Zanzibar is a tropical archipelago off Tanzania’s coast, famous for white-sand beaches, spice plantations, and Swahili culture. If you’re planning a road trip here at the end of the year, you’re in for a treat. December is the start of Zanzibar’s short dry season, bringing long sunny days and warm temperatures. You can enjoy beach weather with very little rain, ideal for swimming and snorkeling in the Indian Ocean. Renting a car and driving across Zanzibar gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace. In this guide, we’ll take you through several road trip ideas around Zanzibar’s coastline and interior.
Zanzibar is compact enough to cross by car in a couple of hours, with most coastal drives ranging from 50 to 70 kilometres. Main highways, such as the Zanzibar Central Road and the north–south coastal routes, are paved and easy to follow, although the southern stretches can be a bit bumpy. For comfort and flexibility, plan early starts, carry cash for park fees, and expect average speeds of 40 to 60 km/h through villages.
The journey begins in Stone Town. As you leave the city’s maze of alleys, the road north (Malawi Road) opens up to views of the countryside. You’ll pass palm groves, small villages, and roadside fruit stalls. From Stone Town, it’s about 60 kilometres by road, typically a 1 to 1.5-hour drive, following paved coastal and inland roads that head north through Bububu and a chain of villages. About 4 kilometres out of town, you can stop at Maruhubi Palace ruins, the remains of a 19th-century royal palace.
Farther north, roughly 30 minutes from Stone Town, is Mangapwani on the west coast. Here, you can explore the Mangapwani Coral Cave and Slave Chamber. This stop offers a sobering glimpse into Zanzibar’s history, and the cave’s cool interior provides a welcome respite from the midday heat.
Continuing north, the road winds through lush coconut plantations and picturesque fishing villages, such as Mkokotoni. The route is fully paved as it pushes toward the island’s northern tip. As you approach the northern end of Unguja, you’ll arrive in Nungwi, one of Zanzibar’s most celebrated beach destinations. Nungwi welcomes you with blindingly white sand and neon blue water stretching to the horizon. Unlike the East Coast, the tides here are mild. You can swim, dive, snorkel, or float at Nungwi Beach at any time of day without worrying about the ocean retreating.
Adjacent to Nungwi is Kendwa Beach, another northern gem known for its breathtaking sunsets. Kendwa and Nungwi also offer the best nightlife in Zanzibar, with beach bars and music if you’re in the mood to celebrate. These beaches come alive with parties, fireworks, and bonfires. You can dance on the sand and ring in the New Year under the stars.
Heading out from Stone Town, you’ll drive inland and southward on a well-paved road that cuts through the island’s rural center. The trip to Paje is about 50 kilometres and usually takes around an hour. It follows the Zanzibar Central Road southeast through Tunguu before turning east across the island. Approximately 35 km into the drive, plan a stop at Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park, often referred to simply as Jozani Forest. This lush tropical forest is the largest remaining stand of mature forest on Zanzibar, and it’s home to the red colobus monkeys. You can park at the visitor center and take a guided walk on forest trails to see these rare monkeys up close.
Jozani also features a mangrove boardwalk through a swamp forest near Chwaka Bay. The boardwalk stretches about 2.5 kilometres and offers an ethereal atmosphere, especially in the dappled morning light. There’s a small park entry fee, and hiring a local guide is recommended.
After getting your forest fix, continue driving east until you reach the southeast coast at Paje. This cross-island route passes directly through Jozani National Park before spilling out onto the breezy east coast. Paje is a lively beach town spread along a broad strip of powdery white sand. Thanks to its size, the beach never feels too crowded. This area has a friendly, laid-back vibe, where locals, backpackers, and kite surfers enjoy the steady, warm winds. Paje is a kitesurfing hotspot, especially in the windy season, so you might see dozens of bright kites dancing above the waves.
One thing to note about Zanzibar’s east coast is the tides. During low tide, the ocean withdraws hundreds of meters, revealing a wide expanse of tidal flats. This means you can wade out and explore tidal pools, but you won’t be able to swim until the tide returns. High tide brings in turquoise waters perfect for swimming and snorkelling over seagrass meadows.
