Tulia Zanzibar

6°2’3.5"S 39°24’24.8"E

About Tulia Zanzibar

After four years in the building, the 16-room Tulia Zanzibar Beach Resort, to give its full name, opened ...

Our view

While our initial impression of Tulia was of a rather formal establishment, this was quickly belied by the hotel’s water slides, the music playing at the right volume and the many relaxing corners. This is a meticulously planned and executed boutique resort, with outstandingly good food and some of the most ambitious and beautiful gardens we’ve seen at any beach hotel. To be sure, if you’re looking for a broad, sandy beach shaded by swaying palm trees, well, the relatively short cliff-edge frontage of the property meets the ocean at high tide, so you won’t find that here. And if you want local colour, it’s fair to say the rooms owe next to nothing to Zanzibari influence. But if you can live with these provisos, and you’re looking for an extremely comfortable, luxury beach stay, with memorable meals (ku-tulia means to relax in Swahili), then Tulia is very much worth a careful look.

Jessica Plumb

Zanzibar expert

Accommodation

16 rooms

Children

Best for 8+

Open

1 Jun to 30 Apr

Activities

Birdwatching

Boat trip

Kayaking

Scuba-diving

Snorkelling

Watersports

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Holidays visiting Tulia Zanzibar

Just ideas, we'll always tailor-make a trip for you

Regal Sunbird Fly-in Safari

12 days • 5 locations • 2 country
KILIMANJARO AIRPORT TO DAR ES SALAAM AIRPORT

Experience the highlights of Tanzania with a safari in the country’s famous northern parks followed by historic Stone Town and the palm-fringed beaches of Zanzibar, staying in high-quality accommodation throughout.

Visiting Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater and 3 other areas

US$10,570 - US$16,370 per person

Full report Geographics Food & drink Special interests Children Communications Health & safety Activities Extras

Tulia Zanzibar: Our full report

After four years in the building, the 16-room Tulia Zanzibar Beach Resort, to give its full name, opened ...

... in 2016 on Zanzibar’s north-east coast. The sea-facing side of the property is set on low cliffs above the Indian Ocean, with the beach below accessible only at mid-to-low tide. The very large, air-conditioned rooms are separated by densely planted tropical gardens and indigenous shade trees.

Arriving from the unremarkable, scrub-flanked coastal road, there's nothing about Tulia's bumpy access track to suggest the splendour beyond the smart, wooden gates. The property is immediately to the north of Pongwe Beach Hotel and they share a common boundary wall. The driveway on the other side of Tulia's Maasai-protected gates is so smoothly paved that car tyres squeak. At the large, raised, reception area, smart staff greet you and speed you through the usual formalities.

Just beyond reception is the main restaurant/dining area. This is shaded by a towering makuti-thatched roof and looks out to the long, freeform swimming pool that curves through the property towards the seafront. Walking towards the beach from the restaurant, the pool is edged by terrace areas, with large, cushioned wicker armchairs and beach towels set ready on the sun loungers. At the seafront, a large, shady gazebo with comfy seating perches on the low cliff edge a few metres above the beach (or above the waves when it's high tide).

To overcome the lack of a beach at high tide – and conscious of their guests' likely desire to forget the office and wiggle their toes in the sand – Tulia have created a small artificial beach on a sand-covered ledge, just below the pool level. This has loungers and parasols, but won't provide space for all guests when the hotel is full.

Across the swimming pool from the dining area, the hotel's main bar takes centre stage at Tulia, with a handsome profusion of bottles set beneath a large flat screen TV, usually set to a sports channel. Music plays from the bar most of the time, gently piped to speakers around the dining area and pool. We found the choices – Manu Chao at breakfast, something jazzy in the evening – pleasant and unobtrusive. You can perch on a stool or slump in a wicker chair – or pause anywhere in the vicinity – and a waiter will take your drinks order. All drinks are included here.

There's a small, covered “foot pool” above the bar, where you can sit with your feet in the water. The overflow from here tumbles down the side of the wall next to the bar as an artificial waterfall.

Nearby, you'll find the current tide tables and weather forecast for the next few days.

Tulia's main pool, around 25 metres long, is wide and deep enough for some proper swimming, but it's not suitable for laps or diving. At the seaward end, it terminates in a shallow cul-de-sac at a sunken pool bar, where you can gaze out to sea from a submerged bar stool.

