Tour details
Discover the full spectrum of Zanzibar in one perfectly paced getaway: trace UNESCO-listed history through the labyrinth of Stone Town, breathe in clove and cardamom on a hands-on spice-plantation tour, and slip into the crystalline Indian Ocean for snorkelling off picture-postcard Mnemba Island—a hotspot for vibrant reefs and playful dolphins. Balance culture with wildlife as you wander the primate-rich canopy of Jozani Forest or cruise to Prison Island to meet centuries-old giant tortoises, then trade exploration for barefoot bliss at an inviting east-coast beach resort where sunrise paints the lagoon turquoise. Whether you’re hunting market spices, photographing carved Zanzibar doors, diving coral gardens or sailing dhow-dotted horizons, this five-day Zanzibar tour package layers heritage, nature and pure island serenity into one endlessly rewarding escape.
Tour Highlights
- Stone Town
- House of Wonders
- Spice Farm
- Jozani Forest
- Chwaka National Park
- Dolphin Trip
- KIzimkazi Fishing Village
Day 1 : Arrival in Zanzibar International Airport – Stone Town
Welcome to the spice-scented shores of Zanzibar! After clearing customs at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport you’ll transfer to your hand-picked Stone Town hotel (comfortable 3- or 4-star, ideal for a first night on your Zanzibar holiday). Drop your bags, refresh, and step straight into a living museum of Swahili, Arab, Persian and European influences.
Lose yourself in Stone Town’s labyrinth lanes, where carved teak doors and coral-rag walls whisper centuries of maritime trade.
Pause at the weathered ramparts of the Old Fort and climb its battlements for a panoramic harbour view.
Just next door, the majestic House of Wonders (Beit al-Ajaib) showcases Zanzibar’s pioneering role in East African history.
Meander onward to the buzzing Darajani Bazaar, a treasure trove of spices, tropical fruit and bright kanga fabrics—the perfect spot to practice a friendly “Jambo!” and inhale island aromas.
As the golden light fades, let the call to prayer mingle with distant dhow sails for a magical first taste of Zanzibar culture, architecture and timeless atmosphere.
Overnight Accommodation: 3 or 4 Star Hotel
Day 2: Guided trip in Stone town
Awake to the aroma of fresh cardamom coffee and set off on a curated guided tour of Stone Town, Zanzibar’s UNESCO-listed maze of coral-rag streets. With a local historian leading the way, you’ll trade modern traffic for dhows in the harbour and centuries-old whispers in shaded courtyards.
What You’ll Experience
Bustling Bazaars & Spice Stalls – Navigate the vibrant Darajani Market where vanilla pods, clove garlands and swirling kanga fabrics define the island’s spice-trade legacy.
Iconic Landmarks – Step inside the grand House of Wonders (Beit al-Ajaib), tour the sultan’s former residence at the Palace Museum, and trace Omani defensive might along the weather-worn bastions of the Old Arab Fort.
Sacred Mosaic – Contrast soaring minarets with the Gothic spires of St Joseph’s Catholic Cathedral and the poignant Anglican Cathedral, built atop the old slave market—proof of Stone Town’s multi-faith tapestry.
Doorway Artistry – Pause often to admire Zanzibar’s legendary teak and brass-studded doors; swirling Arab calligraphy, Gujarati lotus blooms and Swahili star motifs each reveal who once lived within.
Hidden Courtyards & Rooftop Vistas – Duck into secret passageways where sunlight filters through mashrabiya screens, then climb to a rooftop café for sweeping views of dhows gliding across the aquamarine channel.
Throughout the morning your guide unpacks stories of spice tycoons, sultans, explorers and abolitionists, linking every cobblestone to a wider Indian Ocean saga. By the time the sea-breeze carries the clatter of lunch-time grills from Forodhani Gardens, you’ll understand why a Stone Town tour is considered the cultural heartbeat of any Zanzibar holiday.
Overnight Accommodation: 3 or 4 Star Hotel
Day 3: Spice farm and Jozani Forest trip
Trade city lanes for emerald plantations this morning as you set out on an aromatic Zanzibar spice tour—a signature island rite of passage. Under the shade of cinnamon and clove trees a local farmer shows how to twist open a vanilla orchid, crush a curry leaf between your palms, and shave bark from a living “medicinal tree” once prized by Omani sultans. Each scent sparks a story: nutmeg as aphrodisiac, turmeric as beauty mask, lemongrass as fever tonic.
