The ranking below covers the whole island, ordered by real guest ratings, our score breakdowns, and how much the plan includes. Tides decide more here than star ratings do, so the coast note on each resort is worth reading. Tap through for the included-versus-extra picture and pricing, and see our Tanzania guide for the visa and for pairing Zanzibar with a mainland safari.
Chains on this list
Loyal to a brand, or curious how the rest of a chain stacks up? Each profile ranks every resort the chain runs.
Plan the trip
Picking the resort is half the work; our Tanzania travel guide covers the rest: when to go, weather month by month, safety and entry requirements, and how the areas differ.
How this ranking works
Every list on this site draws from the same catalog: resorts we've individually researched, with the all-inclusive fine print read so you don't have to. The order weighs verified guest ratings, what's genuinely included at the base rate, and how each property performs on the thing this list is about: here, tanzania.
The seal next to a resort is its Palmprint: our 0–10 grade for how well it delivers on this list's promise, the same mark you'll find on its full profile. The details of what we weigh, and what disqualifies a resort outright, live in how we score. Lists are re-reviewed as ratings and policies change; this one was last checked September 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Which coast of Zanzibar is best for swimming?
The north. Nungwi and Kendwa are the one stretch where deep water stays at the beach all day. On the east coast the tide goes out a long way twice a day over the lagoon, which is beautiful to look at and means the swimming is by the clock. Pick the east for the sand and the kitesurfing, the north if you want to swim whenever you like.
When is the best time to visit Zanzibar?
June to October and December to February. The long rains run from mid-March to May, with April seriously wet, and the short rains fall in November. Zanzibar is too close to the equator for cyclones.
When is the best time to visit Tanzania?
The sweet spot is June–October and December–February. The rainy season runs Long rains mid-March–May (April is seriously wet), short rains November. Too close to the equator for cyclones.
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