Beach holiday
6-Day Zanzibar Family Beach Holiday
Overview
Children rarely ask for a museum on holiday. They ask for a pool, a beach, a mask and snorkel, and somewhere to dig. This six-day trip gives them all of that, and gives the adults a week with nothing to organize.
The family settles for five nights into a large all-inclusive resort on Zanzibar’s northeast coast, near the village of Kiwengwa. An offshore coral reef shelters this shore, and at low tide the sea draws back to reveal rock pools and sandbars that are fun to explore with kids. Snorkeling, kayaking, beach walks and boat outings are part of the stay, and the resort keeps children busy with games on the sand while parents rest by the pool or book a massage.
On one day the whole family heads to Stone Town for a guided tour, followed by a boat trip to Prison Island, where giant tortoises happily accept a handful of leaves from small hands. Lunch is included. Tanzania Tourism Safaris arranges the transfers at both ends, and the holiday finishes back in Stone Town, handy if you are flying on or staying longer.
Tour highlights
- Five all-inclusive nights on the northeast coast
- Snorkeling, kayaking and boat outings for all ages
- Reef-sheltered shore with tide pools to explore
- Family day in Stone Town and on Prison Island
- Feeding giant tortoises on Prison Island
- Private transfers from and back to Stone Town
Day by day
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Day 1 Stone Town Pickup and the Drive to Kiwengwa Stay Family-friendly beach resort near Kiwengwa (all-inclusive)Meals Dinner
Your guide meets the family in Stone Town and drives you east across the island to the northeast coast. On arrival, check in to your family room or villa and take a first look around: the pools, the long beach, the bar where the children’s juices are already paid for under the all-inclusive plan. Spend the afternoon unpacking and paddling in the shallows, then sit down to an early dinner together.
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Day 2 Masks, Fins and the House Reef Stay Family-friendly beach resort near Kiwengwa (all-inclusive)Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mornings on the east coast usually bring the calmest water, so head out early with snorkeling gear and look for parrotfish, starfish and small reef fish close to the shore. Older children may enjoy a short kayak paddle along the beach with a parent. When the tide goes out in the afternoon, walk the exposed sand flats and check the rock pools for crabs and sea urchins, watching your step as you go.
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Day 3 Boat Outing and Beach Games Stay Family-friendly beach resort near Kiwengwa (all-inclusive)Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Take one of the boat outings offered at the resort, timed with the tide so the water is deep enough to launch. A trip out to a sandbank for breakfast or a seafood barbecue can also be arranged if the family wants a special morning. Back on shore, the afternoon is easy: kites, Frisbees and beach bats for the children, a lounger and a book for whoever needs a rest.
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Day 4 Family Day in Stone Town and on Prison Island Stay Family-friendly beach resort near Kiwengwa (all-inclusive)Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today is the one full outing of the trip. Your guide leads the family through Stone Town’s narrow streets, where the brass-studded doors, spice stalls and hidden courtyards make it feel like a treasure hunt for younger travelers. After that, a boat carries you out to Prison Island to meet its giant tortoises, some of which are more than a century old. Lunch is included, and you return to the coast in the late afternoon.
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Day 5 Pool, Spa and a Free Afternoon Stay Family-friendly beach resort near Kiwengwa (all-inclusive)Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The last full day is yours to shape. Children can return to the pool or the reef, while adults book a spa treatment or simply rest on a shaded daybed. If anyone in the family dives, a trip can be arranged through the resort. In the evening, enjoy a final family dinner, perhaps with fresh fish from the grill, and an early night before the journey back.
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Day 6 Return Drive to Stone Town Meals Breakfast
After breakfast and one last swim, pack up and meet your driver for the transfer back across the island to Stone Town. From here you can continue with your own plans, whether that is a flight home, a ferry to Dar es Salaam or a few more nights in the old town. We are happy to arrange the next leg too, including the airport transfer or a safari on the mainland.
Prices by season
Per person in US dollars. The price depends on when you travel and how many travelers share the trip.
| Season | 1 traveler | 2 travelers | 4 travelers | 6 travelers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low season 1 Mar – 31 May | $1,731 | $1,154 | $1,020 | $926 |
| High season 1 Nov – 20 Dec and 6 Jan – 29 Feb | $1,822 | $1,215 | $1,074 | $975 |
| Peak season Now 1 Jun – 31 Oct and 21 Dec – 5 Jan | $2,025 | $1,350 | $1,194 | $1,084 |
Tour price includes
- Private transfers from Stone Town to the resort and back
- Five nights at a family-friendly beach resort on the northeast coast
- All-inclusive meal plan with local alcoholic and soft drinks
- Snorkeling, kayaking, beach walks and boat outings from the resort
- Full-day guided Stone Town and Prison Island tour, with lunch
Tour price excludes
- International flights
- Travel insurance and visa fees
- Souvenirs and personal spending
- Optional extras such as diving or a sandbank barbecue
Questions about this holiday
Is this beach holiday suitable for young children?
Yes. The resort has pools, a reef-sheltered beach and plenty of space to play, and the only long outing is the Stone Town and Prison Island day. Let us know your children’s ages when you enquire so we can request the right room or villa.
What are the tides like on the northeast coast?
The tide range on Zanzibar’s east coast is large. At high tide the sea comes right up to the beach; at low tide it can pull back a long way, leaving sand flats and pools. Swimming is best around high tide, and tide walks are fun at low tide.
Why does the trip start and end in Stone Town?
Many families arrive in Zanzibar by ferry from Dar es Salaam or after a few nights in town, so the transfers run to and from Stone Town. If you are flying in, we can switch the pickup to the airport instead.
Before you go
- Beaches of Zanzibar Island
- Zanzibar Stone Town Adventure
- The Best Guides on Tanzania Visa Requirement
- Tanzania Travel Insurance
- Tanzania Travel Safety
- Top 14 Best Tanzania Food You Must Test
Listed in Family safaris
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