A home-style lunch follows right in the plantation garden—pilau rice, coconut-laced vegetables, and grilled catch of the day all infused with the very spices you’ve plucked moments before. It’s the island’s famed “farm-to-table” experience in its purest form.
Into the Green Heart of Jozani Forest
Leaving spice country behind, your route bends south to Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park, the last sanctuary of the endangered Zanzibar Red Colobus Monkey. Beneath cathedral-tall mahogany and screw-pine, troupes leap vine to vine, their rust-coloured capes flashing through dappled light. Rangers explain unique vocal calls, social quirks, and the conservation triumph that has almost doubled their numbers in two decades.
Optional but unmissable: wander the silent mangrove boardwalk, where fiddler crabs skitter across root buttresses and the tidal creek mirrors sky like polished obsidian. The air tastes faintly of salt and iodine—a reminder that forest and ocean braid together in Zanzibar’s ecological tapestry.
Sunset Arrival on the Coast
By late afternoon the landscape brightens into coconut groves and powder-white sand. Check in at your selected 3- or 4-star Zanzibar beach resort, kick off your shoes, and let the indigo Indian Ocean announce the next chapter of your island escape.
Overnight Accommodation: 3 or 4 Star Hotel
Day 4: Dolphin Trip
Leave resort hammocks behind and trace Zanzibar’s palm-lined southern coast to Kizimkazi Village, a sleepy dhow harbour where coral-pink houses meet glass-clear sea. Here the Indian Ocean is nursery and playground for resident pods of bottlenose and humpback dolphins, making a Kizimkazi dolphin tour one of the island’s most soul-stirring experiences.
Why We Go Late
While most day-trippers surge out at dawn, your journey begins after lunch when the bay has exhaled its crowds. Fewer engines mean calmer water, better etiquette, and a gentler introduction for both dolphins and travellers. Skippers cut throttles to a respectful crawl, letting the sleek silhouettes choose whether to approach.
Moments on the Water
• Blue-Glass Horizons – The dhow glides over an ocean so clear you can count starfish on the seabed.
• Dolphin Ballet – Look for silver arcs slicing the surface; soon playful clicks and chirps reach your ears. Camera shutters pause—sometimes everyone simply watches in quiet awe.
• Optional Dip – When your captain signals safe distance, confident swimmers slip into warm turquoise and float as dorsal fins twirl a few body-lengths away. Interaction is never forced; sometimes observation from the gunwale is the greater privilege.
Coastal Culture Interlude
Back on shore, wander lanes perfumed by grilled octopus and tamarind smoke. Weather-worn fishermen mend nets under coconut trees while children chase crabs along tidal flats—a snapshot of Zanzibar life untouched by resort bustle.
Eco-Ethic at Heart
Guides follow marine-conservation codes: no sudden course changes, limited boat numbers, engine idle around pods. Your presence funds coral-reef patrols and community dolphin-guardian programmes, proving responsible tourism can protect what it celebrates.
Return to your beach haven with salt on your skin, laughter in your throat, and a reel of memories where wild dolphins turned an ordinary afternoon into pure island magic.
Overnight Accommodation: 3 or 4 Star Hotel
Day 5: Farewell to Zanzibar – Transfer to Zanzibar International Airport
Wake to the hush of gentle surf and let your last morning unfold at island tempo. Amble barefoot along the powder-white shoreline, gather one more photograph of dhow sails against turquoise, or surrender to a final buoyant float in the warm Indian Ocean.
When it’s time to leave, an Africa Moja Tours representative meets you at reception and oversees a seamless, 15-minute drive to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (or to your onward accommodation if you’re staying in Zanzibar a little longer). Luggage handled, check-in simplified, you have space to replay five days of unforgettable spice scents, Stone Town stories, red-colobus treetops, and dolphin glimmers.
Thank you for exploring the island’s beauty, culture and charm with us. Wherever your journey leads next, may a hint of clove on the breeze always carry you back to Zanzibar.
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IncludedComplimentary airport transfersAir-conditioned vehicle4 nights’ accommodationProfessional driver/guidePick-ups & Drop offsEntrance fees
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Not IncludedMeals not specified in the itineraryVisa fees (if applicable)Optional activitiesGratuities
