Planning your dream trip to Zanzibar?
Discover the top 5 Zanzibar attractions to skip for a more peaceful and authentic travel experience. Instead of the usual crowded tourist spots, we’ll show you the best Zanzibar attractions to skip—and share the hidden gems we loved doing instead. Avoid the crowds and make your trip unforgettable with our real, personal insights on the Zanzibar attractions to skip.
Curious what we skipped and why? Keep reading—you might just rethink your itinerary.
Our #1 tip: talk to locals before you book anything
One of the biggest lessons we learned while exploring Zanzibar attractions to skip was this: if you’re not 100% sure about an activity or place, don’t just rely on online reviews or glossy brochures—talk to the locals first.
Locals know Zanzibar inside and out. They’ll offer honest advice, help you avoid common tourist traps, and often suggest hidden gems you won’t find online. Sometimes, Zanzibar attractions that look amazing in photos or popular travel guides don’t match the real experience, especially when it comes to overcrowded tours or overpriced places.
Before booking anything—whether it’s a safari, a boat tour, or a restaurant—ask around. Chat with hotel staff, taxi drivers, or local shop owners. Their recommendations often lead to more authentic, personal, and memorable experiences.
This simple step helped us avoid the Zanzibar attractions to skip and discover activities we loved even more. So if you’re unsure, remember: the best insider tips come straight from the people who call Zanzibar home.
A special friendship began when we met the Maasai on our way to the beach
On our way to the beach, we ran into two local Maasai men. This wasn’t just a simple encounter — we stayed in touch with them throughout our entire stay, and a genuine friendship developed. They introduced us to a lesser-known, authentic restaurant where we truly tasted local flavors, far from the usual tourist spots. Beyond that, they recommended an amazing local guide whose personality and enthusiasm completely transformed our tours — because as we learned, a guide’s vibe can make or break the whole experience. This friendship and their local tips made our trip truly unforgettable.
Tip: Be open-minded!
The restaurant waiter’s recommendation – Kilosa animal sanctuary instead of Jozani forest?
While chatting in a restaurant about the activities we were considering, I mentioned feeling unsure about visiting Jozani Forest. The waiter then suggested we visit Kilosa Animal Sanctuary instead. Although we had originally planned to see Jozani Forest, we followed the local recommendation and chose Kilosa — and we’re glad we did. This lesser-known spot offered a more intimate encounter with local wildlife, with fewer tourists around, allowing us to enjoy the experience more peacefully and personally. This small switch, based on local advice, truly made our visit special.
Tip: Trust the locals!
Reliable money exchange and SIM card purchase with local help
At first, we were uncertain about where to exchange money safely and how to buy an official SIM card, since many vendors approached us on the street. However, a restaurant waiter kindly helped us by recommending a trustworthy money exchanger and took us to an official SIM card shop. This not only gave us financial security but also made our entire trip more relaxed and worry-free.
1. Why these Zanzibar attractions to skip might not be worth your time
When planning our trip, we realized that many popular options didn’t match the kind of authentic adventure we wanted. That’s why we carefully researched Zanzibar attractions to skip, talked with local guides, and paid attention to honest reviews from other travelers.
By identifying which Zanzibar attractions to skip, we managed to avoid the typical tourist crowds and instead enjoyed quieter, more genuine experiences..
The result? One of the most memorable trips of our lives, full of meaningful connections and peaceful moments.
Why we skipped Jozani Forest (and what we did instead)
When deciding which Zanzibar attractions to skip, we relied heavily on honest local feedback to guide us.
Jozani Forest is Zanzibar’s only national park and a protected area famous for its lush tropical rainforest and unique wildlife. Known especially as the home of the rare and endangered Zanzibar red colobus monkey—an animal found only on this island—the forest also shelters a diverse range of birds, butterflies, and plant species. Despite its natural beauty, Jozani Forest is one of the Zanzibar attractions to skip if you want to avoid crowds and focus on more authentic experiences.
