At a glance

📍 Location: Zanzibar, Tanzania
⏰ We stayed: 12 nights
💷 Budget: Luxury All Inclusive
⭐ Overall rating: 9/10
❤️ Best for: Couples, beaches and snorkelling

Zanzibar via Nairobi – Business Class, Wrong Hotels, Turtle Attacks & Paradise Beaches

Our adventure to Zanzibar started with a flight from London Heathrow to Nairobi with British Airways. Luckily for us, we somehow found ourselves sitting in Business Class, which is always a dangerous thing because once you have experienced lying flat with a glass in your hand it is very difficult to convince yourself that economy is “absolutely fine” ever again.

We have visited Nairobi twice now and both times the security queues have been long. After a flight, when all you want is your bed and a shower, it can feel a little frustrating — but it is there for everyone’s safety, so patience and a smile are required (even if the smile is slightly forced after hours of travelling).

A Quick Safari Stop in Nairobi

While in Nairobi we managed to squeeze in a short safari, and there really is nothing like seeing these incredible animals roaming freely in the wild. No matter how many wildlife programmes you watch, nothing compares to actually being there.

Nairobi Safari

We also visited an elephant orphanage in Nairobi, where it was clear the animals were incredibly well loved and cared for. The biggest surprise, though, was an orphaned rhino and an orphaned zebra who were absolutely inseparable. Proof that the best friendships come in all shapes, sizes… and species!

We stayed at The Boma Hotel, which is a lovely hotel close to the airport. However, here is our first travel lesson of the trip — there are TWO Boma hotels.

Yes… we went to the wrong one.

We confidently walked into the 5-star Boma where we had stayed before, only to be told our booking was actually at the other Boma. As it was late, we were tired and the thought of moving again was not appealing, we paid another £60 and stayed where we were.

Travel mistake number one — always check you have booked the right hotel!

Nairobi Airport Lounge – The Holiday Starts Here

Before our flight from Nairobi to Zanzibar, we booked into The Pride Lounge, which is the Kenya Airways lounge.

At around $40 per person for up to 4 hours, we thought it was worth it. The lounge overlooks the runway, the food selection was good, staff were lovely and there were even showers and sleeping areas.

For me, Debbie, a few glasses of prosecco and some nice food definitely felt like the correct way to prepare myself for the next stage of our adventure. It would have been rude not to.

Arrival in Zanzibar… Where Is Our Driver?

When we arrived in Zanzibar we expected to see our driver standing there holding our name.

Unfortunately, there was no driver.

There we were watching everyone else disappear while we were still looking around hopefully. Eventually we managed to contact him and he appeared from somewhere.

We had booked through Booking.com transfers, but after a few issues during different trips we probably won’t use them again. Sometimes saving hassle is worth more than saving a few pounds.

Stone Town

Staying at Mizingani Seafront Hotel

Eventually we arrived at the beautiful Mizingani Seafront Hotel in Stone Town. We had booked the Presidential Suite for 3 nights, costing around £300.

The hotel is full of character and history, with traditional Zanzibar style and gorgeous views over the sea. Our room felt very grand.

The porter carried our bags upstairs and we were very grateful because we were three floors up with no lift. Definitely not the time to pretend you packed light.

Exploring Stone Town

Although we booked 3 nights in Stone Town, we personally think 2 days is enough. You can explore most of it within a few hours, but it is fascinating walking through the narrow winding streets. Visiting the market is very interesting and worth a visit.

Women are advised to cover shoulders and knees due to the culture, although we did see plenty of tourists dressed differently without any problems.

As Zanzibar is mainly Muslim, not everywhere serves alcohol, but you can still find restaurants and bars that do.

One of our favourite places was the Floating Bar. You get there by boat and it is such a quirky place to watch the sunset, have a drink and enjoy the views. There are several floors and even places where you can jump into the sea if you are feeling adventurous.

Stone Town also has a night food market which comes alive with families, tourists, smells, sounds and a brilliant atmosphere.

Our favourite place to eat was Lukmaan, a traditional Swahili restaurant with amazing food at very affordable prices. There are no fancy menus — they show you the dishes, explain what everything is and you choose what you fancy.

Simple, authentic and delicious.

