Begin planning your Zanzibar Honeymoon

For many people, a combination of mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar makes for the ideal honeymoon. Tanzania is a truly exotic and little-visited country, where outstanding game viewing can easily be combined with some laid-back luxury on a picture-postcard beach in Zanzibar. As a company we favour small, boutique accommodation rather than large corporate hotels. We think this is especially important for a honeymoon in order to have an intimate and unique trip. Luckily, it just so happens that this is Zanzibar’s speciality.

Begin planning your Zanzibar Honeymoon
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Where to stay on your Zanzibar Honeymoon





Zanzibar Archipelago encompasses the main Zanzibar Island and the private Fanjove and Mnemba Islands, as well as the untouched Pemba Island.

Most people flock to Zanzibar Island, as it has great beaches and excellent accommodation options. Pemba is less visited as there are only two good hotels, but also the beaches are not very good which makes it a less attractive option. Fanjove and Mnemba are exclusively visited by guests in only one lodge on each island, making them exceptional options for honeymooners seeking a more private experience. 
 
On Zanzibar, Xanadu offers a leafy and intimate private getaway. The 12 villas are beautiful and Xanadu prides itself on a Michelin standard menu making it a popular choice for foodies... Oh and the private villas and personal butlers means it is fairly luxurious! 
 
Zuri Zanzibar boasts a cool, quirky vibe and is made up of 55 suites scattered around a tropical garden. The huge perk of Zuri is that it has by far the most beautiful beach on Zanzibar Island. This, coupled with its reasonable price tag and luxurious rooms makes it the best option for many honeymooners.  
 
Fanjove Private Island is an Indian Ocean treasure. The tiny island is a pristine beach paradise with crystal clear waters and powdery white sand. The accommodation is fairly beach shack chic rustic, so Fanjove caters more for those who appreciate a private, off the beaten track special experience as opposed to five-star luxury facilities. 
Pongwe is our favourite best value honeymoon paradise. The Seaview suites have a private pool, and even if you do not go all out for one of these (which is only marginally more expensive than the standard room!), all categories are spacious and authentic. The main area is quirky, with a fun atmosphere and excellent Zanzibari food. 

Safari and Zanzibar Honeymoon Packages





Zanzibar beach honeymoons are so easy to combine with a Tanzanian safari, it is almost impossible to resist. For the super adventurous, you can even climb Kilimanjaro on your special week - quite the honeymoon story! Alternatively, you can do range of different itineraries, all ending (or beginning… or both!) in Zanzibar.
 
One option is to see Tanzania's famous northern parks; the mighty and beautiful Ngorongoro Crater and the iconic Serengeti. Plan your Serengeti itinerary carefully and you may be lucky enough to witness the Great Wildebeest Migration. From these parks there are a network of internal flights which can get you from safari to beach within a few hours. 
 
Alternatively, southern Tanzania provides huge safari variety; you can enjoy walking safaris, fly camping, boating and even some of the best chimpanzee viewing in the whole of Africa in the wild south-west. Most people do not venture to the west, but stick to either the watery Selous or baobab-studded Ruaha as they are far less expensive to access and offer extremelly wild and authentic safaris. 
 
You can also easily combine Kenya with your Zanzibar beach honeymoon... Yet more choices! It is a good idea to chat to an expert to find out what the best combination is for you though, as our consultants have visited everywhere so can give you fantastic insight. 

How much does a Zanzibar honeymoon cost?

The beauty of Zanzibar holidays is that the prices of accommodation are well and truly wide ranging... You can enjoy a splash of luxury for around $140 per person per night, or full on Indian Ocean private tranquillity for $600 per person per night. The choice is well and truly yours! 
 
You can also go for an even more lavish and completely exclusive retreat with the magical Mnemba Island, off the coast of Zanzibar. Mnemba's less refined but no less magical alternative is Fanjove - a nice addition to a Zanzibar honeymoon if you are after a lot of beach time relaxation. 

Introducing Odyssey Explorer
 
Welcome to our new itinerary-building app! Odyssey Explorer allows you to browse a range of popular itinerary templates and tailor them to suit your budget and tastes. Once you are happy with your route template, Odyssey Explorer gives you the freedom to select and change your accommodation in each destination. It is an excellent tool for you to get an instant price for your dream trip before you work with a Tanzania expert to fine-tune it and make it into a reality.

Example itineraries

Zanzibar Honeymoon Activities

Whether you are after snorkelling, diving, kitesurfing, a sedate sunset dhow cruise, educational spice tours, or even colobus monkey spotting in Jozani forest -  Zanzibar has a whole host of activities for you to enjoy in between relaxing on its dreamy beaches. 
 
Stone Town, Zanzibar’s rickety capital is a must-see for those interested in local culture, the history of the island or want to do a bit of bartering on some Zanzibari goods. Stone Town is mismatched and chaotic, but it undoubtedly has bundles of character and we would recommend visiting at least for a day trip to see the real island outside the cosy confides of your beach hotel. 
 