Visiting Jozani Forest offers a chance to explore well-marked trails and observe these fascinating creatures in their natural habitat. However, the park can get quite crowded with tourists, and the experience might feel less authentic or rushed during peak seasons.
When planning our Zanzibar trip, local advice steered us away from the popular Jozani Forest, a well-known nature reserve famous for its rare Zanzibar red colobus monkeys. Instead, we discovered Kilosa Animal Sanctuary, located near our accommodation in Nungwi. The locals recommended skipping Jozani, especially if you want a more authentic, peaceful wildlife experience without the crowds and high-priced tours found on platforms like GetYourGuide.
At Kilosa Animal Sanctuary, the entrance fee was just 25,000 Tanzanian Shillings (about $10 USD) when bought directly on-site — a much better deal than online pre-booked tours. We were greeted by a friendly animal guide who took us on a personalized tour, allowing us to feed and get close to many animals.
The sanctuary hosts a charming community of animals, including sociable monkeys (some as young as three months old), who surprisingly do not steal from visitors and are very approachable. Some monkeys roam freely, while others reside in enclosures you can enter.
Beyond primates, we enjoyed seeing ostriches, tortoises, crocodiles, chameleons, several species of snakes, and even musk deer (pezsma antilop).
This hands-on experience, coupled with the guide’s insightful explanations, made Kilosa Animal Sanctuary a unique and memorable alternative to the often crowded Jozani Forest, offering a rare chance to connect with wildlife in a more intimate, respectful setting.
2. Why we skipped the Blue Safari and what we enjoyed instead
The Blue Safari is one of the most popular Zanzibar attractions, heavily promoted as a must-do boat excursion. However, we decided to skip it—and here’s why. If you’re looking to avoid crowded tours and enjoy more authentic Zanzibar experiences, the Blue Safari might not be the best choice. Instead, we opted for a quieter, more personal adventure that truly captured the spirit of the island. Read on to discover what we did instead and why it made our trip so much more memorable.
We initially considered the Blue Safari tour, but after doing some research, we realized it wasn’t the right fit for us. The Blue Safari seemed a bit too crowded for our taste.
We read several reviews mentioning how packed the boats usually are, with limited space and a rather hectic atmosphere. It didn’t quite match our vision of a peaceful day on the water, so we decided to skip it in favor of something more relaxed and personal.
Instead, we had already experienced snorkeling during our Mnemba Island trip and also as part of our Nakupenda Sandbank tour. Both offered around 30–40 minutes of snorkeling, which we found more than enough.
The best part? These excursions didn’t just stop at snorkeling — we had other beautiful spots and activities lined up in the same day.
In our opinion, this variety made the day more fulfilling. We swam in crystal-clear waters, relaxed on remote beaches, and enjoyed freshly grilled seafood with our feet in the sand — all without feeling rushed or surrounded by dozens of other boats.
Of all the Zanzibar attractions to skip, the Blue Safari felt the most touristy and crowded. If you’re thinking about booking the Blue Safari, ask yourself what kind of experience you really want. For a quieter, more intimate connection with the ocean, consider smaller local boat tours or hidden beach escapes instead—these alternatives offer a more authentic Zanzibar experience away from the crowds.
Why we skipped the Tanzanian safari and explored local life instead
We seriously considered joining a one-day safari tour from Zanzibar to mainland Tanzania.
The safari starts at 3 AM and returns late at night, involving travel by small aircraft. However, the more we considered this, the clearer it became that it was too intense for us. Between the early wake-up, long transfers, and strict luggage limitations due to the small plane, this popular Zanzibar attraction felt overwhelming and not the right fit for a relaxed, authentic experience.
We also spoke with local guides and residents, and all of them told us the same thing: “Don’t do the one-day safari. It’s rushed and not worth it.” Most recommended at least a 2–3 day tour if you truly want to enjoy the experience, which we weren’t up for this time.
