A tropical island in the Indian Ocean: the UNESCO-listed lanes and carved wooden doors of Stone Town, the Forodhani night food market, the white sand of Nungwi, Kendwa and Paje, snorkelling at Mnemba Atoll and Jozani Forest with its red colobus monkeys. No direct flights from Ulaanbaatar — 1–2 connections via Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), Doha or Dubai, about 22 hours. Mongolian citizens need a Tanzanian e-visa ($50) or visa on arrival, plus Zanzibar's mandatory insurance ($44).
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Costs and prices on the ground
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return from $1300
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Weather
Daytime 29–33°C · warmest in January
Orange — daytime average, blue — night, grey bars — rainfall, green — sea temperature. Best months: January, February, June, July, August, September, October.
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Things to see (12)
12 places: Forodhani Gardens, Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe), Christ Church Cathedral and Slave Market…
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Forodhani Gardens★ 4.4 (916)
FoodFree (food TSh 5,000–20,000)Garden 8:00–23:40; food market from sunset
Stone Town's seafront garden: every evening grilled seafood, 'Zanzibar pizza' and sugar-cane juice. Agree the price before it's grilled and pick well-cooked food. Watch the sunset and the local kids diving into the sea.
The Shangani Street house where Farrokh Bulsara (Freddie Mercury) of Queen spent his childhood: photos, memorabilia and his path from Zanzibar to London. Small — 30–45 minutes.
Korean Air + Jeju Air + Qatar Airways · ICN/DOH30 h
Air China + flydubai + Emirates · PEK/DXB28 h
Air China + Ethiopian Airlines · PEK/ADD27 h
Adult return fare: $1300–$2200November 2026 examples: Turkish Airlines via Istanbul ~$1,510 return (23 kg bag), Qatar Airways via Seoul and Doha ~$1,720. Arrivals at Zanzibar are often in the middle of the night (02:50–04:30), so book the first night and arrange a transfer in advance. A layover of more than 12 hours in Addis Ababa or Nairobi triggers the yellow fever certificate rule. Middle East airspace closures can cancel Doha/Dubai flights — buy a changeable ticket.
Mongolian ordinary passport holders need a Tanzanian visa. Apply for an Ordinary (single-entry) e-visa on the Tanzania Immigration official portal (visa.immigration.go.tz): fee $50, up to 90 days, processing ~10 days — applying 2–3 weeks ahead is safest. Mongolia is not on the list barred from visas on arrival, so a $50 visa on arrival at Zanzibar airport is also possible, but queues are long. A return ticket must be shown; passport valid 6+ months. Also: since 1 October 2024 every foreign visitor to Zanzibar must buy the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC) mandatory policy — $44 adults, $22 ages 3–17, valid 92 days (visitzanzibar.go.tz). A yellow fever certificate is needed only after 12+ hours' transit in a risk country (Ethiopia, Kenya etc.). Fake 'e-visa' agent sites charge $100+ — use only the .go.tz domain.
Visa rules can change — confirm with the embassy or an official source before you travel.
Language:Swahili and English are official; English is fluent at hotels, tour operators and restaurants. In villages and markets, 'Jambo' (hello) and 'Asante' (thank you) are warmly received
Safety:Generally calm in the tourist areas; Stone Town has pickpockets, 'beach boy' touts and overcharging taxi drivers. Don't walk dark lanes or empty beaches alone at night. Tides are strong (Paje, Jambiani) — at low tide sea urchins and coral can cut feet. Malaria is present: repellent and nets; CDC advises preventive medication.
Healthcare:Mnazi Mmoja Referral Hospital (public, Stone Town) and private clinics handle routine care; serious cases are flown to Dar es Salaam or Nairobi. The mandatory ZIC policy only covers up to $50,000, so add private travel insurance that includes evacuation.
Phone:Vodacom, Airtel and Yas (formerly Tigo/Zantel) — buy a tourist SIM at the airport or in Stone Town with your passport and fingerprint registration. Easiest is an eSIM bought before you go (Airalo, Holafly). M-Pesa mobile money is widely used.
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Travel guide
Arrival, SIM, transport, money, customs — step by step
Like a well-travelled friend for a first-timer: before you go, landing, SIM, transport, money, food, safety, manners, apps, leaving — step by step.