For foodies, Zanzibar will not disappoint. It has amazing fresh seafood as well as Arabic inspired dishes from delicious curries to spicy veggie nibbles. Spices are a big part of Zanzibar culture, so be sure to buy some and do some experimenting. 

Zanzibar's Stone Town

Stone Town is the capital of Zanzibar and is a fascinating small town on the west coast of the island. It is brimming with the hustle and bustle of local life. Steeped in history, it is a captivating living monument to the curious mix of cultures of its East African, Arab, Indian, Persian and European conquerors, traders and seafarers. 
 
Not to see Stone Town while you are in Zanzibar would be a real shame! We are in no doubt that the best way to get about Stone Town is with a private guide. Some say the best approach is to meander the streets, window shopping and absorbing the atmosphere...but that can also mean a day getting lost! 
 
Hiring a guide will help you to make the most out of your time in Stone Town and protects you from being hassled. There are many fine buildings to visit including the House of Wonders, the Arab Fort, various ruined Sultan's Palaces, museums, the Forodhani Gardens and many more historical attractions.
 

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Make your honeymoon special with Tanzania Odyssey

Our favourite spoiling honeymoon in Tanzania is to do beach-safari-beach. The reason we love it so much is that it gives you such variety (in two completely different beaches) with amazing safari in between. Also, if you do a shorter safari on your honeymoon your trip can be longer without breaking the bank! Beach hotels are far less expensive per night than safaris with park, vehicle, guide fees and so on, so spending more time here can mean the quality of your trip is better and longer for the money you pay. 
 
Ask us about the best botique hotels on Zanzibar. We have carefully selected the best finds on the island, which offer a more intimate experience when compared to the big hotels (which can be rather soulless for such a romantic and special holiday!). 
 
Explore the Indian Ocean! There is colourful marine life on your doorstep - if you are an active couple, then put the book down for a day and experience everything Zanzibar has to offer. 

Zanzibar Honeymoon FAQs

Zanzibar Luxury vs Zanzibar Adventure 

 
Zanzibar is blessed with great beaches and a host of different activities such as water sports which include snorkelling and kayaking or land-based island tours. Again, how you want to play it is entirely up to you. There really is adventure and luxury around every corner - you can stay in a luxury hotel with your own villa and privacy, and still have all the activities you want on your doorstep. If you are seriously keen divers and not so fussed about very luxurious accommodation, then we would suggest looking at the surrounding Zanzibar Islands, Mafia and Pemba - both of which have seriously amazing diving, and opportunities to swim with the biggest fish on earth, the mighty whale shark! Zanzibar does offer seriously luxurious options which are hidden and private, however if you are really seeking to push the boat out to be absolutely secluded, then take a look at Mnemba Island - pure beach exclusivity and luxury. Also consider Fanjove, a more reasonably priced but rustic private island, and Thanda - again, unrivalled Indian Ocean luxury. 
 

When is the best time for a honeymoon on Zanzibar? 

 
The best time to go to Zanzibar is like the rest of Tanzania. Generally, the dry season is recommended which runs from July to October. However, you will still have a fabulous time just outside these times (October and June), avoiding high season prices, and from December – March is also great – it could rain in showers, but generally will be temperate and nice.

Zanzibar Honeymoon Vs Indian Ocean Islands

 
Zanzibar is our main choice for beach time after an East Africa safari because firstly, we love Zanzibar, and secondly, it is so close! You can be on safari one hour, and the next swimming in the Indian Ocean - it couldn't be easier. The other islands such as Mauritius and the Seychelles can definitely be done, but we think, why spend more money and waste more time, when Zanzibar is quite literally on your doorstep, and offers everything you could need from an Indian Ocean Beach experience. Romantic lodges, fantastic food and a huge amount of activities - it doesn't get much better than Zanzibar.
 

How to combine a Safari and Zanzibar Honeymoon?

You can easily combine a safari in any park in Tanzania and Kenya. Most flights will touch down in Dar es Salaam, and then go on to Zanzibar - it really couldn't be simpler. It is especially easy from Tanzania, as there is no need to waste time twiddling your thumbs at passport control! You can also combine Zanzibar with Southern Africa itineraries; however, it will take a bit more time with costly flights.

Client Reviews

[100% BASED ON 5 REVIEWS]

Tanzania Safari | Tanzanian Safaris – Reviews

We had a fantastic holiday organised by Tanzania Odyssey. The web site was the best travel website we have ever used - very informative and easy to use and includes the prices of each property. Our travel consultant, Dave, was very pleasant and helpful and gave us useful advice to give us exactly the holiday we wanted. Highly recommended.

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Paul and I would like to thank you for your excellent planning of our safari to Tanzania.

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Tanzania Odyssey is the perfect choice for a perfect trip. They listen to you, give you good advices and always do their best to satisfy your needs. I always ask for their help when I go to Tanzania.

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We had a great safari experience. The organisation of the various flights and accommodation was seamless which really added to the experience. Would definitely recommend Tanzania Odyssey and would use them again.

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Wonderful in so many ways
Tanzania Odyssey arranged an amazing safari to southern Tanzania this summer. All the arrangements worked like clockwork and we all agree this was our best family holiday ever

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