I’ve been singing about Zanzibar ever since I heard the Zanzibar song by Bill Harley many years ago, and I finally made it! What an amazing island, ringed in white-sand beaches and steeped in cross-cultural history. If you’re contemplating a visit and looking for a 2-day Zanzibar itinerary, you can’t go wrong with these suggestions.

Where is Zanzibar?

Zanzibar is an archipelago off the east coast of Africa that consists of over fifty islands. It has a long and complicated history, having been controlled by the Portuguese, the Omanis, and the British. Its coastal location also made it a center of trade for people from India, Persia, and the Arab world, so it’s ended up with a rich mix of people.

Zanzibar finally gained its independence from Britain in the 1960s. Soon afterwards, it merged with the country of Tanganyika, and the country of Tanzania was born.

There are two main islands of Zanzibar, Unguja and Pemba. When people say they’re traveling to Zanzibar, they almost always mean that they’re headed to Unguja — that’s where most of the population lives and where all of the tourists go.

Day 1 in Zanzibar: Beaches, Fish, and Dancing

Coral Reefs and Tropical Fish

I spent my first day on the northern part of Unguja Island, at Nungwi Beach. To start the day, I went out diving at Mnemba Atoll (snorkeling here is another good option).

While the reefs aren’t in the best shape, it’s still amazing to see marine life in this part of the world.

Being out on the water gave me a good opportunity to study dhows, the local fishing boats (outside of the cities, most people in Zanzibar make their livelihoods by either farming or fishing).

Pristine Beaches

Back out on land, I walked down the beach out to the sandbar.

This is a great place to search for shells and sea urchin tests (I’ve just learned that this is what the hard outer shell of a sea urchin is called).

Traditional Dances of Zanzibar

Back at the lovely Warere Beach Hotel …

… I enjoyed dinner and an evening of traditional Tanzanian drumming and dance.

This troupe even included a monkey dance …

… and a stilt dance:

If you can search out a performance like this, I’d highly recommend it!

Day 2 in Zanzibar: Markets, Culture, and Architecture

From Fruit to Fabric

For my second day, I ventured into Zanzibar’s capital, Zanzibar City. This is where you’ll find the country’s biggest markets, where they sell everything from fruit …

… to cloth …

… to bags and bread.

I purchased dates here and was fascinated by the use of traditional weights.

There are rows of shops, too — and one of the things that I like is that they often advertise their wares by painting images of them right on the shop doors.

Touring Stone Town

I spent the afternoon on a tour of Stone Town, Zanzibar’s historic center. Its architecture, much of which dates to the 1800s, is a fantastic mix of Arab, European, Persian, and Indian influences.

Unfortunately, Stone Town has become extremely touristy — you can’t possibly count the number of dresses and signs with “hakuna matata” written on them. There are even rows of tourist shops at the foot of the Old Fort, the oldest building in Stone Town.

But Stone Town is still a fun place to wander, with lots of narrow alleys …

… and interesting things to see in every direction.

While Zanzibar is well over 95% Muslim, Stone Town has churches sitting right next to mosques (also, as a grim reminder of the past, you can see the wall of the old slave market just below the church in the top left).

Wood Wonders: Zanzibari Doors

For me, the highlight of Stone Town was the amazing collection of historic Zanzibar Doors, which are elaborately carved out of teak or mahogany.

For many people, though, the top thing to see in Stone Town is Freddie Mercury’s birthplace. It’s now a hotel and museum.

No matter what you like, the many cats of Stone Town can’t fail to make you smile!

Stone Town lies along the ocean, so when I was done with my tour, I walked the promenade and looked out over the ferries and the boats that take tourists out to Prison Island.

I wish I’d had a few more days to see the turtles of Prison Island (a long ago gift from the king of the Seychelles), take a tour of the jungle interior, and visit the spice farms. But now I have an excuse to go back!

Pairing your Zanzibar trip with a northern Tanzania safari? Here are my essential safari tips to help you plan the perfect wildlife adventure — and make sure to plan a night’s stay at the Gran Meliá Arusha.

If you’re exploring more of Africa, here’s my guide to why you should — and shouldn’t — visit Dakar, the capital of Senegal.