🧳Before you goVisa, Zanzibar's mandatory insurance and malaria tablets — sort all three at home. Use only the official .go.tz sites for the first two.+
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Visa: Tanzanian e-visa
Mongolian citizens need a Tanzanian visa. Apply for an Ordinary (single-entry) visa at visa.immigration.go.tz: fee $50, up to 90 days, processing about 10 days. Attach your passport page, a photo (up to 500KB), return ticket and hotel booking. Mongolia is not on the list barred from visas on arrival, so you can also get one at the airport, but queues are long.
Tip: Agent sites that top a search for 'Tanzania e-visa' charge over $100 — use only immigration.go.tz.
Since 1 October 2024 every foreign visitor to Zanzibar must hold the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation policy: $44 adults, $22 ages 3–17, free under 3, valid 92 days. Pay by card on visitzanzibar.go.tz and print the certificate or keep it on your phone — immigration checks it.
Tip: This policy only covers up to $50,000 — add private insurance with air evacuation.
Malaria has resurged on Zanzibar, so CDC advises preventive medication — see a doctor for a prescription before you go. A yellow fever certificate is needed only after more than 12 hours' transit in a risk country such as Ethiopia or Kenya; not when arriving via Istanbul, Doha or Dubai.
🛬Landing and getting to your hotelAbeid Amani Karume Airport (ZNZ) is just south of Stone Town; international flights often land late at night.+
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Immigration: visa, insurance, return ticket
Have your passport, e-visa (or $50 cash for a visa on arrival), ZIC insurance certificate and return ticket ready. If buying a visa on arrival, bring new, undamaged dollar notes — old or torn notes are refused.
Airport taxis charge fixed per-car fares in dollars: Stone Town ~$15 (~20 minutes), Paje ~$35 (~1 hour), Nungwi and Kendwa ~$40–50 (~1 h 15 min). Landing at night, book a hotel transfer in advance — someone will be waiting with a sign.
Tip: Agree the fare before getting in; carry small dollar notes or shillings.
If flying to mainland Tanzania (Dar es Salaam) is cheaper, Azam Marine's fast ferry reaches Zanzibar in about 2 hours. Buy tickets at the official office or website and ignore port 'helpers'.
If your phone supports eSIM, buy a Tanzania plan from Airalo, Holafly or similar and install it before you fly — it works the moment you land at night, no registration queue. 4G is generally good on the Nungwi and Paje coasts.
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Local SIM
Tourist SIMs from Vodacom, Airtel and Yas (formerly Tigo/Zantel) are sold at the airport and official shops in Stone Town; registration needs your passport and fingerprints. A monthly 10GB+ plan costs around TSh 30,000. Register for M-Pesa to pay by phone at markets and taxis.
🚇Getting around the islandThe island is about 85 km long: roughly an hour from Stone Town to the north coast, and an hour to the south-east coast. Public transport is slow; an agreed taxi is the easiest.+
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Taxis and private drivers
Intercity taxis charge per car, in dollars — agree in advance. For several days of trips, hiring one driver is cheaper and more reliable; ask your hotel. There are no metered taxis.
Truck-style buses from Stone Town's Darajani terminal to every village on the island; a ride costs about TSh 800. Cheap but crowded, slow and unscheduled — not for suitcases.
Driving yourself needs an international licence and a temporary Zanzibar permit; traffic drives on the left. Police checkpoints are frequent. At night watch for unlit roads, livestock and cyclists.
The currency is the Tanzanian shilling (TZS); in October 2026 $1 ≈ TSh 2,650. Hotels, tours and taxis quote in dollars but accept shillings; markets, dala-dalas and small eateries take shillings only. Bring new, undamaged dollar notes — old ones get a poor rate or are refused.
Stone Town has plenty of CRDB, NMB and Exim ATMs; beach villages have few and they sometimes run dry, so take enough cash from town. Larger hotels and restaurants accept cards, often with a 3–5% surcharge.
🍜FoodSwahili, Arab and Indian-influenced seafood — the spice island shows in every dish.+
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Forodhani night market
From sunset on Stone Town's waterfront: grilled seafood, octopus, 'Zanzibar pizza' (thin dough fried with egg, meat and vegetables) and sugar-cane juice. A meal costs about TSh 10,000–20,000 per person.
Tip: Ask the price before it's grilled and pick well-cooked, hot food; skip anything raw.
Urojo — Zanzibar's yellow soup (coconut, potato, little meatballs); pilau and biryani rice; fish curry in coconut sauce; mishkaki skewers; fresh mango and fruit juices. Kids like chipsi mayai (a chips omelette).