A second, sunken swimming pool lies behind the main bar. This is where Tulia's two open-topped waterslides debouch their riders. There are tiered sun-lounging ledges around this pool, from where mums and dads can keep an eye on their children. It's worth noting, however, that the slides are not supervised and parents will need to ensure that their youngsters keep well away from the ends of the slides, especially when large guests are hurtling down them.

The sixteen rooms at Tulia Zanzibar Resort are of three types: five standalone 'seafront luxury villas', ten 'deluxe garden bungalows' in pairs, and one large 'royal villa', which is also part of a pair, though its other half is currently used as the Tulia spa and massage room. All the rooms are accessed by keycards and all are fully glazed and cooled by good air-conditioning units.

All the rooms have broad decks at the front. These are accessed through French windows, and furnished with daybeds and rustic wooden racks for drying pool towels.

When considering location, privacy and views, rooms #1–5, along the ocean-front, have lovely vistas out towards the sunrise. Those these ar less good if you are travelling with children due to steep drop-off. Room #1 looks southeast, and being close to the swimming pool is somewhat less private. Rooms #2–4 look east and are fairly secluded. Room #5 is the most private seafront room, and looks northeast. Behind these rooms, garden rooms #6–11 have glimpses of the sea through the grounds.

Tulia's five seafront villas consist of very large, oblong cottages, clad inside and out in pale slabs of Tanga sandstone. Paths lead around the rooms, and they can be accessed by keycard from left or right. In front of their decks, a landscaped, sand-filled terrace follows the cliff-line beneath the palm and casuarina trees. The villas' main lounge and bedroom space is floored in polished, dark coconut wood – no rugs or mats. A partial room divider separates the seaward side of this living area into a lounge and a sea-view “bathroom”, containing just a large, freestanding bathtub and a couch. The bathtub is a slightly eccentric idea, given its proximity to the entrance door, and distance from the suite's proper bathroom and shower. Other furnishings include a daybed, sofa, formal armchair, wall-mounted 16-channel TV, writing table, Nespresso machine and stocked minibar-fridge. The large bed rests on a raised plinth and has a full mosquito net, with the headboard, lighting and charging sockets conveniently inside the net. Behind the bedroom there's a twin-basin bathroom (with a range of Zanzibari Inaya toiletries) and a separate toilet, part-glazed walk-in shower, and large, walk-in closet and dressing space with a full-length mirror. Fluffy towels, robes and slippers are all on hand, and the cupboard houses a large digital safe.
The presentation of the ten garden rooms is similar, with the Tanga stone, dark floors, clean lines and raised bed, but while still very large, they are somewhat narrower than the seafront rooms. Being housed in pairs, they are accessed from one side only and they don't have a bathtub in the front room, or indeed any bathtub at all. Their bathrooms are slightly more modest, and the clothes closet is off the living room area and has no mirror.
Tulia has one luxury suite, the 'royal villa', which is set back amidst the tropical gardens. The royal villa is considerably larger than the seafront villas, with an incredibly spacious living room and separate double bedroom. Unlike the other rooms, it has coconut wood walls, rather than walls clad in Tanga stone. It all feels rather grand and opulent, and whilst there is little about the décor to remind you that you are in Zanzibar, it is certainly offers a luxurious stay. It also has an outdoor, Jacuzzi-style spa pool.

Tulia's spa has two massage beds and offers a range of massages and treatments provided by its team of two. They use the Zanzibari Inaya range of products exclusively.

Activities at Tulia include free use of their kayaks, bicycles and snorkelling equipment (snorkels, masks and flns). For an ad hoc snorkelling excursion, just swim out across the lagoon within a few hours of high tide. You should wear diving booties or reef slippers to protect your feet. For a guided trip, the hotel will organise a boat excursion (at extra cost) out to the reef and good areas of coral gardens. Or you can go for longer snorkelling or diving trips to Mnemba Island, starting with a road transfer. All can be organised from reception.

When we last visited in 2019 Tulia were just about to open an indoor gym to compliment the yoga and TRX sessions that they already offer.

If you walk for less than a minute south along the beach, you'll be on the beachfront of Tulia's neighbour, Pongwe Beach Hotel, with its broad expanse of palm-shaded sand, that is exposed at all states of the tide.

