Planning a road trip to Zanzibar Butterfly Centre is one of the best ways to see nature in a calm and personal setting. This butterfly sanctuary offers more than just colorful insects to look at. You’ll learn about conservation, butterfly farming, and how local people care for the environment. The drive is peaceful, and visiting the centre is a great experience if you enjoy quiet time surrounded by green trees and flying colors. Renting a car in Zanzibar makes the journey smooth and flexible. With your car, you control the schedule and reach the centre without relying on tour groups or public transport.
The Zanzibar Butterfly Centre is about 34 kilometers from Abeid Amani Karume International Airport. If traffic is light, the drive takes under 1 hour. From the airport, start by heading north on Nyerere Road, then follow signs through several small turns until you reach Kibele Road. This road takes you through local villages and green landscapes. Continue straight at the roundabout near Pete village. The centre will appear shortly after that on your right. From Stone Town to Pete Village, you can also reach the centre by dala-dala, the local shared minibus. From there, you walk about 900 meters, which takes around 13 minutes.
Visiting Zanzibar Butterfly Centre is a chance to slow down and enjoy something rare. Aside from seeing butterflies, you can learn new things and help a local community that depends on the forest for life.
When you enter, you’ll walk into a large, netted tropical garden filled with butterflies moving gently through the air. Some may even land on your hand or shoulder. The garden is built to look and feel like a forest, with sunlight, green plants, and colorful flowers. This is where over 50 butterfly species live and move freely, including rare ones like Acherontia atropos. The enclosure is one of the largest in East Africa, measuring around 300 square meters and up to 7 meters tall. You’ll walk slowly on soft paths while butterflies flutter around you. The moment feels light, quiet, and close to nature.
Your visit includes a walk through each phase of the butterfly’s growth. You’ll see tiny eggs, caterpillars feeding on leaves, the pupae stage, and finally, fully grown butterflies with open wings. A guide clearly shows and explains each part so even kids can follow the process easily. Depending on conditions, you’ll learn how fragile their wings are and how different species live from just one week to a full month. There are also feeding demonstrations that show how butterflies use their long tongues to sip nectar from flowers and fruit.
Every visit includes a guided tour, led by a trained staff member, often someone from Pete Villagey. They explain butterfly behavior, how butterfly farming works, and how the centre helps protect the forest. The tour usually lasts 30 to 45 minutes, but you can stay longer. Most guests spend at least one hour walking around, taking photos, or sitting quietly while butterflies land nearby.
The Farmer’s Tour is a special add-on that takes you into the nearby village to visit real butterfly farmers. These local farmers raise butterflies from eggs to pupae in home-based settings, using eco-friendly, low-cost methods. Many of them are women who can fit this work around daily chores or childcare. You’ll see how the butterflies are fed, how pupae are protected, and how this sustainable farming supports entire households.
Entry to the Zanzibar Butterfly Centre is very affordable. Here are the fees based on what you shared:
All entrance fees go toward the upkeep of the centre, farmer training, and other community development projects, especially those focused on conservation and poverty reduction. Some visitors noted that part of the income also supports health, education, and forest protection in the Pete area.
This centre is a model for how eco-tourism can support a local economy. Butterfly farming helps protect the forest by giving people a better alternative to cutting trees for charcoal or firewood. By joining a tour, you support this system and help keep Zanzibar’s natural beauty alive. The whole place is family-friendly, and it’s also a favorite among photographers and nature lovers. Some lucky visitors even get to hold a chameleon during the tour. Most importantly, the centre remains peaceful and never overcrowded, so you can take your time and enjoy every moment.
This butterfly sanctuary in Zanzibar is a living, breathing place focused on local impact. The centre works with farmers in Pete Village who raise butterflies. This method is called butterfly farming. It supports families by providing income that fits around their daily duties, like cooking or childcare. Many women take part in this effort. The money you pay for entry helps keep the forest safe. Instead of cutting down trees for firewood, families get income from farming butterflies. This saves forests, supports children’s schooling, and improves local life.
Before setting out on your road trip, it helps to know a few key details to make the most of your visit. The Zanzibar Butterfly Centre is simple to access, welcoming, and full of practical features that suit travelers of all kinds.
The centre is open every day from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Butterflies are most active between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM, so this is the best time to visit if you want to see them flying, feeding, and landing. There’s no need to book in advance for regular entry, but pre-booking is suggested if you plan to join the Farmer’s Tour. Most guests spend between 45 minutes and 2 hours inside. Some stay longer to enjoy the garden’s calm atmosphere. Early mornings and weekdays are quieter, offering a more peaceful visit.
There is a small café and gift shop on-site. You can buy snacks, drinks, and handmade souvenirs made by local community members. These small purchases help support the centre’s income and local livelihoods. The staff are welcoming and happy to assist visitors who may not speak fluent English. The grounds are easy to walk, and the garden paths are soft and flat, making the visit comfortable even for older travelers or young children. There are shaded spots throughout the garden where you can sit, relax, and take photos.
The centre is a great stop for families, couples, solo travelers, and photographers. Kids will enjoy spotting caterpillars and watching butterflies up close. Adults will appreciate the educational side and the conservation message behind every tour. There are even small educational sessions to hear stories about protecting endangered species like Acherontia atropos.
To help keep the butterflies safe, you should walk slowly and speak quietly. Don’t try to touch the butterflies unless your guide tells you it’s okay. Their wings are very delicate and can be damaged easily. If one lands on you, stay still and enjoy the moment. The centre is a conservation project, not a tourist theme park. Everything here works because people care—staff, farmers, and visitors. Supporting the centre by being respectful, buying a drink, or taking the Farmer’s Tour helps keep the project strong and running for years to come.
After visiting the Zanzibar Butterfly Centre, you’re already close to one of Zanzibar’s most famous natural areas, Jozani Forest.
Jozani Forest is home to the endemic red colobus monkey, which can only be found on Zanzibar island. These monkeys are easy to spot in the treetops as they move in groups, often resting in the lower branches or crossing the paths before you. The forest is only about five minutes away from the Butterfly Centre by car.
The forest is known for its old mahogany trees, fresh air, and thick canopy. It feels cooler here, with a mix of light and shade that’s ideal after the open garden of the Butterfly Centre. Some local guides even offer a package that includes both stops. You can visit the Butterfly Centre in the late morning and head into the forest just before or after lunch.
Together, the Butterfly Centre and Jozani Forest show two different sides of Zanzibar’s environment. One is carefully managed and community-run. The other is wild and protected. Make sure to bring water, wear closed shoes, and take your time. With your car rental, you can explore both places and get back to your hotel before sunset.
Going to the Butterfly Center is perfect if you love nature, colorful insects, and meaningful travel. You’ll leave knowing you’ve helped a small, local project that teaches big lessons about the environment. Rent a car in Zanzibar with Final Rentals, take the scenic drive, and enjoy a real gem on the island.
