5-Day Zanzibar Wildlife & Beach Holiday — 4 Nights Villa
From $1,050 / person
Wildlife First, Then Two Days to Unwind
Giant Aldabra Tortoises
Feed giant tortoises at the Prison Island sanctuary
Jozani Red Colobus
An endangered monkey found only in Zanzibar
Beach Day at Nungwi or Kendwa
A free day on the north coast, with transfers
A Free Day
Rest at the villa or add an optional extra
4 Nights Private Villa
Our Swahili-style villa with a pool and garden
Daily Breakfast
Breakfast cooked fresh at the villa each morning
5-Day Package Price — 4 Nights Villa & Breakfast
Price Per Person
4 nights villa accommodation · daily breakfast · flexible start based on your arrival
From $1,050 per person
The price includes the excursions listed, all transfers, 4 nights in our private villa and daily breakfast. Send us your group size and travel dates for an exact quote.
Everything Included in Your 5-Day Zanzibar Wildlife & Beach Holiday
This 5-day package is a relaxed Zanzibar holiday built around the island's best-known wildlife. On Day 1 you take a boat to Prison Island to meet the giant tortoises. Day 2 is a guided walk in Jozani Forest to see the red colobus monkeys and the mangroves. Day 3 is a beach day at Nungwi or Kendwa, Day 4 is free, and Day 5 is a slow morning before departure. You spend four nights in our private villa with breakfast. The package costs from $1,050 per person.
Prison Island (Changuu) is a 15–20 minute boat ride from Stone Town and home to a sanctuary of Aldabra giant tortoises, first brought from the Seychelles in 1919. Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park, Zanzibar's only national park, is the best place to see the Zanzibar red colobus, an endangered monkey found nowhere else.
It suits families, wildlife lovers and photographers who want plenty of rest between activities. For a faster pace, see our 4-day or 3-day Prison Island and Jozani packages; the 3-day version adds swimming with turtles.
| Departure Point | Zanzibar Airport or your hotel |
| Departure Time | Flexible — based on arrival time |
| Accommodation | 4 nights in our private villa in Shakani |
| Languages | English & Swahili — expert local guides |
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Your 5-Day Zanzibar Wildlife Itinerary — Day by Day
Two excursion days, a beach day and a free day. Times are approximate and are planned around your arrival and departure.
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Day 1Arrival · Pick-Up and Prison Island
We collect you from Zanzibar Airport or your hotel and drive to the Stone Town waterfront, where a traditional boat takes about 15–20 minutes to reach Prison Island. You spend about 1.5–2 hours with the giant tortoises, see the old prison and quarantine buildings, and can swim or snorkel (snorkel hire about $10). Afterwards you check in at the villa.
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Day 2Morning · Jozani Forest and Mangrove Boardwalk
After breakfast, drive to Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park. Your guide leads you along the forest trail to find the red colobus monkeys, which are often seen at close range, then along the raised boardwalk through the mangroves. The afternoon is free at the villa.
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Day 3Full Day · Free Beach Day at Nungwi or Kendwa
After breakfast your driver takes you to the north coast. The day is yours: swim, snorkel (equipment can be hired locally), walk the beach or book a sunset dhow cruise (extra cost). You return to the villa in the late afternoon.
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Day 4Full Day · Free Day
A day to rest at the villa or add an optional activity, such as snorkelling at Mnemba Atoll, a sunset dhow cruise or swimming with turtles at Salaam Cave (extra cost, arranged when you book).
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Day 5Morning · Free Time and Departure
Enjoy a final breakfast and a slow morning by the villa pool. We then drive you to Zanzibar Airport or your next hotel, timed to your flight.
Modern Luxury Zanzibar Villa — Where You'll Stay
Modern Luxury Zanzibar Villa | Private Pool & Spacious Living
Stay in our exclusive private Zanzibar villa — a beautifully designed Swahili-modern retreat set within lush tropical gardens. Your stay includes daily breakfast, fully air-conditioned living spaces, private pool access, and all the comfort you need to recharge between excursions. The villa is private, secure, and designed to feel like your own home on the island. It is in Shakani, a quiet coastal village in Zanzibar's West (Magharibi) district.
Which Wildlife Will You See?
The package is built around two animals you can't see anywhere else in such numbers: the giant tortoises of Prison Island and the red colobus monkeys of Jozani.
| Animal | Where | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Aldabra giant tortoise | Prison Island (Day 1) | Some are over 100 years old. You can feed them leaves provided at the sanctuary, but please don't sit on or lift them. |
| Zanzibar red colobus | Jozani Forest (Day 2) | Endangered and found only in Zanzibar. They must not be fed or touched; keep a few metres away. |
| Sykes's monkey | Jozani Forest | A larger, grey-blue monkey that is often seen near the forest trail |
| Ader's duiker | Jozani Forest | A small, shy forest antelope that is rarely seen |
| Reef fish | Prison Island | Visible if you snorkel in the clear water off the island |
For more on both sites, see our Prison Island and Jozani tour page.
Nungwi or Kendwa: Where Will You Spend Your Beach Day?