Even when you're not doing anything else, the short stroll between your room and the central areas takes you through Tulia Resort's impeccably landscaped and painstakingly maintained gardens. The gardeners seem to be at work here all the time, overseen by a Czech facilities manager who has a background in tropical horticulture. All the plants here are indigenous to Zanzibar and the hotel has been built around the existing large trees on the site – mostly graceful, pine-like casuarinas. The gardens are a delight to walk through and already provide a riot of colour as well as shade. Assuming this plant community can all get along together, the grounds can only get even more attractive in the future, and will be bound to attract birds, butterflies and other wildlife.

Geographics

Location: East Coast Zanzibar, Zanzibar
Ideal length of stay: 4 nights minimum to start relaxing.
Directions: Transfers are included and take around one hour to or from Zanzibar airport, day or night.
Accessible by: Fly-and-Transfer

Food & drink

Usual board basis

Full Board

Food quality

The superb food at Tulia raises it head and shoulders above most of the competition on the island outside of Stone Town. To our knowledge, no other beach hotel is offering dishes as inventive, well prepared and beautifully presented. The Czech head chef Jakub Janda has a grip on the importance of fresh ingredients and an eye for detail that make every meal a special pleasure. During our stay we ate succulent lobster, perfectly timed fillet steak, bold roasted vegetables, well judged salads, and wonderful tangy dips – from baba ganoush to guacamole – to scoop with several varieties of bread that he bakes in-house.

The dining concept at Tulia is “all-inclusive à la carte”, which means with everything in the kitchen freshly procured, you can order anything you like subject to its being available, and eat whenever you want. Suggestions are always offered in the daily menus, but should you prefer something else, just ask. Needless to say, if you’ve passed on your dietary requirements and preferences to us at Expert Africa, those details are the parameters by which your meals will be set during your stay: nothing is too much trouble.

Breakfast is a joy, with freshly squeezed juice to order, cascades of glistening fruit and Jakub’s signature breakfast eggs to set you up for a hard morning’s holiday-making: three impeccably poached ovals served in a deep cocktail glass with chives and shaved parmesan. Of course if you want a full English, or a Spanish omelette, or pancakes with bacon and maple syrup, just ask. We found the coffee at Tulia to be spot-on – a rare accomplishment.

While dinner is several courses, complete with amuse bouche to start, lunch is often a light affair, especially after Tulia’s mega-breakfast. We sampled a lovely range of tapas, with lots of crispy salad.

A sample dinner menu, from our first night, went as follows:

Rocket (arugula) and fennel salad, with homemade dried duck ham slices and balsamic vinegar reduction;
Mango granita;
Kenyan beef fillet served with rock lobster tail and lime butter;
Double Tanzanian 75% cocoa chocolate brownie served with cashews.

Dining style

Individual Tables

Dining locations

Indoor and Outdoor Dining

Further dining info, including room service

You can eat, within reason, whenever and wherever you like – in the dining area, by the pool, at the bar, on your deck, in your room, or even on the beach.

Drinks included

All house drinks are included, and that includes more than two dozen red, white, rosé and sparkling wines. Champagne, and a limited range of rare cellar wines, are also available if you have deep pockets. There is a complimentary mini bar stocked with soft and alcoholic drinks in all rooms.

Special interests

Family holidays: Tulia Resort has two fabulous swimming pools and the only waterslides in Zanzibar, and they welcome children here. Air-conditioned and fully closable rooms make for a secure environment, and the kitchen is flexible and creative.; See ideas for Family holidays in Zanzibar
Honeymoons: With excellent food, luxurious rooms and one of the best pools we've seen on Zanzibar, Tulia makes for a romantic honeymoon getaway. Stroll along the beach, explore the lush gardens and indulge in a couple massage at the spa.; See ideas for Honeymoons in Zanzibar
Beach holidays: For a totally relaxing, luxury beach break, with excellent cuisine, Tulia Resort is hard to beat. The location is serene, the sea is often crystal clear for snorkelling and diving, and the pools and waterslides are fun.; See ideas for Beach holidays in Zanzibar
Wellbeing: The spa at Tulia Resort is run by Mishia and Anne, and they do a very good job of gently pummelling you into shape (or a state of deep immobility) and tending to your hands, feet, nails and face. A wide range of treatments is available.; See ideas for Wellbeing in Zanzibar
Luxury: Tulia is an impressive contemporary boutique hotel on Zanzibar’s beautiful east coast. Taking a conventional approach to luxury, its rooms are very stylish, its food is outstanding, and the tropical gardens are certainly amongst the best on Zanzibar!; See ideas for Luxury in Zanzibar

Children

Attitude towards children: Children are welcome.
Property’s age restrictions: None.
Special activities & services: Babysitters can be provided from housekeeping staff.
Equipment: Tulia has baby cots, high chairs and a limited selection of beach toys.
Generally recommended for children: While the tone at Tulia is adult in many ways, there’s a very family-friendly undercurrent here, though we don’t think it’s ideal for really young children.
Notes: The pools and waterslides are unsupervised, and there are unfenced drop-offs. Young children will need constant supervision. We recommend children should be confident swimmers to stay here.

