Best Things to Do in Zanzibar With Kids
Zanzibar's family days are a spice tour on a working plantation, Prison Island (Changuu) for giant tortoises and easy snorkeling, Safari Blue's full-day dhow sail with sandbank and snorkel stops, Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park for red colobus monkeys found nowhere else on Earth, and a Stone Town walking tour through the UNESCO old town.
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1Area photo: Mbz1 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Spice Tour (Spice Farm Plantation)
Zanzibar earned its 'Spice Island' name from centuries of clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla cultivation — a working spice farm tour lets kids smell, touch, and taste plants growing in the ground, usually ending with a fruit tasting and a local lunch option.
Watch out: Most tours end at a small market stall selling spices and oils; decide your souvenir budget ahead so the sales pitch doesn't feel like pressure. Uneven farm paths aren't stroller-friendly.
2Area photo: Mbz1 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Prison Island (Changuu) Giant Tortoises + Snorkel
A 20-minute boat ride from Stone Town to a small island with a colony of Aldabra giant tortoises, some over 100 years old and originally brought from Seychelles in the early 1900s, plus a decent house reef for snorkeling right off the beach — an easy half-day combo.
Watch out: Staff generally discourage riding or roughly handling the tortoises — follow posted guidance rather than a captain who offers to let kids climb on for a photo. The snorkeling here is casual and shallow, not a serious reef trip; pair it with Safari Blue for the better underwater day.
3Area photo: Mbz1 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Safari Blue
The signature Zanzibar boat day — a traditional dhow sail with stops for snorkeling, a sandbank swim, mangrove kayaking, and a seafood lunch cooked on a nearby island, with a real shot at spotting dolphins on the crossing. Genuinely the best single day on the island for families who like being on the water.
Watch out: Dolphin sightings aren't guaranteed; treat them as a bonus, not the main event. It's a long day in the sun on open water, so sunscreen reapplication and a hat are non-negotiable for kids.
4Area photo: Mbz1 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park
The only place to see the endangered red colobus monkey, found nowhere else on Earth outside Zanzibar, in genuine forest habitat, plus a mangrove boardwalk that's a good easy add-on. A calmer, shorter, cheaper wildlife stop than a full safari.
Watch out: The monkeys are wild and semi-habituated to people, not tame — a guide keeps a respectful distance; don't let kids try to feed or touch them. Humid, mosquito-prone forest, so repellent matters more here than at the beach.
5Area photo: Mbz1 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Stone Town Walking Tour
Zanzibar's UNESCO World Heritage old town — narrow alleys, carved wooden doors, the old slave market site (now the Anglican Cathedral, with real historical weight for older kids), and the House of Wonders. A guide is genuinely useful both for navigation and for context on the island's Omani, Swahili, and colonial layered history.
Watch out: The old slave market history is heavy material — decide ahead how much detail is appropriate for your kids' ages and brief the guide. Midday heat in the old town's narrow, low-shade streets is rough with young kids; go morning or after 4pm.
Frequently asked
Is Zanzibar a good beach-resort base, or do we need to move around the island?
Most families base at one east or north coast resort and day-trip to Stone Town, Prison Island, and Safari Blue's departure point — no need to change hotels.
What's the best single day trip if we can only pick one?
Safari Blue — it's the most-loved single day among visiting families and covers snorkeling, a sandbank, and lunch in one outing.
Is Stone Town appropriate for young kids given the slave-trade history?
The historical sites are real and heavy, appropriate for kids roughly 7+ who can process some difficult history with guidance. Younger kids will enjoy the market and architecture without needing the full historical tour.
How many days should we budget for activities outside the resort?
Three days: one for Safari Blue, the full-day flagship, one combining Prison Island and a Stone Town half-day, and one for the spice tour and Jozani Forest.
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