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Water and hygiene
Don't drink tap water — bottled only. Be careful with ice, raw salads and unpeeled fruit. It is a Muslim island, so alcohol is served mainly in hotels and tourist bars; during Ramadan don't eat or drink in public in the daytime.
🛡️Safety and health+
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Emergency numbers
Police 112, fire 114, civil protection 111. Zanzibar tourist police +255 712 950 318. Ambulance service is unreliable, so call your insurer's 24-hour assistance line first.
Use DEET repellent, long sleeves in the evening and rooms with mosquito nets. The equatorial sun is strong — sunscreen even in the water. At low tide wear water shoes against sea urchins and coral.
'Beach boys' offer cheap tours and take deposits — book only through your hotel or licensed operators. Watch expensive phones and bags in Stone Town's lanes; don't walk empty beaches alone at night.
🙏Manners+
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A Muslim island: dress
Most Zanzibaris are Muslim. In Stone Town and villages cover shoulders and knees; swimwear only at hotels and on the beach. During Ramadan avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public in daytime; many restaurants close or work behind curtains.
Don't photograph people, especially women and children, without permission. Greet elders respectfully with 'Shikamoo'. Don't hand over food or money with your left hand. Avoid public displays of affection.
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Respect marine life
Don't chase or circle dolphins by boat — many Kizimkazi tours disturb them. Don't stand on or touch coral; don't collect starfish or shells. Ask whether protected-area fees such as Mnemba's are included in your tour.
Get your visa on the Tanzania e-Visa portal and your ZIC insurance on Visit Zanzibar; save both PDFs offline on your phone — there may be no internet at immigration.
On the east coast (Paje, Jambiani, Michamvi) the sea retreats far twice a day. Use a tide app or site to time swimming, kitesurfing and walking out to The Rock.
From Nungwi or Paje to the airport takes about 1 to 1 h 15 min; plan to arrive 3 hours before an international flight. Turkish Airlines' return flights leave before dawn (03:50–05:30), so book the midnight taxi from your hotel the day before.
Small planes from Coastal Aviation, Auric Air and others fly from Zanzibar straight to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro — a popular beach-plus-safari combination. Mainland Tanzania has required a separate NIC insurance since 1 October 2026, but NIC says ZIC cover bought on entry via Zanzibar is enough.
A 17th-century Omani fort — now craft shops, an amphitheatre and a cultural centre. The neighbouring House of Wonders partly collapsed in 2020 and is under Omani-funded restoration, so it can only be seen from outside.
Christ Church Cathedral and Slave Market★ 4.4 (1,491)
Culture$5 (guide included)8:00–18:00
An Anglican cathedral built in 1873 on the site of East Africa's largest slave market, with the slave memorial, dark underground chambers and a museum. About an hour with a guide. A heavy subject that may not suit young children.
20–30 minutes from Stone Town: smell and taste how cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and cardamom grow. The guide climbs a palm and opens a coconut. Fun for kids; spices are sold at the end — no obligation to buy.
20–30 minutes by boat from Stone Town: feed and stroke giant tortoises aged 100–190, brought from the Seychelles in 1919. Ruins of a quarantine station that never held a prisoner, a small beach and snorkelling.
Zanzibar's only national park: the red colobus monkey, found nowhere else on earth, seen from a few metres away. The mangrove boardwalk is included in the ticket. Arrive before 9 am for active monkeys and fewer people.
NatureMarine conservation fee $25 (children $10) + tour ≈$40–90Half-day tours leave early morning
Zanzibar's best snorkelling: coral reef, turtles, colourful fish and sometimes dolphins. The island itself is private, so no landing. Avoid tours that chase and circle dolphins for 'swim-with' — the Kizimkazi trips harm them.
The island's northern tip: barely affected by tides, so you can swim almost every day. Sunset dhow cruises, a dhow-building village and the Mnarani turtle pond nearby. Lively, with plenty of hotels and bars.
Just south of Nungwi: Zanzibar's whitest sand, clear water and small tides — good for families. Famous for its monthly full-moon party (noisy that night).
East coast: shallow turquoise lagoon water and steady wind — one of Africa's best-known kitesurf spots (June–September, December–February). At low tide the sea retreats hundreds of metres, so time swims with the tide table.
A small seafood restaurant on a rock in the sea at Michamvi Pingwe: reach it by boat at high tide or on foot at low tide. Reservations are essential; famous more for the setting than the food.