Communications

Power supply notes: Mains supply with a generator backup
Communications: Free WiFi (they claim their 5 Mbps speed is the fastest on the island) is available throughout the property. Each room has a room phone for internal communications at the hotel. Mobile signals are good.
TV & radio: There are TVs in every room and a large-screen sports TV at the bar. Multi-channel DSTV have recently been installed.
Water supply: Other
Water supply notes: A high-end German desalination plant takes care of water supplies, though it’s worth knowing that such facilities pump extra-salty water back into the sea, which is bad for the marine environment, especially corals. The tap water is perfectly drinkable, but guests can request bottled mineral water if they prefer.

Health & safety

Malarial protection recommended: Yes
Medical care: There is a first-aid kit at the hotel and both the facilities manager and general manager are first-aid trained. In addition, a Tanzanian “mobile doctor” is available for call-out from his clinic if you need a consultation.
Dangerous animals: Low Risk
Security measures: There’s an enthusiastic Maasai security team who also sometimes double as evening entertainers. Perimeter armed night patrols were about to be installed when we visited in 2019.
Fire safety: There are fire extinguishers for every room and a pump and hose by the pool. Staff receive external fire-training twice a year.

Activities

Birdwatching
Boat trip
Kayaking
Scuba-diving
Snorkelling
Watersports

Extras

Disabled access: On Request
Laundry facilities: Laundry is available at an extra charge. It was being sent out when we stayed, but in-house laundry will soon be available.
Money: There are large, digital safes in every room. Foreign exchange isn’t formally available, but informal, smaller amounts of cash in Tanzanian shillings can be exchanged as a service.
Accepted payment on location: Tulia is largely a payment-free hotel. Cash payments for any extras or excursions booked through the hotel can be made in Tanzanian shillings, Euros or US Dollars and GB Pounds. The following cards can also be used for payments, subject to a 5% surcharge: Visa, MasterCard, Amex.

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Tulia Zanzibar's location

Look closer at the environment and surroundings of Tulia Zanzibar.

Excursions from Tulia Zanzibar

Optional extra day-trips and excursions possible whilst you're staying at Tulia Zanzibar. Talk to us: these are usually best arranged before you go.

Jambiani Village Tour

Half-day - mornings

Tear yourself away from the soft white sands of Zanzibar to get under the skin of the history and culture of Jambiani village. Join a knowledgeable local guide to discover the intricacies of day-to-day life in this traditional coastal village, with much of the profits being ploughed back into the community.

More about Village Tour

100% (1 reviews)

Jozani Forest Tour

Half-day or combine with other tours

For nature lovers, Jozani Forest is a must. One of the last sanctuaries of the red colobus monkey, it features a diverse range of habitats, from mangrove forests to salt marshes. Keep your eyes peeled for other forest residents, including Sykes’ monkey, bushbabies, duikers and more than 40 species of bird.

More about Jozani Forest

70% (6 reviews)

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When to go to East Coast Zanzibar

Our month by month guide: What it's like to visit Tulia Zanzibar in East Coast Zanzibar

Zanzibar in January

As on the Tanzanian mainland, January typically marks the start of the short dry season in Zanzibar. Conditions are likely to be hot and mostly dry, with temperatures exceeding 30ºC, although it is not uncommon to get a tropical shower in the afternoons. January can feel very humid at times, and this is particularly noticeable in Stone Town, although this can be tempered by the cooling sea breeze.

New Year is one of the most popular times to visit Zanzibar, with many hotels being fully booked over the festive period. The island generally becomes much quieter after 10th January, and prices drop too.

Mostly hot with the occasional shower.
High humidity, which can be relieved by the refreshing breeze.
Very busy over New Year, with high prices and long minimum stays often
Quieter and better value later in the month.
Wind from the northeast, and so the southwest coast is more sheltered.

