Is Zanzibar relaxed about dress?

It is a calm destination, but away from the beach hotels it is conservative and largely Muslim, so cover shoulders and knees in Stone Town and villages. Beachwear is fine at the resorts.

Does the tide really matter?

On the east coast, yes - the sea can retreat far at low tide. Nungwi and Kendwa in the north are the least tidal and best for swimming all day.

Can I combine the beach with a safari?

That is the most popular combination. Add the Serengeti and Ngorongoro before Zanzibar, or a shorter Tarangire and Manyara safari.

When is the weather best?

June to October is dry and breezy. The long rains fall April and May; short rains in November. January and February are hot and clear.

Is the snorkelling good for beginners?

Mnemba is calm, shallow in places and boat-supported with guides and gear, so it suits first-timers. Diving courses are available on the north coast.

Are there family options?

Yes - many north-coast hotels have pools and family rooms, and Safari Blue is popular with children.

Zanzibar Beach Escape | 6-Day Holiday from £1,200

Zanzibar has been a Swahili trading hub for a thousand years, and it wears that history openly – in the carved doors of Stone Town, the call to prayer, the cardamom and clove of the spice farms, and a cuisine that borrows from Africa, Arabia and India. This six-day trip balances that culture with the island reason most people come: the beaches.

You start with two nights in Stone Town for the museums, market and a sunset dhow, take in a spice tour and the red colobus monkeys of Jozani Forest, then move to Nungwi or Kendwa in the north for snorkelling at Mnemba Atoll and a full-day Safari Blue dhow trip.