And looking back, we have absolutely no regrets about skipping the typical Zanzibar attractions. Instead, we spent our days exploring local villages, visiting lively markets, enjoying peaceful beach trips, interacting with animals at the Kilosa Animal Sanctuary, feeding turtles in Nungwi, and even spotting sea turtles while sailing. These authentic and personal experiences perfectly matched what we were truly looking for.
Of course, this is just our personal experience. If you’re dreaming of a classic African safari, be sure to read reviews and blog posts from travelers who actually went. Their insights will help you decide what’s best for you.
If you’re considering going on a safari in Tanzania, it’s worth checking out the Tanzania Specialist website. You’ll find plenty of detailed information about the different types of tours available, what to expect, and they’ll help you decide if this amazing adventure is truly right for you. The company works with local experts, has a solid reputation, and excellent reviews — so you can confidently rely on their guidance before making your decision.
Why we skipped The Rock Restaurant and what we enjoyed instead
When deciding whether to visit The Rock Restaurant, one of the Zanzibar attractions to skip, we trusted honest local opinions over the hype. Many locals shared that while dining over the water offers a unique setting, the food itself didn’t live up to expectations.
In fact, at Mamma Mia Restaurant, we had a similar feeling of dining over water without the hype, and the food was delicious.
We also enjoyed walking on the sandbank in the middle of the ocean and dining at a restaurant terrace in Nungwi, right above the water — these moments fully met our expectations.
If you’re wondering whether The Rock Restaurant is one of the Zanzibar attractions to skip, ask locals for their honest opinions first. Many will recommend excellent alternative dining spots that offer a more authentic experience. However, if you do decide to visit, be sure to book your table at least one day in advance to secure your spot.
When choosing restaurants while traveling, we look for tasty food, a varied menu, and a calm, uncrowded atmosphere.
We’re glad we trusted our instincts—this is definitely one of the Zanzibar attractions to skip. For more fantastic restaurant tips and recommendations that we’ve personally tried and wholeheartedly recommend, be sure to check out our full guide here:
Best Zanzibar restaurants
Horseback riding in Kendwa: why we skipped it
Horseback riding along Kendwa’s white sandy beaches is often promoted as a must-do activity, but it’s one of the Zanzibar attractions to skip for those seeking a more genuine experience. Although the photos look dreamy, we found it didn’t quite match our expectations once we dug deeper.
Several locals warned us about horseback riding in Kendwa, one of the Zanzibar attractions to skip, explaining that the horses are often not well cared for and the rides are very short—mostly just slow walks along a small beach stretch for photo ops. It felt more like a tourist gimmick than a genuine experience with animals.
We also discovered that the midday heat can be tough on both riders and horses, making horseback riding in Kendwa—one of the Zanzibar attractions to skip—less enjoyable than expected. I
nstead, we chose to savor a peaceful sunset beach walk during the cooler golden hour, followed by dinner with live local music at a cozy nearby restaurant. Looking back, we have no regrets about skipping this activity.
If you’re wondering whether horseback riding belongs on your itinerary or is one of the Zanzibar attractions to skip, we recommend talking to locals or expats and reading honest, up-to-date reviews. And if you do decide to give it a try, go early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the heat—for both your comfort and the horses
Trust your instincts and travel your way!
Zanzibar is full of magical experiences — but that doesn’t mean you need to tick off every “top attraction” to have a meaningful trip. In fact, some of our most unforgettable memories came from choosing which Zanzibar attractions to skip, and instead following the advice of the people who know the island best: the locals. Trust their insight, slow down, and create a journey that truly reflects your travel style.
They’re honest, helpful, and truly the best guides you could ask for. They won’t push the most expensive option — they’ll recommend what leaves a lasting memory in your heart. So don’t be afraid to do things your way.
Talk to locals, trust your instincts, and choose the adventures that feel right for you.
The most authentic moments often come from the unexpected. Looking back, our favorite memories weren’t from the famous landmarks—but from the Zanzibar attractions we chose to skip. And we wouldn’t change a thing.
Curious what we chose instead? Discover our favorite hidden gems — from dreamy restaurants to secret beaches — right here on
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