Main dishes £2.30 – £5.70

Fresh Juice around 30-60p ( we had mango it was lovely)

Water or soft drink 60-85p

Prison Island – With No Prisoners!

We visited Prison Island, which confusingly is not actually a prison and never has been used as one.

Only us travellers would visit somewhere called Prison Island for a nice day out.

We didn’t book a tour, we just arranged the boat ourselves which cost around $15 for two people. Once there we paid conservation and entrance fees.

The island is famous for its giant tortoises and they really are giant. Some are over 100 years old and roam freely around the island.

You can tell the island must have been incredible years ago. There is an old hotel and swimming pool which are now abandoned, which is a shame, but it is still definitely worth visiting.

After exploring you can swim in the beautiful turquoise sea or relax on the soft white sand.

Next Stop – Riu Jambo, Nungwi

For our transfer to Riu Jambo we cancelled Booking.com and contacted Unique Zanzibar Tours Tel: +255 716 067 674 directly through WhatsApp.

The journey was around 1.5 hours and cost $45.

As soon as we arrived at Riu Jambo we knew we were going to love it.

We have stayed in several Riu hotels and because we are Riu Class members we were lucky enough to receive a room upgrade with a sea view.

And wow… what a view.

The sea in Zanzibar genuinely looks edited. It is that perfect shade of blue that makes you wonder if someone has turned the colour settings up.

The rooms have an African style mixed with the typical Riu feel. Food and entertainment were both good and, as regular Riu guests know, there are the usual favourites like White Night and Neon Party.

Entertainment Riu Jambo

The entertainment team at Riu Jambo were fantastic and really knew how to get everyone involved.

Now anyone who knows me, Debbie, knows I don’t like to just sit and watch life happening — I like to join in!

During our stay I got involved in several of the activities, including the beach party. What started as me enjoying the music somehow ended with several of the dancers and entertainment team dancing around me while I sat on a chair.

The next minute they picked the whole chair up — with me still on it — and started throwing me up and down in the air!

At that point I wasn’t sure whether to laugh, scream or start checking my travel insurance covered “unexpected flying chair incidents.”

It was absolutely hilarious and one of those completely random holiday moments you never forget.

Age really is just a number.

Never too old for fun. 🌍

Food and Drink

The food at Riu Jambo was also a really good standard with plenty of choice in the main buffet restaurant. There was always something different to try, which is great for people like Mike who likes to make sure he gets his money’s worth from an all-inclusive!

There are also three speciality restaurants — Il Panzotto (Italian), Yunnan (Asian) and Kulinarium, which offers a mixture of different dishes.

The setting for Il Panzotto and Kulinarium really is something special. Both restaurants are located out on the pier overlooking the beautiful crystal-clear Zanzibar sea. Sitting there eating your evening meal while watching the marine life swimming below you is definitely one of those “wow, are we actually here?” moments.

There is also a bar on the pier which opens in the evening, and this quickly became our favourite spot. A drink in hand, the sound of the ocean and watching the sun go down over that incredible turquoise water — it really doesn’t get much better than that.

Although after a few cocktails, I’m not sure whether the sunset looked even more amazing… or my photography skills just became more confident!

The beach is definitely the star of the show. Powder white sand and turquoise water — exactly what you imagine Zanzibar to be.

There are sellers on the beach but they cannot come up to the sun loungers. They may ask if you want something when you walk past but we found them far less pushy than in some other destinations. They are also men doing acrobatics for money but done hassle you.

One thing that really stood out was the staff. Always smiling, friendly and professional.

After travelling to many places around the world, Riu Jambo is definitely in our top 10 hotels.

Excursions

Turtle Caves – When Cute Turtles Attack!

We booked several private tours with Unique Zanzibar Tours, travelling in our own luxury minibus with our own driver.

First stop was Turtle Caves.

Swimming with turtles was amazing. We were given seaweed to feed them and as soon as they spotted it they all came swimming over.

A little intimidating at first!

Mike was feeding them when some seaweed dropped onto his stomach. One turtle obviously decided Mike looked like part of the buffet and grabbed hold of him instead.

Thankfully it didn’t break the skin, but it did leave a bruise.

After seeing Mike nearly become turtle food, I decided my turtle-feeding career was over and kept a safe distance from the seaweed.

