Zanzibar

Zanzibar is best known for its white sandy beaches, turquoise Indian Ocean, and rich marine life. The combination of African, Arabian, Indian, and Persian cultural influences is sure to excite the senses. It is the ideal place to rest up at the end of your safari trip.

Zanzibar Island, also known as Unquia, is the largest and most famous of the islands that make up the Zanzibar Archipelago, and the diverse coastline ensure that there are plenty of different experiences.

Zanzibar is the ideal destination to either begin or end your Tanzanian holiday. The island-style living with tropical waters and palm-fringed beaches are perfect for relaxation and exploration.

Stone Town

Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is located in the historic heart of Zanzibar. Stone Town is a bewildering maze of twisting streets and alleyways ready to enchant you. Appreciate the many cultural influences like African, Arab, Indian and European as you follow the winding narrow streets filled with bazaars, churches and mosques.

Taste local cuisine with a visit to Faridani Market – a night time food marker famous for its seafood, Zanzibari pizza, and other local specialities. From sunset, it is a bustling melting pot of cultures and tourists.

Stone Town, also known as Mji Mkongwe (Old Town) in Swahili, is home to many of the Zanzibari museums, like the People’s Palace Museum and The Old Slave Market.

Browse the busy markets for African and Asian inspired souvenirs, aromatic herbs, spices, trinkets and clothing.

Matemwe

Matemwe beach offers fine white sands and remains reasonably unspoiled. At low tide the beach turns into a desert full of coral flats. Matemwe village is the perfect starting point for diving drips to the archipelago’s best reefs, the Mnemba Atoll.

Jambiani

Jambiani is an idyllic, low-key Zanzibar destination where coral stone and thatch roof houses huddle close together and the turquoise sees gently lap the white sandy beaches.

Jambiani has a strong seaweed culture with many farms dotting the coastline and employing 15,000 locals, mainly women.

Nungwi and Kendwa

Nungwi and Kendwa are the most popular beaches on Zanzibar because it is blessed by not having to deal with high and low tides – making it the perfect place to swim around the clock.

Nungwi is the most popular resort, boasting quality restaurants, bars and hotels that provide ample entertainment and variety.

Kendwa has a beautiful beach and the deeper water on the northwestern strip means that swimming is possible throughout the day.

The Mafia and Pemba Islands

Pemba Island is a beautiful, quiet island to the north of Zanzibar. It offers world-class diving and is a huge producer of spices. The beaches here are slightly less pristine than those found on Zanzibar, but they are much more exclusive and stunning.

Mafia Island is located to the south of Zanzibar and offers some phenomenal snorkelling, including the opportunity to swim with whale sharks. Mafia Island has fewer white-sand beaches, as mangroves fringe a lot of the island. However, the laid-back feeling of an undeveloped island in the middle of the Indian Ocean more than makes up for this.

Activities/Visits/Excursions:

Beaches
Big game fishing
Biking – day trip + multi-day circuit
Butterfly centre and Jozani forest tour
Catamaran cruises
Day trip to eco island Chumbe
Dhow building tour
Dhow sunset trips
Dhow trips
Dolphin safaris
Excursions to exposed sandbanks in the ocean
Full moon beach parties
Golf
Historical tours and markets
Horse riding
Jozani Forest + butterfly farm
Kayaking
Kite surfing
Livingstone House Museum
Local cuisine
Mangrove swamps
National Museum
Old Fort
PADI diving
Palace Museum
Princess Salme Museum
Prison Island tour
Quadbiking
Reef walks
Safari Blue
Shopping
Skydiving
Slave Market Museum
Snorkelling
Spice farm tours
Stand-up paddle boarding
Sundowners
Swahili cooking lesson
Swimming
Swimming in Kuza Cave
Swimming with whale sharks (Mafia Island, October – March) Sightings are not guaranteed during these months, but it is one of the best places in the world to see whale sharks.
Village walks
Walk the streets

Excellent organization with a very good choice of accommodation. Quality welcome and contact on arrival. Pleasant and competent French-speaking guide, thanks to Joseph and Emilie for this wonderful trip.

Brigitte de Coulon, Switzerland

Very good safari, enjoyed a lot. Good communication from start to end. Our guide was experienced and very nice. Recommendations!

Markku Nieminen, Finland

Excellent support from Emilie from Nature Discovery, who organized our safari. She listened carefully beforehand to understand our wishes and adjusted our itinerary accordingly. Contacts by email and WhatsApp were very fluid and responsive. We felt very well accompanied throughout our entire trip. The safari itself ran perfectly. Our guide and driver, Joseph, was very friendly and attentive.

