Is Zanzibar Safe to Visit? What to Know Before Your Holiday

Zanzibar offers more than a beach to disappear onto after safari. There are Stone Town’s winding lanes, coastal villages, spice farms and afternoons on the Indian Ocean…a rich cultural journey into the past. Enjoying them comfortably starts with a little preparation.

If you are wondering whether Zanzibar is safe to visit, focus on the details of your holiday: your arrival route, accommodation, transport, health needs and planned activities. These give you a more useful picture than a sweeping claim that everywhere is either completely safe or too risky to visit.

What does the Ebola situation in Kenya mean for Zanzibar?

Regional health news deserves attention, but an outbreak in one country should not automatically be described as an outbreak in another.

In its update dated 20 October 2026, the CDC reported nine confirmed Ebola cases in Kenya. It stated that the additional cases involved close contacts of the first patient and that Kenya’s Ministry of Health had reported no community spread.

Tanzania, including Zanzibar, was not listed among countries with confirmed cases in that outbreak summary. That is the position recorded in this particular report, rather than a promise about future developments.

For anyone travelling soon, the practical response is to check current entry guidance, provide accurate travel information and follow instructions from port-health officials.

What should travellers understand about transmission?

WHO explains that Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of someone who is sick with, or has died from, the disease, or through contaminated objects. It is not spread through the air, and people do not transmit it before symptoms develop.

Simply passing through the same country as a confirmed case is different from direct exposure. Nevertheless, anyone identified as a contact must follow the health authorities’ instructions.

If you become unwell after possible exposure, seek urgent medical advice and call ahead before visiting a clinic. Describe your symptoms, travel history and possible contact. Do not assume that a fever is Ebola, but do not postpone assessment either.

Allow time for arrival checks

Tanzania announced heightened entry screening on 17 October 2026 for travellers from affected countries and high-risk regions. Current UK guidance also states that travellers must complete the Travellers Health Surveillance Form before departure or on arrival.

Check the Ministry of Health’s latest travel notices and use the official health surveillance form.

If your journey includes Kenya, explain whether you are making an airport connection or spending time in the country. Do not assume that every traveller faces quarantine, or that a connection is automatically exempt from screening. Requirements depend on current rules and the authorities’ assessment.

Your hotel’s surroundings matter as much as its facilities

A secluded hotel can be a lovely choice when you want quiet days and meals on the property. It becomes less convenient if you expect to walk out to several restaurants every evening.

Before booking, ask how guests normally get around after dark. Can reception arrange a trusted driver? Is the restaurant you want to visit accessible by road? Would returning involve walking along an isolated beach?

Our guide to the best hotels in Zanzibar can help you compare locations. Choosing the right Zanzibar coast also reduces unnecessary journeys between your accommodation and the places you want to explore.

Exploring Stone Town and the beaches

Official advice records theft and more serious crime in Stone Town and tourist areas. Keep valuables discreet, use reliable transport after dark and ask your accommodation about suitable walking routes. Avoid isolated beach walks at night.

A guide can make your first Stone Town outing more rewarding, helping you understand the buildings and history while finding your bearings. Arrange one through an established provider and confirm the price beforehand.

For swimming, take only what you need to the beach. Leave passports, unnecessary cash and expensive electronics securely at your accommodation. A towel covering a bag is not secure storage.

Keep drinks in sight when out in the evening. If confronted during a robbery, do not physically resist.

Enjoy the ocean with local advice

The conditions at your particular beach matter more than a general description of an entire coast. Ask hotel staff or a qualified activity provider about swimming areas, tides and currents.

Before a snorkelling trip, explain your swimming ability. Ask about flotation equipment, supervision, boat loading and the plan if conditions change. Children need appropriately sized life jackets and close adult supervision.

For diving or kitesurfing, choose a qualified provider and confirm that your insurance covers the activity. Do not let a non-refundable booking pressure you into an outing that the operator considers unsuitable.

There are plenty of things to do in Zanzibar beyond a boat excursion. Keeping some flexibility makes it easier to move a sea activity to a more suitable day.

Plan straightforward transfers

Arrange your airport or ferry-terminal collection in advance. Save the meeting instructions and driver’s contact details, and confirm the fare before the journey.

Leave sufficient time between your hotel and your departure. Ask the accommodation for a realistic transfer estimate rather than relying only on the distance shown on a map.

For ferries and excursions, use reputable operators and follow weather-related cancellations. Avoid overcrowded boats. If you intend to drive yourself, verify the required driving documents, Zanzibar permit and insurance before collecting the vehicle.

Prepare for everyday health needs too

Malaria prevention remains important. TravelHealthPro includes Zanzibar within Tanzania’s high-malaria-risk areas. Discuss suitable prevention with a travel-health professional and follow their advice about medication and mosquito-bite protection.

Arrange advice about vaccinations, existing medical conditions and any route-dependent yellow fever certificate requirement. Include all countries and connections when explaining your itinerary.

Use reliably treated or sealed drinking water, wash hands before eating and take care with food hygiene. Keep essential medication in your hand luggage, preferably in its original packaging.

Seek prompt medical assessment for fever during or after your holiday, mentioning your travel history. Before travelling, identify how your hotel would arrange medical assistance and how to reach your insurer.

Check the insurance for your route

Current UK entry guidance states that non-resident visitors need government-provided inbound insurance, even when they have private cover.

For policies purchased under the arrangements applying from 1 October 2026, the provider depends on your first entry point: Zanzibar Insurance Corporation for Zanzibar first, or National Insurance Corporation for mainland Tanzania first. Verify the arrangement for your journey before purchasing.

The official Zanzibar portal is Visit Zanzibar. Keep your certificate accessible and maintain personal insurance appropriate to your medical needs, activities and evacuation requirements.

Respect local customs and follow current security advice

Dress modestly in Stone Town and villages, keeping swimwear for the beach or pool. Drug penalties are severe; check medicines and CBD-containing products before packing them.

Same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Zanzibar. LGBTQ+ travellers should review destination-specific legal and security advice.

For late-October travel, UK guidance notes calls for demonstrations around 29 October 2026. Avoid political gatherings, check transfer arrangements and keep essential contacts offline. This warning does not establish that disruption will occur throughout Zanzibar.

A short checklist before departure

• Check official advice for Zanzibar and every country on your route.
• Confirm current health forms, screening and entry requirements.
• Arrange reliable arrival and evening transport.
• Discuss malaria prevention and vaccinations with a health professional.
• Check insurance for treatment, evacuation and planned activities.
• Save hotel, operator and insurer contacts offline.

A well-planned Zanzibar beach holiday should leave room for enjoyment rather than constant decisions about logistics. Tell your operator about children, mobility needs, swimming confidence and medical considerations before the arrangements are finalised.

Then, when you arrive, ask the small, useful questions: where is swimming recommended today, which route should we take this evening, and who should we call if we need assistance? Those answers help you settle into the island with greater confidence.

Official sources: UK travel advice for Tanzania and Zanzibar, CDC Ebola updates, Tanzania Ministry of Health and TravelHealthPro.