Four must-do’s before you board the plane to Zanzibar

Take care to do research on current entry requirements, local transportation and current travel advisories or warnings that may be in effect.

1. Do your homework when it comes to what you’ll need to obtain a Tourist Visa.

Spending the time to really understand the tourist visa process and requirements is essential especially because your ability to obtain one will literally make or break your trip. Since we were traveling to Zanzibar for our honeymoon, I wasn’t taking any chances – we followed and adhered to every recommendation that came our way. 

The best place to start is the U.S. Embassy of the Republic of Tanzania. The visa entry requirement page will provide general guidelines. The visa is valid for 3-6 months (depending on your country of origin).  

The good news is you can purchase a tourist visa upon arrival at the airport:

Be aware that if you decide to purchase a tourist visa at the airport, it will take some time because the credit card machine connectivity and Wi-Fi will go in an out for what seems like forever while you’re waiting in line. We decided to purchase our visas at the airport upon arrival. To facilitate the process, we brought the visa fee of $100 USD each in cash. If you can, we strongly recommend that you travel with whatever the full visa fee amount is in U.S. dollars (cash). Euros and other forms of currency were not accepted at the airport, only USD and credit card payments. Recall that I previously mentioned Wi-Fi and credit card machine issues at the airport? This is one way to ensure technological challenges don’t interfere with your vacation especially because you won’t be able to leave the airport without that visa.

We also traveled with a letter from Chase Bank (printed on bank letterhead) that confirmed the amount of liquid cash we had available and accessible at any time if we should need it. This is one way to “prove” you don’t plan to remain in the country illegally/after your visa expires. To obtain the letter, we scheduled a meeting at a local Chase branch and the banker we worked with knew exactly what we were looking for a why. We just had to come back later to get the letter, but it was all said and done in about 72 hours. Other documents we traveled with included:

• A printed, hardcopy of our flight itineraries
• Printed copies of our pre-paid airport transportation confirmation details
• Photocopies of our passports
• A photocopy of the front and the back of a credit card 
• Debit card
• Credit cards

2. Make airport shuttle/transportation arrangements before traveling

To save us time and the headache of trying to arrange transport from the airport to the hotel (and vice versa) we booked and paid for transfers in advance. The company we booked with was Sun Tours and Travel Zanzibar. We were very happy with this service and company. 

For a private car to and from the airport we paid just under $125 USD (in total). We tipped each driver about $10 USD. The drive from the airport to our hotel was over 1-hour. The car was clean, spacious and had air-conditioning. We were offered complimentary water and both of our drivers spoke good English. Most importantly – the service was very timely. We did not have to wait or worry about being picked up on time. We did not experience delays and we did not feel unsafe at any time – although the roads aren’t always in the best condition and rules of the road seem to be non-existent parts of the island.

If you’re hoping to start your vacation on a relaxed note after traveling – perhaps over 24 hours like us – then we highly recommend you consider making transfer arrangements in advance. It’s worth it.

3. Make sure you have all required and recommended travel vaccinations including boosters

Chances are you will need vaccinations and/boosters before traveling to Zanzibar. We can’t stress enough the importance of planning ahead! We both started with a visit to a local travel nurse/center we found through our healthcare provider. We completed our initial travel health visit about one month prior to travel and well-after our trip was booked and paid for. The visit was very comprehensive. They did a great job talking through several potential aliments or illnesses prevalent in the region. 

A great resource to check out for current travelers’ health and guidance specific to Zanzibar is available via the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. Here you’ll find information about routine vaccinations, water-borne illnesses, and COVID-19. It’s a treasure trove of valuable information and a solid starting point to guide you as you determine what health risks and needs you need to consider before traveling to Zanzibar and other countries too. 

Since I previously traveled to an African country (Sierra Leone in 2013), I had most of the required vaccinations/immunizations including Yellow Fever. Justin, on the other hand, had to get 6 different vaccines. Most of which he was able to get at our local Walgreens pharmacy as a walk-in and in a single visit. We both had to get a prescription for Malaria pills which we also were able to have filled at Walgreens.

Here’s where things get interesting – the Yellow Fever vaccine, which is now good for a lifetime after one dose, is not required for entry into Zanzibar. There are countries such as Sierra Leone where you are required to show proof of yellow fever vaccination before you will be allowed into the country, especially depending on the type of places/terrain you plan to visit while in-country. When you receive the yellow fever vaccination, you will be provided with a card or trifold that indicated the type of vaccine, date you received it and the provider’s name. 

