I Went on a Vacation to Zanzibar Off-Season and I No Longer Trust Idyllic Tourist Photos

It sounds perfect: sipping coconut water on the beach while lying on white sand and enjoying the sweet boredom, as the African sun peeks through the palm trees and your view stretches over a vast turquoise sea. Well, if that’s how you imagine your future vacation, my sincere advice is: don’t do it in Zanzibar.

Zanzibar was at one point a hot destination for those looking to escape winter with a trip to an exotic location. Judging by the idyllic photos flooding social media, it was easy to see why. However, some important details are often left out—ones that can significantly affect the quality of your holiday—especially if you envision it as a series of slow days filled with relaxation, sunbathing on a perfect beach, and swimming in a perfect sea, writes Nova portal.

That wasn’t quite the type of holiday I was on—my trip began as an adventure in Kenya. But I did spend a few days in a village in Zanzibar, staying at a beachside resort popular with tourists. It seemed ideal for relaxation, with a large pool surrounded by canopies in the center, coconut palms, wooden lounge chairs, and swings on the beach. Especially since, during the off-season, it was almost empty—only a few bungalows were occupied.

All excited, I rushed straight to the beach and was puzzled by the number of people lounging in the pool. But soon enough, I was hit by the harsh reality of vacationing in Africa—there was no sea. I had arrived during low tide, when the waves are barely visible hundreds of meters away, leaving endless white sand strewn with seaweed and little shells.

Beaches and Swimming in Zanzibar

In the following days, it turned out that the movement of the ocean is quite problematic if you’re planning to swim—the tides shift every 6 hours, and the cycle moves forward by an hour each day (the math can be tricky, but there’s a website that tracks it).

This means you can’t swim for a large portion of the day. And even when you can, it’s a gamble as to what the water will be like—sometimes the tide brings in a lot of dirt, and the water is so warm it’s unpleasant; sometimes the waves are so strong that even experienced swimmers struggle in the shallows, and the wind is so fierce that you run to get dressed the moment you’re out of the water…

We did spend one day at the famous Kendwa Beach, which is said to be the only one in Zanzibar where the tides aren't extreme. But it definitely wasn’t my vibe, and frankly, I don’t see why anyone would choose it over somewhere more affordable like Turkey—it’s manicured to the last millimeter, hotel after hotel, limited swimming areas, tons of boats and jet skis, and sunburnt tourists melting under umbrellas at a “safe distance” from the locals.

Zanzibar: African Sun

Even sunbathing isn’t relaxing—“the African Sun” is so intense that even with SPF 50, it takes just 10 minutes to get seriously burned. That’s why many people wear long sleeves and wrap themselves in scarves, even on the beach.

So, what was supposed to be an idyllic holiday quickly turns into lying in deep shade by the pool, because it’s too hot to do anything else. You’re layering sunscreen over sunburns from the day before, trying not to let a single bit of skin touch the sun, barely breathing from the humidity, and the sea rarely provides any real refreshment. Every attempt to swim required planning and preparation—from checking if there’s “enough water” to slipping into a never-dried shirt. No, Zanzibar is definitely not for a “classic beach vacation.”

But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth visiting—it’s fantastic for adventure, especially for those encountering “real Africa” for the first time. Zanzibar has so much to see, experience, and try.

On this trip, I swam in a cave with sea turtles for the first time. I uncovered the secrets of Stone Town, once home to the largest slave market, but more interesting to me because it’s where Freddie Mercury was born… I took photos of giant starfish—I had no idea they came in so many colors; they look like carved wooden decorations, and if you hold one long enough, you feel it move. I also visited the famous The Rock, a tiny restaurant perched on a rock in the middle of the sea (during high tide, of course—at low tide, it’s not nearly as impressive), and had a blast visiting a spice farm…

As for the beach, the most beautiful moment was a windy day when the whole village seemed to pour onto the shore, and I got to meet the locals in their most relaxed state.

So yes, I recommend Zanzibar if you’re looking for a vacation rich in new experiences. In that case, go ahead and book every excursion your agency offers. But if you’re looking for quality swimming and sunbathing—better choose somewhere closer.