Amazing experience though and brilliant for photos.

Dolphin Trip Without Dolphins

Next was our dolphin and snorkelling trip.

Unfortunately, the dolphins didn’t get the appointment reminder and decided not to turn up.

But we still had a fantastic time.

Our guide took us snorkelling and showed us different marine life. As there were only two of us and no life jackets, we held onto a life ring while our guide pulled us along.

Not glamorous, but very effective!

On the way back, our boat guide prepared fresh fruit which he said had been picked that morning.

Lunch was served literally on the beach — chicken, chips, rice and a drink with the most incredible sea view.

Sometimes location beats luxury.

We even got entertainment from local young men doing acrobatics on the beach who were very talented.

Jozani Forest – Where Are The Monkeys?

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Jozani Forest as reviews were mixed.

Our guide walked us through the forest explaining different trees and plants and their uses.

I’ll be honest… after a while I was thinking:

“This is lovely, but where are the monkeys?”

Luckily I didn’t have to wait much longer.

Eventually we reached an area full of monkeys and they were amazing. Many seemed completely relaxed around people, making it easy to take photos and videos.

You don’t need hours here, but we really enjoyed it.

Kuza Caves

Our final stop was Kuza Caves.

Unfortunately, we arrived quite late and once we got down the steps it was already very dark.

Lots of people swim there, but we decided against it as we couldn’t really see where we were stepping.

If visiting, definitely go earlier in the day when there is better light.

We may have missed the swimming but we did manage some drumming and singing with a Swahili band, so all was not lost.

Drive a Jet Car Across the Indian Ocean 🚗🌊

If you fancy doing something a little different, why not swap the roads for the ocean and take a jet car for a spin? We booked this directly from our hotel and paid $115 for 20 minutes, which also included drone footage and photos of the experience.

Did we need to cruise around Zanzibar in a floating sports car pretending we were in a James Bond movie? Absolutely not. Did we do it anyway? Of course we did! 😂

Flying across the beautiful turquoise water with the drone following above was an amazing experience and gave us memories (and videos!) we will keep forever. It is definitely one of those “you only live once” moments and proves you are Never2OldForFun.

Final Thoughts on Excursions

All our trips were booked with Unique Zanzibar Tours and we would definitely recommend them. Every tour was private, our driver was professional, always on time and looked after us all day.

The combined tour cost $170 each, which we thought was excellent value.

If you are visiting Zanzibar, send them a WhatsApp, tell them what you want to do and they will help organise it.

From luxury lounges to missing drivers, wrong hotels, giant tortoises and Mike being attacked by a turtle — Zanzibar gave us memories we will never forget.

And really, isn’t that what travel is all about?

Our Final Thoughts on RIU Jambo & Zanzibar 🌴💙

RIU Jambo really did have everything we love in a holiday. There are various pools around the resort depending on whether you want to relax with a book, cool off after a day exploring, or be right in the middle of the action. Of course, the swim-up bar was a firm favourite — because let’s be honest, a cocktail always tastes better when you don’t even have to leave the pool! 🍹😂

There is also a main entertainment pool where the amazing animation team keep the holiday atmosphere going every day with music, games and activities. Once a week the hotel hosts a fantastic beach party, and I Debbie somehow ended up right in the middle of the action — proving once again you are Never2OldForFun!

However, what really made our holiday wasn’t just the beautiful hotel, the pools, or even the stunning location — it was the incredible staff. From the restaurant teams and bar staff to the entertainment crew, everyone made us feel so welcome. Their smiles, energy and kindness helped make this a holiday we will never forget.

Zanzibar itself has honestly given us one of the most beautiful beaches we have ever visited — soft white sand, warm turquoise sea and those picture-perfect views you dream about when booking a tropical escape.

We are normally travellers who say “the world is too big to visit the same place twice”, but RIU Jambo and Zanzibar might just be the exception to our rule. Some places are just too special not to return to. 🌍💙

Our Zanzibar Tips – Things We Wish We Knew Before Going

After spending time exploring Zanzibar, here are some of our tips that may help if you are planning your own trip.

Take some US dollars
US dollars are widely accepted in Zanzibar, especially for tours, taxis and tips. Smaller notes are useful because trying to pay for a $3 item with a large note can quickly turn into a game of “who has change?”

