Family Hotels in Zanzibar

Zanzibar works well with children, but the choice of area matters more here than at most beach destinations. Two things decide it: the tide and the drive.

On the north coast at Kendwa and Nungwi the sea stays swimmable through the day, so children go in the water whenever they want. On the east coast the sea retreats for hours at a time, which is fine if the hotel has a good pool and not fine if it does not. The airport drive is also a factor: an hour and fifteen minutes to Nungwi after a long flight is a lot with a tired toddler, while Stone Town is fifteen minutes.

What we look for in a family property: connecting or family rooms, a shallow pool section, flexible meal times, a kitchen willing to cook simple food on request, and shade on the beach. Larger resorts add kids clubs.

Tell us your children’s ages and we will send properties suited to them, and build the excursions around nap times and attention spans rather than the standard schedule.