Zanzibar With Kids
Our First Visit to Paradise (2-Night Itinerary + Honest Travel Experience).
Karibu Zanzibar.
A Dream Come True
For as long as I can remember, Zanzibar has been one of those places I’ve always dreamed about visiting. White sand beaches, turquoise water, the historic charm of Stone Town… it always felt like one of those “someday” destinations.
And last year, that “someday” finally became real when we got to visit Zanzibar for the very first time — as a family of five (me, my husband, and our three kids).
It was short. It was a bit chaotic. It was absolutely unforgettable.
Watch our full Zanzibar travel vlog below to see the ferry journey, Stone Town, and our beachfront Airbnb in action!
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Our First Visit to Paradise (2-Night Itinerary + Honest Travel Experience)
Taking the Ferry from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar
We started our journey flying from Entebbe to Dar es Salaam (I’ll be sharing our Dar travel experience in another post soon!).
We spent two nights in Dar es Salaam, which honestly helped break up the journey nicely before heading to Zanzibar.
From Dar, we took the 12:30 pm Azam Marine ferry to Zanzibar. While you can buy tickets same day at the ticket counter, I highly recommend buying tickets online here ahead of time to give yourself time to plan ahead for accommodation and travel.
Search places to stay in Zanzibar for your travel dates
The ferry ride itself is about 1 hour 45 minutes, but you need to arrive at least 1 hour before departure for check-in, luggage drop-off, and immigration procedures.
I won’t sugarcoat it — getting through the ferry terminal was a bit chaotic and confusing.
There were multiple steps:
- ticket office
- passport checks
- luggage drop-off
- port clearance
It all felt a little overwhelming at first, especially with kids and luggage.
Thankfully, my husband speaks Swahili, which helped us navigate everything without needing extra assistance. If he had not been traveling with me, I 100% would have had to ask for assistance navigating the ticket office, passport checks, travel insurance check point and luggage drop off.
One thing we did not know before traveling was that you need proof of travel insurance to enter Zanzibar.
We didn’t have it prepared in advance, but thankfully the Azam Marine cabin crew were incredibly helpful and guided us on how to quickly purchase short-term travel insurance online for each of us before boarding.
So if you’re planning this trip, make sure you sort that out ahead of time — it will save you stress at the port.
Once we got through everything and stepped onto the ferry… it was honestly smooth sailing from there.
Browse hotels in Zanzibar near ferry arrival areas
The Azam Marine ferry was:
- clean
- well organized
- comfortable
- surprisingly calm after the chaos at the port
There were different seating options:
- indoor air-conditioned seating
- outdoor deck seating
We chose indoor seating since we had the kids with us, and it was such a good decision.
The seats were plush and comfortable, and the air conditioning felt amazing.
We also had seats near the window, and the views were absolutely stunning — deep blue water stretching out in every direction as we approached Zanzibar.
That moment made everything feel real.
Arrival in Zanzibar: First Impressions
Arriving at the Zanzibar port, we went through:
- immigration
- luggage collection
- exit procedures
The lines were busy and noisy, but everything moved faster than expected.
Within a short time, we had our bags and were officially standing in Zanzibar — figuring out how to get to the Airbnb we had rented for the next two days.
Since we only had two nights in Zanzibar, we stayed close to the airport rather than traveling across the island.
Finding a taxi that:
- fit five people
- had space for luggage
- and knew where our Airbnb was
…took a bit of time.
Eventually, we found a private driver and headed off.
I know many people pre-arrange airport or ferry transfers in Zanzibar, and honestly — that’s a great option if you prefer everything planned.
But we tend to travel more flexibly and figure things out as we go (sometimes frugally, sometimes chaotically .
Our Airbnb ended up being:
- about 15 minutes from the ferry port
- and 5 minutes from the airport
If you’re traveling as a family or looking for extra space, vacation rentals in Zanzibar can be a great alternative to traditional hotels.
Because our time was short, we wanted somewhere special — and we found it.
Our Airbnb had:
- a private pool
- a large outdoor veranda overlooking the water
- direct beach access through a back gate
If a beachfront rental is on your wish list, you can browse family-friendly vacation rentals in Zanzibar here.
It was absolutely stunning.
Browse beachfront hotels and family stays in Zanzibar
When we weren’t in the pool, the kids were:
- swimming in the ocean
- collecting sand
- playing for hours outside
One thing that really helps smooth out arrival days like this is having mobile internet data set up before you land.
During our travels, we’ve always used an Airalo eSIM, which allowed us to connect to mobile data as soon as we arrived — no searching for SIM cards at the airport or ferry port or relying on airport or likely non-existent free WiFi while trying to arrange transport.
It made things like figuring out where to find a taxi, checking maps, and coordinating our Airbnb arrival much easier, especially after a long travel day with kids.
If you want to be connected before you arrive in Zanzibar, you can check Airalo eSIM options here.
Our Short 2-Day Zanzibar Itinerary
One afternoon, we explored Stone Town, and it was full of life and energy.
Find hotels in Stone Town, Zanzibar
We:
- ended the evening with ice cream and coffee by the water
- wandered through the streets and local shops
- explored the Old Fort
- walked along the waterfront
- listened to live music at Forodhani Gardens
- watched the famous “Hakuna Matata” jump spot performances
Just a couple of real-life notes that surprised us a bit during our time in Stone Town and Forodhani Gardens — nothing negative, just things we genuinely weren’t expecting.
First — there are stray cats everywhere. And I mean everywhere one point in Forodhani Gardens, we counted close to 100 cats just sitting together along a concrete walkway area.
They’re mostly calm, friendly, and really just do their own thing. They don’t bother you or get in your space — it’s just one of those “wow, this is different” moments when you arrive. space, vacation rentals in Zanzibar can be a great alternative to traditional hotels.
Another thing to be aware of is that the vendors in Forodhani Gardens can feel a little bold or persistent at first when they’re trying to sell items or experiences.
We found the easiest approach was simply:
- smile
- politely say no thank you
- keep walking
They generally move on quickly to the next person, and there’s no pressure once you decline.
It’s all part of the lively, energetic atmosphere of Stone Town — just a bit different from what we were used to, and helpful to know before visiting, especially with kids.
One of the absolute highlights was lunch at Lukmaan Swahili Grill.
If you want a true local Zanzibari food experience, this place is a must.
The food was:
- flavorful
- authentic
- affordable
- and incredibly satisfying
Outside of Stone Town, we spent most of our time simply:
- swimming in the pool
- watching the tide come in and out
- eating local food
- soaking up the view
- slowing down (which felt rare and special)
Sometimes the simplest moments end up being the most memorable.
Looking for things to do in Zanzibar?
Final Thoughts: Would We Go Again?
Absolutely.
But next time, we would:
- stay longer
- explore more of the island
- plan a bit more of the logistics in advance
Even though it was a whirlwind trip, it gave us a beautiful first taste of Zanzibar.
And it definitely left us dreaming of the next time we hear:
“Karibu Zanzibar.”
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