Sophie Valais, France

Très bon circuit avec un guide très professionnel où on a pu voir des milliers d’animaux dans leur lieu de vie. Des instants magiques. La journée à Longido était super avec Sambeke. Juste j’aurais aimé partir une fois au lever du soleil en safari. Émilie a été super disponible à l’écoute de nos attentes. Sinon tout était au top. Voyage juste magique.

Lamera, France

C’est Emilie de Nature Discovery qui nous a organisé ce SAFARI photos. Ce fut parfait : très professionnel, tout à la hauteur de nos esperances aussi bien les parcs que les lodges, et aucun incident à deplorer. Cerise sur le gateau: notre guide Joseph PANDA, parle parfaitement le français, plein de savoir sur la faune, repere les animaux mieux qu’une paire de jumelles et est très attentionné.

Mantovani Mireille, Nouvelle Caledonie

Working with Upendo to plan this amazing experience was absolutely wonderful. She was thoughtful, knowledgeable, professional, and impressively responsive. When we arrived, she helped us have an amazing experience in Arusha, Ngorongoro Crater, Kilimanjaro, and Arusha National Park. Even when we came out of the mountain trek a day early, she made us wonderful last-minute accommodations. Upendo is a dream to work with.

Gretchen Warner, USA

Excellent safari, with a great guide/driver (Nelvin) and a perfect contact officer (Emilie). We saw what was supposed to be expected (Mara River crossings) and much more. We are strongly recommending Nature Discovery for a Northern Tanzania safari (including a Zanzibar extension).

Marc Lebrun, France

It was the second time now that we went on safari with ND and it was the best decision to book it with them again. Everything was so easy, the correspondence was uncomplicated, same as the organization and planning of the trip. If we needed any assistance or help even before the trip, it was no problem at all. We always felt safe throughout the trip.

Janine, Germany

It was fabulous! Excellent organization, super guide. If it was possible, we could come back again just with Nature Discovery. We have a lot of memorable pictures. It was a wonderful trip. Thanks a lot.

Cochemé, France

Tout d’abord sachez que nous avons été enchantés de notre voyage en Tanzanie. La partie Nord que vous avez organisée a été parfaite, elle a pleinement répondu à nos attentes. Les lodges étaient tous super bien très différents des uns des autres. Mais surtout la réussite de cette partie du voyage tient à un nom… Joseph ! Il a été exceptionnel à tous niveaux, professionnel, précis, discret, humble.

Pierrette Mercadal, Nouvelle Calédonie, France

If like us you have done a huge amount of reading/research and are unsure which tour operator to use, then look no further than Nature Discovery. The communication from the central office is quick and clear as you email direct to the office in Arusha. We undertook two trips with this company and could not fault them.

Michelle, UK

I have just returned from the trip of a lifetime to Tanzania with Nature Discovery. I completed the 8-day Grand Traverse Kilimanjaro Trek, followed by a two-day Safari in Tarangire. The entire trip was extraordinary. Everyone who supported us on the Kilimanjaro trek was kind, caring, generous, professional, happy, and supportive. I strongly recommend Nature Discovery for the trip of a lifetime!

Katrina, Australia

We had the most exciting moments of our lives! Our main guide Polite and his well-organized team were amazing. We could feel their overall experience, care, knowledge, and safety in every step. Even the hardest moments they didn’t give us a single doubt that we will not make it to the peak! Keeping us in positive thinking and perfect organization helped us reach the Peak of Kilimanjaro!

Laura Kaukenaite, Lithuania

Our safari with Nature Discovery has been the experience which changed our lives! We spent 10 days in the north to see the migration, each day a new adventure in the parks, being part of nature. The camping in public camps has been unforgettable: totally immersed, no price! Emilie, Henry our guide, and Jacks our cook made the trip perfect.

Augusta & Andrea, France

Very well organized safari and activities, great choice of accommodations. Upendo helped a lot with organizing the perfect safari, communication was always very fast and clear. The biggest Thank You goes out to Mbise who was a reliable, funny, and heartwarming guide, who made us feel comfortable the whole trip, showed us amazing wildlife and taught us a lot about Tanzanian life and culture.

Anna, Austria

Very well planned and very nice both the organization and the guide. Very supportive during all the organization and the hotels chosen have been incredible. Very recommendable.

Ana, Spain