This road trip idea starts with a short drive out of Stone Town into Zanzibar’s fertile interior, where many spice farms are open for tours. You’ll cover roughly 20 kilometres to reach the main spice-farm area. It’s about a 30-minute drive, heading north toward Kidichi and Kizimbani. Plantations of cinnamon, cloves, and vanilla surround these villages. Along the way, you can visit the Kidichi Persian Baths. The bathhouse is now in ruins, but you can still see the Persian-stle domed chambers and some decorative stucco work inside.
With or without the bath stop, the highlight here is taking a guided spice tour at one of the local farms. Zanzibar earned its “Spice Island” nickname for producing spices like cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and pepper, which were once as valuable as gold. On a spice tour, you’ll walk through the plantation as guides show you how to crush leaves and crack open fruits for you to smell or taste. You’ll learn how cloves, Zanzibar’s top export, are harvested from clove trees and dried. December is the best time to visit because many spices are in season, and the plantations are alive with harvest activity. You can also purchase fresh spice packets here, a perfect souvenir to take home.
After immersing yourself in spices and aromas, continue driving towards the northeast coast. From the farms it’s about another 30 kilometres east to the shore, typically around 45 minutes. The road leads through lush greenery before the landscape opens to coastal light and breeze. You have a choice of beach destinations in this area. Kiwengwa Beach is one option, a long stretch of sand backed by coconut palms and a few resorts.
A bit further north lies Matemwe Beach, a favourite for those seeking a quiet escape. Matemwe and its neighboring Kigomani village face the Mnemba Atoll lagoon, so the waters here gleam in unreal shades of turquoise. This area has a local feel with fishing boats bobbing in the sea and seaweed farmers at work. You won’t find big parties or busy crowds here. Spend your afternoon swimming or snorkelling, or take a short boat ride to Mnemba Atoll for world-class snorkeling among coral reefs.
For a more offbeat adventure, head to Kizimkazi, a fishing village on Zanzibar’s southern coast. The drive is approximately 60 kilometres from Stone Town, and it typically takes 1 to 1.5 hours each way. To get there, you’ll travel south through the interior, passing small towns like Koani, then either cut through Jozani Forest or continue straight down the main road toward Makunduchi and Kizimkazi. The roads are paved most of the way, though they can get a bit rougher in the far south. As you go, the traffic thins out, and you might share the road with bicycles, chickens, or the occasional stray cow.
Kizimkazi actually refers to two close-by villages: Kizimkazi Dimbani and Kizimkazi Mkunguni. The area is famed for its dolphins. If you arrive early in the morning, you can hire a local boat from Kizimkazi’s small beach to take you out into Menai Bay, where pods of humpback and bottlenose dolphins are often found. December’s calmer seas make it a great time to spot dolphins. If you’re a confident swimmer, some tours even let you slip into the water and snorkel while dolphins glide by.
Back on land, Kizimkazi has another treasure. The Shirazi Mosque at Kizimkazi Dimbani is a historic mosque, originally built in 1107 CE, is said to be the oldest mosque still in use in East Africa. It’s a small coral-stone building with a graveyard of early tombs. Even if you’re not Muslim, you can usually visit the outside and peek in respectfully. You can read the ancient Arabic inscriptions carved in its walls. There’s an information sign on site that tells the story of its Persian-influenced origins.
By the end of the year, Zanzibar feels like a postcard come alive—historic Stone Town mornings, spice-scented afternoons inland, and beach sunsets that stretch endlessly. Whether you chase nightlife in Nungwi, kitesurf in Paje, snorkel Mnemba’s turquoise lagoon, or spot dolphins in Kizimkazi, each drive shows you a new face of the island.
To explore with rushing, rent a car in Zanzibar with Final Rentals. You’ll get affordable rates, no hidden fees or cancellation charges, 24/7 pickup at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, and well-maintained vehicles. For extra convenience, download the Final Rentals app on Google Play and the App Store.
