Zanzibar

Zanzibar has two dry seasons: June–October (cooler, 24–29°C, the most reliable weather) and December–February (hotter, more humid, busier with European holiday crowds). The long rains, March–May, bring heavy daily downpours and some hotels close for renovation — it's genuinely the wrong time to visit unless the discounted rates are the whole point. The short rains in November are lighter and often just afternoon showers, making it an underrated shoulder-season window.

Beyond the main island, Mnemba Atoll (private, day-trip snorkelling and diving only) has Zanzibar's best reef. Prison Island (Changuu), a short boat ride from Stone Town, combines giant tortoises with a genuinely good swimming beach and works well as a half-day trip. Pemba Island, north of Zanzibar, is the serious diver's alternative — steep drop-offs, far fewer visitors, and none of the infrastructure, which is the appeal and the drawback depending on what you want.

Renting a car with a driver is the standard way to move between Stone Town and the coast — roads are rough enough, and traffic patterns unfamiliar enough, that self-driving isn't worth the hassle for most visitors. Dala-dalas (shared minibuses) are the local option, cheap but slow and crowded. Taxis and hotel transfers cover most point-to-point trips; expect 1–2 hours from Stone Town to the east or north coast. Domestic flights connect Zanzibar to the Serengeti and mainland safari circuits directly, which is how most people combine both trips.

Forodhani Gardens night market in Stone Town — grilled seafood skewers, Zanzibar pizza, sugarcane juice — is unmissable and cheap. Swahili cuisine leans on coconut, cardamom, and clove (Zanzibar's spice-trade legacy is still in every dish), with pilau and octopus curry as standouts. Beach resorts run their own restaurants, generally competent but international in style; the better local flavour is in Stone Town or small beachside shacks run by local families.