FREEDOM PEAKEXPEDITIONS & ADVENTURES
White sand, turquoise water and a thousand years of Swahili history, a short flight from Kilimanjaro. The perfect way to rest after your summit or safari.
Off the coast of Tanzania, the Zanzibar archipelago is a world of palm-fringed beaches, wooden dhows under sail and fragrant spice farms. For centuries its main island, Unguja, was a crossroads of African, Arab, Persian, Indian and European trade. That history is still written into its streets, food and music, including the darker chapter of the East African slave trade.
At its heart is Stone Town, known in Swahili as Mji Mkongwe ("old town"). Its coral-stone houses, carved wooden doors, bustling markets and sultans' palaces earned it UNESCO World Heritage status in 2000.
We recommend four to six nights on the island after your climb or safari. We arrange your flight, transfers, hotel and excursions as one seamless add-on, so all you have to do is unpack.
Relax on the sand, or mix in a few of these favorites. Every excursion is guided and can be added to your plan.
A guided walk of about three hours through narrow lanes of coral-stone buildings. Visit a local market, the memorial and church at the site of the old slave market, and the former sultan's palace, with time to shop for spices and crafts.
Zanzibar's spice trade boomed in the 19th century under the Omani sultans, who made the island their capital. Walk a working farm with your guide to touch, smell and taste cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla and tropical fruit, and learn how each is used in food and medicine.
At the island's northern tip, about an hour's drive from Stone Town, Nungwi and Kendwa have some of Zanzibar's finest sand, calm water for swimming and the best sunsets on the island. They're an ideal base for your beach days.
Zanzibar's reefs are generally shallow, with calm, clear water and rich marine life, making them ideal for first-time divers and experienced divers alike. Snorkelers can join boat trips to the reefs around the island.
The fishing village of Kizimkazi is home to bottlenose and humpback dolphins, often spotted after a short boat ride. Afternoon trips are quieter and kinder to the dolphins. Watch for turtles and rays too.
Zanzibar's only national park is the place to see the rare Zanzibar red colobus monkey, found nowhere else on Earth. Troops are used to visitors, so you can watch them feed and play up close, then walk the boardwalk through the mangroves.
Finish your Kilimanjaro ascent or Northern Circuit safari as planned.
We transfer you to the airport for a short flight to the island, and meet you on arrival.
Spend a night or two in the old town, with a guided walking tour and rooftop dinners.
Move to your beach hotel on the north or east coast, with excursions whenever you want them.
Fly home directly from Zanzibar, or back through Kilimanjaro.
Go home with a summit certificate, a safari camera roll and a tan.
Zanzibar prices depend on the season, your hotel and the excursions you choose, so every add-on is quoted personally, with up-front costs and no surprises.
Tell us what you have in mind. We'll set up a phone or video call, then send you a custom itinerary with up-front pricing.