Day 3 is a free day on the north coast at Nungwi or Kendwa. Both beaches are on the north-west tip of the island, about an hour's drive from Stone Town, and both have a small tidal range, so the sea stays close enough to swim at almost any time of day.
| Nungwi | Kendwa | |
|---|---|---|
| Atmosphere | Livelier, with a fishing village, dhow builders, restaurants and beach bars | Quieter and more spread out, with a long, wide beach |
| Swimming | Good at most tides; some sections are rocky | Some of the best tide-independent swimming on the island |
| Optional extras | Snorkelling trips, the Mnarani turtle aquarium, sunset dhow cruises | Snorkelling, diving and sunset dhow cruises |
Your driver takes you to the beach after breakfast and collects you in the afternoon. Water sports, boat trips and meals on the beach are paid locally. Our Zanzibar beach guide compares every coast.
What Can You Do on Your Free Day?
Day 4 is yours. Many guests simply rest at the villa after the excursions and the beach day. If you would like to do more, these optional extras can be added at extra cost:
- Swimming with turtles at Salaam Cave in Kizimkazi, included in our 3-day packages
- Snorkelling or diving at Mnemba Atoll
- A sunset dhow cruise
- A day tour such as Safari Blue or Prison Island and Jozani
- A short fly-in safari: see our 2-day safari from Zanzibar
Tell us what interests you when you book, and we will plan it around your excursion days.
What Should You Pack for Five Days?
Your luggage stays at the villa for all four nights, so you unpack once and only need a day bag on excursion and beach days.
- Closed shoes or trainers for the Jozani forest trail
- Light, breathable clothing and insect repellent
- Swimwear and a towel for Prison Island and the beach
- Reef-safe sunscreen, a sun hat and sunglasses
- A camera with a zoom lens if you have one, for the monkeys
- Some cash in US dollars or Tanzanian shillings for snorkel hire, meals and tips
Good to Know
- Ask before photographing people, especially in Stone Town and in villages
- Swimwear is for the beach and the villa; cover up when you walk through villages or towns
- During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in the street during daylight hours
When Is the Best Time for This 5-Day Package?
The package runs all year, and the tortoises and monkeys can be seen in every season. June to October is cooler and drier, which makes the forest walk most comfortable. December to February is hot, with calm seas and excellent beach days. In the long rains of April and May the forest trail can be muddy, so closed shoes are important.
| Months | Weather | What it means for this package |
|---|---|---|
| June – October | Dry, sunny and cooler | Ideal for excursions and beach days; the busiest season, so book early |
| November | Short rains, usually brief showers | Fine for touring; quieter and greener |
| December – February | Hot, humid and mostly dry | Excellent beach and swimming weather; busy over the holidays |
| March – May | Long rains, heaviest in April and May | Lower prices and fewer visitors; expect showers |
Our Zanzibar travel guide covers the seasons month by month.
How Does This Package Compare with Our Other Zanzibar Packages?
All three 5-day packages include four nights in our private villa with breakfast, two guided excursion days, a beach day and a free day.
| 5-day package | Guided excursions | Free time | Price per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Town, Spice Farm & Beach | Day 1: Stone Town walking tour Day 2: spice farm | Day 3 beach day; Day 4 free; Day 5 departure | From $950 |
| Prison Island, Jozani & Beach (this package) | Day 1: Prison Island giant tortoises Day 2: Jozani Forest red colobus | Day 3 beach day; Day 4 free; Day 5 departure | From $1,050 |
| Safari Blue & Kendwa | Day 1: arrival and a free afternoon Day 2: full-day Safari Blue | Day 3 beach day; Day 4 free; Day 5 departure | From $1,150 |
For a shorter stay, see our 4-day and 3-day packages, which include swimming with turtles at Salaam Cave. For a full week across three coasts, see our 7-day Zanzibar itinerary, or compare everything on the 5-day Zanzibar packages page.
Questions About the 5-Day Prison Island, Jozani & Beach Holiday
Pick-up from the airport or your hotel, the boat to Prison Island, the Prison Island and Jozani entrance fees, a guided forest trail and mangrove boardwalk, a beach day with transfers, four nights in our private villa with daily breakfast, a licensed guide and bottled water on excursion days.
The package costs from $1,050 per person. Send us your group size and travel dates for an exact quote.
It adds a free day and a fourth villa night. The excursions are the same as on our 4-day package.
Relax at the villa, or add an optional extra such as swimming with turtles at Salaam Cave, snorkelling at Mnemba Atoll, a sunset dhow cruise or one of our day tours. Tell us when you book and we will arrange it.
About 1.5–2 hours on the island, plus the boat ride of about 15–20 minutes each way.
You can feed the giant tortoises the leaves provided at the sanctuary, under staff guidance. The red colobus monkeys must not be fed or touched; keep a few metres away and follow your guide's instructions.
Yes. Children love feeding the tortoises and watching the monkeys, the forest trail is easy and the relaxed pace suits families.
All four nights are in our private villa in Shakani, a quiet coastal village in Zanzibar's West district. It has a pool, a tropical garden, air conditioning, Wi-Fi and daily breakfast, and it is used only by your group.
Yes. Many guests combine a Zanzibar stay with a short fly-in safari. See our safaris from Zanzibar, from two to five days.
Cancellations made more than 7 days before the start date receive a full refund. Cancellations within 7 days may incur a partial fee, depending on bookings already made on your behalf. We recommend travel insurance.