Check vaccinations and entry requirements before travelling
Before visiting Zanzibar, make sure you check the latest health and entry requirements, including recommended vaccinations and whether you need proof of Yellow Fever vaccination.

This is especially important if you are travelling through another country on your journey. Even if Zanzibar itself does not require certain vaccinations from your home country, the rules may change depending on where you have visited or transited through.

Nobody wants their dream holiday to start with panic at the airport because of a missing certificate — so check before you go and keep any documents somewhere safe.

Don’t overpack the shoes
Zanzibar is very relaxed. Most of the time you will be in sandals, flip flops or beach shoes. I took more shoes than I needed… which Mike would probably say happens on every holiday!

Pack water shoes
Some areas of the beach can have rocks, shells and seaweed depending on the tide. Water shoes make it much easier to walk around and explore without doing the painful “ouch, ouch, ouch” walk back to your sunbed.

Respect the culture
Zanzibar is mainly Muslim, especially around Stone Town and local villages. It is respectful to cover shoulders and knees when walking around these areas. Resorts are much more relaxed, so normal holiday clothing and swimwear around the pool and beach is fine.

Don’t just stay in the hotel
As beautiful as the beaches are, Zanzibar has so much more to offer. Get out and explore — see the monkeys, turtles, islands, caves and local culture. Some of our funniest memories happened away from the sun lounger.

Book tours locally
We found private tours great value and loved having our own driver rather than being on a big coach trip. It also meant we could go at our own pace — which is perfect when one of you wants hundreds of photos. I won’t say who that was… but it wasn’t Mike!

Be prepared for beach sellers
You will meet people selling trips and souvenirs on the beach. We found them friendly and not too pushy. A polite “no thank you” was accepted.

Check the tides
The Zanzibar tides can change the beach completely. One minute you have perfect turquoise water and the next the sea looks like it has disappeared for a little holiday of its own. Luckily at Nungwi the sea is usually much better for swimming than some other areas.

Bring reef-safe sunscreen and aftersun
The sun is very strong, even when there is a breeze. Don’t be fooled by thinking “I don’t feel that hot” — Zanzibar sunshine definitely has other ideas.

Slow down and enjoy island life
Things do not always happen at the same speed you may be used to. Your driver might not appear instantly, service may be slower and plans may change.

Relax — you are on Zanzibar time.

Some of the best moments are the unexpected ones… including missing dolphins, wrong hotels and nearly losing Mike to a hungry turtle.

Travel doesn’t have to be perfect to be amazing.

Never too old for fun 🌍

Things To Do In Zanzibar – More Than Just Beautiful Beaches

Before visiting Zanzibar we knew the beaches would be amazing, but we quickly realised there is much more to this island than just lying on a sunbed (although we are definitely not against a bit of cocktail-in-hand relaxation!).

Here are some of the things you can do during your stay:

Explore Stone Town
Stone Town is full of history, culture and character. Wander through the narrow winding streets, visit the local shops, enjoy the food markets and watch everyday Zanzibar life happening around you.

Just be prepared to get lost at least once — the little streets are like a maze! We liked to call it “exploring” rather than admitting we had no idea where we were going.

Visit Prison Island
A short boat ride from Stone Town takes you to Prison Island, which despite the name has never actually been used as a prison.

The stars of the island are the giant tortoises, some over 100 years old. It is amazing being so close to these incredible animals. You can also relax on the white sand beaches and swim in the beautiful turquoise sea.

Swim with turtles
One of our favourite experiences was visiting the turtle caves and swimming alongside these beautiful creatures.

Feeding them was amazing… although after one mistook Mike for part of the lunch menu and gave his stomach a little bite, I decided watching from a safe distance was also a perfectly good option!

Go snorkelling and search for dolphins
A dolphin trip is a popular experience in Zanzibar. Of course, wildlife doesn’t work to our timetable and unfortunately the dolphins decided they had better plans on our day.

However, the snorkelling was still fantastic and we saw lots of marine life. Sometimes the unexpected days end up being just as memorable.

Visit Jozani Forest
Jozani Forest is home to the famous Zanzibar red colobus monkeys.

