Pack for Zanzibar around two things: heat and modesty. Breathable cotton and linen for the climate, plus clothing that covers shoulders and knees away from the beach, since the population is predominantly Muslim. Reef shoes, insect repellent and cash in newer US dollar notes matter more here than most packing lists admit. Zanzibar is a tropical Tanzanian archipelago in the Indian Ocean, hot and humid year round.
The two things people most often get wrong are footwear for the reef and dollar bills that nobody will accept.
Clothing for the Climate on a Zanzibar Trip
It is hot and humid every month of the year, with daytime temperatures running from around twenty eight degrees in the dry season to the mid thirties in January and February. Synthetic fabrics are miserable in that.
Cotton, linen and bamboo work best. Loose fitting beats close fitting. Pack more changes than you think you need, since you will sweat through things faster than at home and laundry turnaround at smaller properties is not always quick.
Long sleeves and long trousers in light fabric earn their place twice over: they cover you for villages and mosques, and they keep the sun and the mosquitoes off. A light long sleeved shirt is more useful on this island than another t shirt.
Evenings are warm rather than cool, so heavy layers are unnecessary. A light jumper or shawl covers air conditioned restaurants and boat rides after dark.
Bring US dollar notes printed in the year 2000 or later. Older series are widely refused across Zanzibar, including at entry gates and tour desks, and there is no arguing with it once you are standing at the counter.
Modest Dress for Stone Town and Village Tours
This matters and it is not optional. Zanzibar’s population is predominantly Muslim, and beachwear away from the beach reads as disrespectful rather than relaxed.
For Stone Town walking tours, village visits, markets and anywhere outside a resort, cover shoulders and knees. That applies to men just as much as women, and shorts above the knee on men are noticed in the residential lanes even if nobody says anything.
Women should carry a scarf for mosque visits, including the Kizimkazi Dimbani mosque in the south. At the Anglican cathedral and slave market site women arriving in shorts are lent a khanga wrap at the entrance, which is handled without fuss but is easily avoided.
A khanga, the printed cotton wrap sold everywhere on the island, is the single most useful thing you can buy on arrival. It works as a beach cover up, a skirt, a scarf, a towel and a sunshade, and it costs very little at Darajani Market.
Swimwear is fine on the beach and at resorts. Topless sunbathing is not appropriate anywhere on the island.
Beach and Water Gear for a Zanzibar Beach Trip
Reef shoes. The item most often left behind and most often missed. Sea urchins, exposed coral and sharp rock are standard on the east coast flats at low tide, and a urchin spine ends a beach day quickly.
A rash vest. Better than repeated sun cream for snorkelling, and required rather than optional at Chumbe Island Coral Park where chemical sunscreen is not permitted in the water.
Your own mask. Snorkelling gear is provided on boat trips and the quality is inconsistent. A mask that seals properly improves a reef morning out of all proportion to the space it takes.
A dry bag. Boats are open, spray is constant and phones do not survive it. A small dry bag covers the sandbank and reef trips.
Two swimming costumes. Nothing dries as fast as you expect in this humidity, and putting on a wet one at seven in the morning for a dolphin boat is a poor start.
A refillable water bottle. Tap water is not for drinking, small plastic bottles cost several times more at beach bars than large supermarket jugs, and Chumbe does not use plastic bottles at all.
Sun Protection and Insect Repellent
You are six degrees south of the equator with sand and water reflecting everything back at you, and the sun here catches out people who consider themselves careful.
Bring a high factor sun cream and more of it than you plan to use, since it is expensive and inconsistently stocked locally. Reef safe formulations matter around the protected marine areas. A wide brimmed hat and sunglasses are basic requirements rather than accessories, and there is no natural shade at all on a sandbank.
Insect repellent containing DEET or an equivalent is worth packing properly. Mosquitoes are active at dusk and dawn, and malaria is present on the island, so speak to a travel clinic about prophylaxis well before departure. Repellent also matters during the day on spice farm tours and in Jozani Forest, where the shaded plots hold mosquitoes at all hours.
Aftersun and a small first aid kit with antiseptic and plasters cover the rest. Coral cuts are common and they are worth cleaning properly rather than ignoring.
Footwear for Zanzibar Tours and Beach Days
Four kinds cover everything, and most people pack the wrong three.
Sandals or flip flops for the beach and around your accommodation. Reef shoes for the water, as covered above. Closed shoes with grip for Stone Town tours, spice farm walks, Jozani Forest and cave visits, where the ground is uneven coral stone or muddy forest path. And something slightly smarter if you plan to eat at The Rock or a higher end restaurant, though nowhere on the island requires anything formal.
Stone Town’s coral stone lanes get slick after rain and the surface is uneven throughout. Sandals are workable but closed shoes are safer, particularly on the steps down at the slave market chambers or into the caves.