Our view

A good time to visit, with pros & cons

Weather in January

Zanzibar in February

The weather in February is fairly similar to January, with days typically being hot and sunny although expect the occasional rainy spell. The humidity remains high, however the coastal areas often have a refreshing breeze. Zanzibar is fairly quiet in February, and with comparatively low prices it can be excellent value for money.

At this time the wind blows from the northeast, and so the southwest coast is often more sheltered and there can be good diving in the Menai Bay. The northeast winds can also lead to good conditions for kite surfing, with many kite surfers heading to the southeast coast and Michamvi Peninsula. For music lovers, Stone Town hosts an annual African music festival ‘Sauti za Busara’ each February. The festival's dates change each year; ask us for details.

Variable: mostly hot and humid with some cloud and rainy spells.
Fewer tourists and comparatively low prices.
Popular time for kite surfing, especially around the southeast coast.
North easterly wind, better diving in the south west of the island.
‘Sauti za Busara’ music festival in early February.

Our view

A good time to visit, with pros & cons

Weather in February

Zanzibar in March

March sees the start of the ‘long rains’ in Zanzibar, although the exact start date varies every year. The weather can be unpredictable, with a combination of hot sunny days, rain showers, and the occasional tropical storm. The arrival of the rains lowers the humidity, and it can also lead to some beautiful sunsets – most obviously on the west coast where you can watch the sunset over the ocean. Prices remain low during March, and the island is likely to be relatively quiet.

Diving is generally not recommended during the rainy season, as variable conditions can lead to reduced visibility from rainfall runoff, and choppy water.

Hot and humid, leading to heavy rains later in the month.
Low prices, and the island is comparatively quiet.
Variable weather leads to poor conditions for diving.
The start of the rains can lead to beautiful sunsets.

Our view

This is not a great time to visit

Weather in March

Zanzibar in April

April is typically the wettest month of the year in Zanzibar, and the long rains are in full force. The average rainfall is more than 250mm during this month, and tropical storms are common. Flooding regularly occurs, which can impact the quality of the roads, and consequently cause difficult, slow journeys across the island. Many of the hotels and beach lodges close at this time, so accommodation options can be limited. Having said this, prices are at their lowest, and if you don’t mind the risk of bad weather you can get some real bargains.

Despite the poor conditions, Easter weekend is often popular, and advance booking is recommended. Due to the strong likelihood of rain and poor conditions diving is inadvisable at this time.

Heavy rain and tropical storms expected throughout the month.
Areas of flooding leading to poor travel conditions.
Many hotels close for refurbishment at this time.
Low prices and few other tourists.
Diving inadvisable due to heavy rain and reduced visibility.

Our view

A time to avoid if possible

Weather in April

Zanzibar in May

The long rains continue into May, and as with April you can expect thunderstorms and heavy showers, although these typically ease up towards the end of the month. Parts of the island can experience flooding, causing damage to roads and impacting travel times. The temperature typically drops a little in May, with a daytime average of around 25ºC. The rains lead to a lower humidity too, and mornings and evenings can feel a bit cooler.

Many of the hotels and lodges are still closed, however a handful stay open and prices remain low. While diving is possible, the rain and storms mean that diving conditions are not at their best.

Continuation of the long rains, with thunderstorms and lightning.
Flooding common, but conditions becoming drier as the month progresses
Drop in temperatures, with cooler mornings and evenings.
Prices low, and many hotels remain closed.

Our view

A time to avoid if possible

Weather in May

Zanzibar in June

June marks the start of the long dry season in Zanzibar. While the island still gets rainfall, especially early in the month, it’s becomes less likely as the month progresses. Temperatures remain steady, with daytime highs averaging 25ºC, and it likely to be mostly dry. Any rain you do experience is likely to be in shorter bursts rather than heavy storms and hours of continuous rain, although conditions vary from year to year.

The wind direction switches to blow from the southeast, and the northeast coast is likely to be more sheltered at this time. Diving conditions can be variable, and while they are generally good there can be some rough days.

Variable weather: mostly hot and dry, with some rainy showers.
Wind from the southwest, and more sheltered in the north east.
Diving conditions variable, dependent on the wind and rain.
Lower prices and generally good weather can lead to great value.

Our view

A good time to visit, with pros & cons

Weather in June

Zanzibar in July

July is a very popular time to go to Zanzibar, and this coincides with the long dry season. July and August are the school holidays throughout much of Europe, and Zanzibar can often be busy with families. Weather conditions are generally hot and dry and pretty ideal for a beach holiday, however there is still a chance of an occasional short shower. Conditions for diving are typically pretty good, however this will be dependent on recent weather conditions.