Pro tip: The easiest way to keep your yellow fever vaccine card on-hand and on-standby for departure is to staple or paperclip it to your passport.

Many sources will tell you that you only need the Yellow Fever vaccine to enter Zanzibar if you are traveling to the island from a country that has a high rate/prevalence of the disease. While this may be the official story, the unofficial, on-the-ground reality could be rather different for you. There have been accounts of security officials in Zanzibar demanding tourists show yellow fever vaccination status as a condition for staying on the island. If a tourist could not show official proof of the vaccination, they had to pay a bribe to get through security or were denied entry outright. My medical provider also shared these horror stories with me while we were discussing travel health, which lent some credibility to what we read online. Even the slimmest chance of that happening to us while on our HONEYMOON was unthinkable. So, to be safe, we made sure Justin got the yellow fever vaccine before we traveled. We can confirm that we did not witness any such shenanigans/bribery happening at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) when we arrived. But, better safe than sorry!

4. Are you a U.S. citizen or national? If so, enroll your travels with the U.S. Department of State

We suggest all U.S. citizens/nationals log their upcoming travel to Zanzibar in the U.S. Department of  State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). The benefit of enrolling in STEP is that in the event of an emergency in the destination you’re visiting, the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate will be aware of your visit and able to provide assistance, if needed, while you’re abroad. Honestly, this is a “best travel practice” we implement before traveling outside of the U.S. regardless of where we are headed. Plus, it brings the parentals a sense of “comfort” when we’re traveling abroad.

To log your trip in STEP, you must first set up an account. You can use the same account for all international travels you wish to record with the U.S. Department of State moving forward. You’ll need your travel itinerary/details on hand when you go to enter your trip details including your flight information and where you’ll be staying while in-country. After you enroll, you’ll receive a confirmation email confirming your travel plans with STEP. The confirmation email will also include a link you can visit if you need to modify or cancel your enrollment.

After we received the confirmation email, we were not contacted again about our travel plans. Which, in this case, was a very good thing.

We also suggest you write down or printout the contact information for the closest U.S. Embassy/Consulate and carry it around with you especially when you leave the hotel. Here is what we printed out and kept in our wallets:

Our Luxed-Out Stay at the Riu Palace Zanzibar

At this stylish hotel property, the concept of “honeymooning” takes on a whole-new meaning. Here are just a few of the perks that made our stay extra special:

• We consumed unlimited champagne bubbles
• We dined at swanky reservation-only restaurants 
• We sipped sundowners each night in the infinity pool and watched the sunset
• We luxuriated in the spa each morning without interruption 

We spent most of our time at the hotel and before arriving, we didn’t really know what the hotel experience was going to be like. Yes, we researched online and read a ton of guest reviews but, the property was new with limited photos and some of the photos we saw on other hotel websites. We almost booked the sister property but since the Riu Palace Zanzibar had a perfect 5-star rating we ultimately booked here. We couldn’t have picked a more unique and luxurious place to honeymoon.

The second we entered the main lobby to check-in; we were immediately transported away from the dusty city and humble villages to a colorful and ornate hideaway inspired by local culture and its Arab past. After taking a sweeping glance of the reception, we looked at each other – both open-mouthed. We couldn’t believe how gorgeous it was and that we were here together for 5 days!

The property grounds were an immaculate and a picturesque paradise onto itself-a sprawling garden of spiky snake plants, native palms and papaya trees, vivid pink and orange blooms and hearty succulents. It was endlessly pleasurable, just walking around hand in hand as husband and wife.

We splurged for a junior suite, and it was beyond lovely. The location and sea view from an outdoor balcony was a treat. The room was spacious, and the 4-poster bed had mosquito netting all around it. The bathroom was always clean and had a nice his and her sink set up. There was a mini bar in the room which was restocked every few days with 4 local beers and mixed soft drinks. We also were provided with large, sealed bottles of water daily. We were also provided with a complimentary bottle of champagne our first night and we had nightly turn down service.