Reef shoes, a khanga and dollar notes printed after 2000. Those three cost almost nothing and solve more problems than anything else in the bag.
Documents, Money and Electronics for Your Trip
Two documents are compulsory and both are checked at immigration. Your Tanzanian visa, bought online in advance or on arrival depending on nationality, and the mandatory inbound insurance issued by the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation, bought through the official government portal before you travel. The insurance produces a QR code that immigration scans, and your own policy from home does not replace it. Save it offline and print a copy.
Your passport needs at least six months validity. Carry a printed accommodation confirmation and a return ticket, which immigration sometimes asks to see.
On money, Zanzibar runs largely on cash. Bring US dollars in newer notes and change some into Tanzanian shillings for markets, taxis, tips and entry fees, where small denominations are what you want. Cards work at larger hotels and some restaurants and nowhere else reliably. Connectivity on the east coast is patchy enough that card machines fail regularly.
Plugs are UK style three pin, running on 230 volts. Power cuts happen, so a power bank is worth carrying. A local SIM card is cheap and easy to buy on arrival with a passport.
What Not to Bring to Zanzibar
Plastic bags are banned across Zanzibar and have been since 2019. Do not pack them and do not expect them at shops or markets, so bring a foldable tote or two.
Leave heavy hiking boots, formal wear and anything you would be upset to lose. Drone use requires permissions and the rules are worth checking before packing one rather than discovering the position at the airport.
If you are connecting from a safari on light aircraft, baggage is typically limited to around fifteen kilograms in a soft bag, and hard suitcases are frequently refused. Camps will store excess luggage or forward it separately if you ask in advance.
Packing Differences by Season
The list barely changes across the year, which is one of the easier things about this island.
For the long rains of March to May, add a light waterproof and quick drying clothing, and expect nothing to dry properly in the humidity. A dry bag becomes more useful than optional.
For the dry season of June to October, add a light layer for evenings, which are the coolest of the year with overnight temperatures dropping to around twenty degrees. For January and February, pack for serious heat and prioritise loose light fabric over everything else.
If you are kitesurfing at Paje in either wind season, bring your own harness and a rash vest, and check with your school what equipment they supply before hauling a board across the world.
Frequently Asked Questions About Packing for Zanzibar
What clothes should women wear in Zanzibar?
Light cotton or linen covering shoulders and knees away from the beach and resort areas, plus a scarf for mosque visits. Swimwear is fine on the beach but not in villages, markets or Stone Town’s residential lanes. A khanga wrap bought locally at Darajani Market costs very little and covers most situations. Topless sunbathing is not appropriate anywhere on the island.
Do you need reef shoes in Zanzibar?
On the east coast, close to it. At low tide the sea withdraws hundreds of metres across flats holding sea urchins, exposed coral and sharp rock. They also help at Prison Island and Nakupenda where urchins sit in the shallows. On the north coast at Nungwi and Kendwa they matter less, since the water stays deep.
How much cash should you bring to Zanzibar?
Enough for entry fees, tips, markets and taxis, since cards are only reliable at larger hotels. Compulsory costs before you arrive are a $50 visa, or $100 for US citizens, plus $44 mandatory island insurance per adult and $22 per child. On the ground, budget $40 to $90 per person per day at budget level or $120 to $250 mid range. Bring US dollar notes printed in 2000 or later, as older series are widely refused.
Do you need malaria tablets for Zanzibar?
Malaria is present on the island, so speak to a travel clinic or your doctor well before departure about prophylaxis suited to you. Alongside whatever they advise, pack repellent containing DEET or an equivalent, cover up at dusk and dawn, and use the mosquito nets provided. Repellent also matters during the day on spice farm tours and in Jozani Forest.
Can you take plastic bags to Zanzibar?
No. Plastic bags have been banned across Zanzibar since 2019 and the rule is enforced. Bring foldable tote bags for markets and shopping instead, along with a refillable water bottle, since tap water is not drinkable and small plastic bottles cost several times more at beach bars than large supermarket jugs.
What plug adapter do you need in Zanzibar?
UK style three pin plugs on 230 volts, the same as mainland Tanzania. Power cuts are common enough that a power bank is worth carrying, particularly on the east coast. Local SIM cards are cheap and easy to buy on arrival with a passport, and worth having given patchy connectivity outside the main areas.
Most packing problems on this island are small and annoying rather than serious, and nearly all of them are avoidable with a five minute conversation before you fly. Holidays To Zanzibar sends a proper briefing before departure covering what your specific itinerary needs, from reef shoes to baggage limits on light aircraft.
If you would like a packing list built around where you are actually staying and what you plan to do, contact Holidays To Zanzibar and a real person will reply.