The Zanzibar International Film Festival takes place in July, with lots of people flocking to Stone Town to soak up the atmosphere. The dates for the festival change every year, so chat to Expert Africa for details.

Typically hot and dry with clear skies, although showers are possible.
Can become very busy, with many families traveling during holidays.
Zanzibar International Film Festival takes place in Stone Town.
Great beach weather result in high prices.

Our view

A very good time to visit

Weather in July

Zanzibar in August

August is one of the most popular times of year to visit Zanzibar, and with good reason; this is one of the driest months and it is typically hot with clear skies – ideal for relaxing on the beach. Many families choose to visit during August, and the island can be busy, and this is particularly noticeable in Stone Town and around the more popular snorkelling sites.

High demand can mean that many of the more popular hotels and beach lodges can be booked up more than 6 months ahead, so advance booking is crucial. Due to the popularity and great beach weather prices are high.

Hot and sunny, generally ideal for relaxing on the beach.
Popular time for families and the island can be busy.
High demand leads to higher prices, and advance booking is essential.
With little rain falling and causing soil run-off, the sea is clear.

Our view

Fantastic: the very best time to visit

Weather in August

Zanzibar in September

September is an excellent time of year to visit Zanzibar. Weather conditions are typically very good, with clear skies and temperatures ranging from 20¬–30ºC. September is also one of the driest months, averaging 50mm of rain during the month, however rain showers are still possible. Due to the great beach conditions prices remain high, however with fewer families travelling in September the island can be a little quieter at this time.

September to December are often some of the calmest months at sea, which can result in superb conditions for diving. The wind typically blows from the southeast, and the northeast coast can often be a little more sheltered. You can find some beautiful snorkelling and diving spots around Mnemba Island.

Warm temperatures and clear skies, with the off-chance of rain.
Fewer families travelling, and the island can be a little quieter.
Great beach weather means that prices remain high.
Relatively calm seas result in good conditions for diving.

Our view

Fantastic: the very best time to visit

Weather in September

Zanzibar in October

October is the tail end of the dry season and you can generally expect hot, dry conditions. The short rains typically start in early November, and so this does mean that there is an increased likelihood of rainy spells as the month progresses. October remains a popular month to travel, particularly so during the European half-term school holidays, and advance booking is advised.

With high demand and great weather prices remain high, however there are some long-stay special offers to be found. South-easterly winds mean that the northeast coast can be more sheltered and conditions for diving can be good.

End of the dry season, generally good beach weather.
Increased chance of rain, particularly near the end of the month.
Popular with families during the half-term school holiday.
High demand means prices remain high.
Northeast coast generally more sheltered.

Our view

A very good time to visit

Weather in October

Zanzibar in November

The short rains start during November, however their exact start varies year on year. You are likely to experience a mixture of hot, dry days with the occasional tropical shower, however we find that short showers can actually be quite refreshing. With the start of the rains the humidity can shoot up and while the coastal properties tend to receive a pleasant cooling breeze Stone Town and the island interior can feel quite hot and clammy.

Prices drop in November and there are some real bargains to be found. This time of year can be great value for money, especially near the start of the month when the weather conditions are very comparable to late October. The demand is generally lower, and the island starts to feel much quieter.

Variable weather: mostly hot and dry but with some clouds and rain.
Hot temperatures, with humidity on the rise.
Less busy than October, and with lower prices it can be great value.

Our view

A good time to visit, with pros & cons

Weather in November

Zanzibar in December

December falls in to the short rainy season, and the weather can be variable. Days are likely to be hot and humid, with the occasional patch of rain, although showers can be a blessing in disguise as they help to lower the temperature. Early December is fairly quiet and prices are low, however this changes dramatically over Christmas and New Year.

The festive season, from around 20th December to 5th January, is arguably the most popular time to visit Zanzibar. Prices are at their highest, and long minimum stays are imposed. Due to the very high demand booking early is essential, especially if you’re a group or a large family. Book six months to a year in advance, or even more, if possible.

Variable weather, with a mix of hot, sunny days and tropical showers.
High humidity, which may be mitigated by the cool ocean breeze.
Quiet with lower prices earlier in the month.
Busy and exceptionally popular over Christmas and New Year.
Advance booking over Christmas and New Year is essential.

Our view

A good time to visit, with pros & cons

Weather in December

Zanzibar's weather & climate

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