The ocean was a short walk from our suite and accessible from the property by stairs. We don’t think the beach was ADA accessible. It was also not a nude beach and there were plenty of chairs and umbrellas whenever we went down there. There was little to no debris in the ocean; we could see down clear to the white sands below. The biggest thing to look out for was sea urchins. We didn’t see one while at the beach/during our entire stay.

We spent a few hours walking along the beach which we think was called “Kendwa Beach” by the locals. It’s an easy walk in either direction and hawkers few and far between. Whenever we said “no thank you” we were either asked where we were from and engaged in a few friendly quips or we hear “hakuna matata” and that was that.

If saltwater isn’t your thing, there were three different swimming pools on the Riu property – each with its own bar and vibe. The three pool vibes we came up with were:

1. Tropical and Secluded – this pool was by two restaurants (Krystal and the Steakhouse) and was bordered by lovely tropical plants. It was small and while we saw a lot of patrons reading by this pool it, it got social at times too.

2. Plunge and proper – this pool was closest to the reception and completely empty most of the time we were there.

3. Infinity and party – as the vibe implies, this refers to the infinity pool which was the “liveliest” and most occupied. We ended each night poolside with drinks in hand. Side by side or snuggled into one another as we watched the magic of the sun being swallowed into the sea’s horizon and felt immense gratitude.

Ginger bar was the largest bar on the property and near the infinity pool. You cannot enter wet, but servers would come out by the pool to take drink orders. Ginger bar was where the evening entertainment was at too and it was open 24 hours. It could get congested at night so be prepared to flex your patience. Since this is the night “hotspot” a little wait is to be expected. Beyond libations, other menu items that could be ordered at Ginger Bar included mocktails, lite bites like veggie sandwiches and fruit and other drinks like coffee. A note on the drinks – not all cocktails were made the same so expect some variety even if you are ordering the exact same drink time after time. Champagne was also included in the all-inclusive package which we’ve never seen before at an all-inclusive resort (score!)

A note about tipping: we never felt pressured to tip but were happy to here and there throughout our stay. Honestly, it was surprising to see very, very few guests tip but with the property being an all-inclusive and tipping “rules” different from country to country, we can see why that was. There are also no tip jars at any of the bars, FYI.

Across the board, food served at the Riu was very good. We couldn’t complain and ate everything without reservation. The buffet deliciously expanded on the idea of what meal options might be possible – endless selections that cut across all flavors, spices and cuisine types was available. I routinely dove into Indian and vegetable dishes while Justin tucked into the Italian and American options.

The buffet dining space was open air and elegant, but there wasn’t a stuffy dress code. It was also open seating. We were able to order still or sparkling water. Sparkling water came in a sealed bottle, but we drank still water and drinks with ice cubes, and we did not get sick or have upset stomachs at any point during our stay.

Beyond the buffet, this property had 3 restaurants on-site. Reservations were required and could be made in the app. The Riu app was not very good but we went to the front desk and they were able to easily resolve our issues so we could make dinner reservations in the app moving forward. We eventually discovered the reason why we couldn’t use the app – it was because our last name misspelled in the system. The restaurant reservation system opened 2 days in advance and there was a dress code – men needed to wear closed toe shoes and long pants. I wore a casual dress and heels. We ate at the steakhouse and Krystal Restaurant. Both were good and the portions were very large, American style portions. We had 4 course meals at each place.

In terms of staff and service – both were spectacular. Most hotel staff spoke English and everywhere we walked we were greeted by an employee saying “jambo” (“Hi” in Swahili) followed by a giant smile. 

A few final things to note:

• You can find the entertainment and activities schedule by the towel desk by the infinity pool. 
• Yoga was offered each day in the afternoon, and it was complimentary. Mats provided.
• Paddleboards, kayaks and paddleboats can be rented for free for all-inclusive hotel guests at the Riu. If the risk of stepping on a sea urchin is high, then staff will forbid you from renting equipment.
• Couple’s massages are available at the spa (for an fee; this isn’t a complimentary service) – we booked a 60 minute couples massage upon arrival and for Day 2 of our stay (before our suntan/sunburns set in).
  

If we could go back to Zanzibar and do it all over again, we would:

• Have taken the time to visit/walk down a sandbar 
• Dined at the Restaurant on the Rock
• Visited Stone Town to see the ancient architecture and possibly visit a spice garden
• For additional ideas of things to do in Zanzibar, these are top-rated tours and excursions you can enjoy while on the island.