The forest walk is interesting, but if you are anything like me you may spend most of it thinking “this is lovely…but where are the monkeys?”

Don’t worry — they appear eventually and are worth the wait.

Swim in Kuza Cave
Kuza Cave is a natural limestone cave with clear water where visitors can swim.

Our tip — visit earlier in the day when there is more natural light. We arrived quite late and decided not to swim because we couldn’t see where we were stepping.

We did however end up joining in with music and drums, so we still left smiling.

Enjoy a sunset
Zanzibar sunsets are something special.

Whether it is from a beach, a rooftop, a boat or our favourite pier bar at Riu Jambo, make time to stop and enjoy them.

A cocktail definitely improves the experience… purely for research purposes of course.

Experience the local food
Try traditional Swahili food during your stay. We loved Lukmaan in Stone Town because it was authentic, affordable and full of flavour.

Sometimes the best meals are not the fanciest ones — they are the ones where you really experience the country.

Visit the beaches
Zanzibar beaches really are postcard perfect. Soft white sand, palm trees and water so blue it almost looks fake.

Nungwi was our favourite area because it was great for swimming and had a lovely atmosphere.

Whatever you choose to do, our biggest tip is don’t just stay around the pool. Zanzibar is beautiful, friendly, interesting and full of experiences.

Get out, explore and make memories.

Weather

Never too old for fun 🌍

Month	Average Day Temperature	Average Night Temperature	Rainfall (approx.)	Rainy Days (approx.)	What to Expect
January	31°C	25°C	50–80 mm	5–7 days	Hot, sunny, humid – great beach weather
February	32°C	25°C	40–60 mm	4–6 days	One of the hottest and driest months
March	32°C	25°C	120–160 mm	10–12 days	Humid, start of the long rains
April	30°C	24°C	250–350 mm	17–20 days	Wettest month – heavy tropical showers
May	29°C	23°C	180–250 mm	14–17 days	Rain easing towards the end of the month
June	29°C	22°C	40–60 mm	5–7 days	Warm, sunny and less humid – excellent time to visit
July	28°C	21°C	30–50 mm	5–6 days	Cooler, dry and very comfortable
August	28°C	21°C	30–50 mm	5–6 days	Dry season – great for exploring
September	29°C	21°C	30–50 mm	4–6 days	One of the best months – sunny and calm seas
October	30°C	22°C	60–90 mm	7–9 days	Hotter with occasional showers
November	31°C	24°C	120–170 mm	10–13 days	Short rains – usually showers not all day
December	31°C	25°C	80–120 mm	8–10 days	Hot, tropical and popular for holidays

Best months to visit Zanzibar:
🌞 June – October: Dry season, warm days, lower humidity and ideal for beaches, snorkelling and exploring.
🐬 July – September: Often excellent for dolphin trips, snorkelling and clearer seas.
🔥 January – February: Very hot but usually sunny with beautiful beach weather.

Tip: Even in the rainy seasons, Zanzibar rain is often tropical — short heavy downpours followed by sunshine rather than all-day rain.

Our Final Thoughts on RIU Jambo & Zanzibar 🌴💙

RIU Jambo really did have everything we love in a holiday. There are various pools around the resort depending on whether you want to relax with a book, cool off after a day exploring, or be right in the middle of the action. Of course, the swim-up bar was a firm favourite — because let’s be honest, a cocktail always tastes better when you don’t even have to leave the pool! 🍹😂

There is also a main entertainment pool where the amazing animation team keep the holiday atmosphere going every day with music, games and activities. Once a week the hotel hosts a fantastic beach party, and Debbie somehow ended up right in the middle of the action — proving once again you are Never2OldForFun!

However, what really made our holiday wasn’t just the beautiful hotel, the pools, or even the stunning location — it was the incredible staff. From the restaurant teams and bar staff to the entertainment crew, everyone made us feel so welcome. Their smiles, energy and kindness helped make this a holiday we will never forget.

Zanzibar itself has honestly given us one of the most beautiful beaches we have ever visited — soft white sand, warm turquoise sea and those picture-perfect views you dream about when booking a tropical escape.

We are normally travellers who say “the world is too big to visit the same place twice”, but RIU Jambo and Zanzibar might just be the exception to our rule. Some places are just too special not to return to. 🌍💙