What does 'shared' actually mean here?+
Shared transfers and shared excursion boats — not a shared room. You get your own twin or double room throughout. The Safari Blue dhow, the Nakupenda sandbank boat and the Stone Town walking tour all run as group activities anyway, so sharing them costs you nothing in experience and saves roughly two-thirds of the price.
Which beach should I choose?+
The north — Nungwi and Kendwa — if you want to swim whenever you feel like it, because the tidal range there is small. The east coast, Paje and Jambiani, if you came to kitesurf; the tide goes out for hours there and the wind is reliable. Matemwe in the north-east is quietest and closest to Mnemba. We place you rather than letting you guess.
Is Stone Town worth a night?+
Yes, one or two. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the most interesting hour of the whole trip is walking the old quarter with a guide who can explain the carved doors, the Old Fort and the slave-trade history honestly. The Forodhani night food market is the other reason to stay. It is not a beach, and nobody should plan four nights there.
What is Safari Blue?+
A full-day traditional dhow trip from Fumba on the south-west coast — snorkelling on the reef, a sandbank stop, a seafood lunch on Kwale island and usually a mangrove lagoon swim. It is the single best-value day on the island and it books out first on our board, which is why we list which dates include it.
Will I see the red colobus monkeys?+
Almost certainly. Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park holds the world's only population of Zanzibar red colobus, found nowhere else on earth, and they are habituated enough to photograph easily from the boardwalk. The park visit is included on the six-night packages.
When is the best time to go?+
June to October is dry, breezy and reliable. December to February is hotter and calmer with the clearest water — the best window for diving and snorkelling. Avoid mid-March to May, the long rains, when the sea is churned up and many smaller places close. We do schedule April dates, at much lower prices, and we tell you exactly what you are trading.
What should I know about dress and customs?+
Zanzibar is predominantly Muslim. On the beach and inside resorts, normal beachwear is fine; in Stone Town, the villages and the markets, cover shoulders and knees — it costs you nothing and it matters locally. During Ramadan many restaurants outside the resorts close during daylight hours, and we will tell you before you book if your dates fall in it.
Can I combine this with a safari?+
Yes, and most people do. There are direct flights from a Serengeti airstrip to Zanzibar, so you never have to backtrack to Arusha. Our joining safaris are timed to connect with these island departures — or take the Bush & Beach package, which builds both halves as one journey.
