front of their Zanzibari contemporaries. This may instill a false sense of values in the local children, whose parents are unlikely to be able to afford such luxuries.

• If you are diving or snorkeling, you may be tempted to collect some pretty shells from Zanzibar's many coral reefs. Please do not, as this kills entire reefs, the devastating effects of which can be seen in the well-trodden areas of East African coast. Although there are shell sellers, you are asked not to buy shells from them, as it simply encourages this harmful industry.

• Zanzibar is an amazingly photogenic place, but if you want to take photographs of people, please ask their permission first out of courtesy.

• If you are non-Muslim, then please do not enter any of Zanzibar's many mosques.