Zanzibar's weather in December typically features warm mornings and occasional brief rain showers that clear quickly. With a rental car, tourists can stop at any scenic spot or local eatery. Just remember, vehicles drive on the left side of the road in Zanzibar, and many lanes are narrow, so always drive carefully. This guide highlights December road trips in Zanzibar for couples.
These routes focus on calm coastal scenes and relaxed village areas. Each drive offers quiet beaches, soft light, and open views. The starting point for these drives is in Stone Town because that’s where you will most likely pick up your car rental.
Drive from Stone Town around 67 kilometres to reach the Michamvi Peninsula. Stay on the left side and watch for village traffic and farm carts near dusk. The area faces the open ocean, so you'll get wide views and soft light during the late afternoon. Kae Beach is one of the best places for couples in Zanzibar, with soft sand, warm water, and a calm atmosphere. The nearby fishing villages show traditional island life, with fishermen fixing nets and preparing boats before sunset.
The coast features tall palms, lush greenery, and narrow sandy paths. This creates a natural and romantic setting for slow walks. Several small eateries are situated close to the beach, each offering quiet outdoor seating, stunning seaside views, and freshly prepared dishes. As the sun sets, Michamvi Beach becomes a peaceful and private retreat for couples.
From Stone Town, drive about 56 kilometres to reach Jambiani Village on the southeast coast. The route passes Fumba, Kwa Mchina, and Kitogani Junction, where you turn toward the coastline. Road signs appear often, but use a map near the final stretch because the village roads are narrow. Jambiani has a wide, shallow lagoon that runs along much of the village coastline. The water is shallow at low tide, creating wide sand flats where you can walk far from the shore. Fishermen often place their dhow boats near Jambiani Beach, giving you a close look at local fishing work.
The beach is lined with tall palms and small guesthouses, creating a calm scene in early December mornings. If you drive 6 kilometres north, you reach Paje Beach, known for its wide lagoon and clear water. At sunrise, the area is quiet, and the light is soft over the water. You can stop near the Paje roundabout, where several small cafes are close to the shore. Many serve local breakfast plates, coconut drinks, and fresh juice. The lagoon is active in the morning as kite schools open and fishermen bring in their catch.
Matemwe is about 46 kilometres from Stone Town, and the drive usually takes 1 hour. The roads are mostly smooth and paved, but the final 3 to 4 kilometres shift into a narrower village road lined with coconut palms and small homesteads. As you approach, look for local signs pointing toward Matemwe Beach, Matemwe Village, and the boat departure points along the shoreline.
Matemwe Beach has calm, shallow water that stays clear during December. The sandy shore stretches for several kilometres, making it ideal for long, quiet walks. From the northern end of Matemwe, small wooden boats travel to Mnemba Atoll, which is about 4.5 kilometres offshore. This area is a protected marine zone famous for reef walls, colourful coral gardens, and strong visibility that can reach 20 to 30 metres during December.
You can arrange a private snorkelling tour where guides take only two passengers. The trip often includes a stop at the Mnemba sandbank, a shallow white sand patch that appears at low tide. Here you can stand in warm, waist-deep water with clear views of the reef. During the snorkelling session, you may see parrotfish, butterflyfish, clownfish, and small groups of reef dolphins passing through the channel.
From Stone Town, drive about 60 kilometres to reach Nungwi at the northern tip of Unguja Island. The drive takes around 1 hour, depending on village traffic near Mkokotoni and Kibaoni. The highway is fully paved, though you may slow down near busy junctions and pedestrian crossings. As you enter the final stretch, follow clear road signs pointing toward Nungwi Beach. Nungwi has one of the widest sandy beaches in Zanzibar. The shoreline stretches from Ras Nungwi in the east to Kendwa’s edge in the west, giving you long walking areas.
The area has several beachfront dining spots offering grilled fish, coconut-based dishes, and simple local meals with ocean views. Many tables are placed directly on the sand, so you can enjoy dinner while listening to the waves. After your meal, you can take a slow walk along the beach toward the Ras Nungwi Lighthouse area. Couples often walk near the low-tide line, where the sand feels cool and firm.
Drive south from Stone Town for about 55 kilometres to reach Kizimkazi. The road is paved and mostly smooth, with light traffic once you leave the larger settlements. As you get closer, watch for signs marked “Kizimkazi Mkunguni” and “Kizimkazi Dimbani”, the two main village areas. Both lead to the beach, but Kizimkazi Mkunguni is where most dolphin trips start. You will also see signs pointing to the small jetty used for morning departures.
Kizimkazi is well known for its early-morning dolphin tours. Boats leave just after sunrise from the village beach, when the sea is calm and visibility is good. You and your partner can join a licensed guide and snorkel beside pods of bottlenose or spinner dolphins. These encounters often happen close to shore, and the water conditions in December are usually clear and warm. Many tours stay in sheltered bays.
After your dolphin trip, continue driving along the coastal loop road that connects the two Kizimkazi villages. This road passes palm groves, coral-stone houses, and small fishing spots where locals mend nets or prepare their boats. Several viewpoints are above the shoreline, offering views of the Indian Ocean.
Start your drive from Stone Town, and follow the main coastal road for about 60 kilometres, which usually takes less than 2 hours during December’s light traffic. The road surface is paved and smooth, but it becomes narrower once you leave the busier towns near Jozani and Chwaka Bay, so reduce speed as you enter the coastal zone.
Makunduchi is a traditional fishing village in the far southeast of Zanzibar. The centre of the village is a few hundred metres inland, while the beach area spreads along a quiet eastern shoreline. Shops, small homes, and local cafés line the inner roads, and you can park near the village square to explore on foot. You will often see fishermen preparing nets, children playing by the roadside, and women carrying baskets from nearby farms.
Makunduchi faces the open Indian Ocean, so the area receives steady sea breezes through the afternoon and evening. These winds keep the air cool even on warm December days. The eastern location also makes Makunduchi a perfect sunrise spot, with wide ocean views that turn gold and pink at dawn. After walking along the sand, you can enjoy dinner at a beachside stall or a small local eatery, where meals often include grilled fish, coconut rice, and fresh produce from nearby gardens.
Zanzibar in December is a peaceful, warm, and beautiful destination, with stunning coastal roads. Each drive offers quiet beaches, colourful skies, and small villages. You can watch dolphins, explore spice farms, walk on sunrise beaches, or relax on long sandy shores. For a smooth trip, rent a car in Zanzibar with Final Rentals. You can choose pick up spots like Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, downtown, or at the ferry terminal. Then, select from compact cars or SUVs, and enjoy instant confirmation with clear prices. For extra convenience, you can also download the Final Rentals app on Google Play and the App Store.
