5-Day Zanzibar Ocean & Beach Holiday — 4 Nights Villa
From $1,150 / person
One Big Ocean Day and Plenty of Beach Time
Full-Day Safari Blue
A traditional dhow trip through Menai Bay
Two Snorkel Stops
Guided snorkelling at two reefs, with gear provided
Sandbank Seafood Lunch
Grilled seafood on a sandbank at low tide
Beach Day at 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
5-Day Package Price — 4 Nights Villa & Breakfast
Price Per Person
4 nights villa accommodation · daily breakfast · Safari Blue pick-up from about 7:00 AM on Day 2
From $1,150 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 Ocean & Beach Holiday
This 5-day package combines Zanzibar's best-known ocean trip with plenty of time to relax. Day 1 is arrival and a free afternoon at the villa. Day 2 is a full Safari Blue trip of about 10 hours including transfers: a traditional dhow sails through the Menai Bay Conservation Area with two snorkel stops, a seafood lunch on a sandbank and time to look for dolphins. Day 3 is a beach day at Kendwa or Nungwi, 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 $1,150 per person.
Because you arrive the day before, the early Safari Blue start (pick-up from about 7:00 AM) is easy. Safari Blue runs as a small group of up to 12 guests on the dhow; snorkelling equipment, life jackets, lunch and soft drinks are included, and non-swimmers are welcome.
It suits couples and families who want one big ocean day and a real rest. For more time in the water in fewer days, the 3-day Safari Blue package adds swimming with turtles at Salaam Cave.
| 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 Safari Blue & Beach Itinerary — Day by Day
One big ocean day, 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 Villa Check-In
We collect you from Zanzibar Airport or your hotel and drive you to our private villa. The rest of the day is free to settle in and relax by the pool.
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Day 2Full Day · Safari Blue in Menai Bay
Pick-up is between about 7:00 and 7:45 AM for the drive to Fumba. You sail a traditional dhow into the Menai Bay Conservation Area, snorkel at two reefs, look for spinner and bottlenose dolphins and enjoy grilled fish, calamari and octopus (with lobster in season) on a sandbank. You are back at the villa in the late afternoon.
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Day 3Full Day · Free Beach Day at Kendwa or Nungwi
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.
What Will You See on Safari Blue?
Menai Bay, off Zanzibar's south-west coast, is the island's largest marine conservation area. Safari Blue spends the whole day there.
| What | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Coral reefs | Two guided snorkel stops with reef fish such as parrotfish, angelfish and surgeonfish |
| Sea turtles | Sometimes seen while snorkelling when visibility is good |
| Dolphins | Spinner and bottlenose dolphins live in the bay; sightings are common but never guaranteed |
| Sandbank | A bar of white sand that appears at low tide, where lunch is served |
| Traditional dhow | A wooden sailing boat with a shaded area, crewed by local sailors |
Our Safari Blue tour page explains the day and snorkelling etiquette in more detail.
Kendwa or Nungwi: Where Will You Spend Your Beach Day?
Day 3 is a free day on the north coast at Kendwa or Nungwi. 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.
- Swimwear under light clothing, and a towel
- Reef-safe sunscreen, a sun hat and sunglasses
- A light long-sleeved top to protect against sun on the boat
- A dry bag or waterproof pouch for your phone
- Seasickness tablets if you are prone to motion sickness
- Some cash in US dollars or Tanzanian shillings for drinks, 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, but sea conditions for Safari Blue change with the monsoon winds. If the sea is unsafe, the boat trip is moved to another day of your stay or replaced with an equivalent land excursion at no extra charge. June to October and December to February are the driest periods and the most reliable for both the boat day and the beach day.
| 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 | 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 (this package) | 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 Safari Blue & Kendwa Holiday
Pick-up from the airport or your hotel, the full Safari Blue day with snorkelling equipment, life jackets, a seafood lunch and soft drinks, a beach day with transfers, and four nights in our private villa with daily breakfast.
The package costs from $1,150 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 Safari Blue day and the beach day are the same as on our 4-day package.
No. Non-swimmers are welcome on Safari Blue: everyone receives a life jacket, the water is calm and warm, and the sandbank is shallow enough to stand on.
No. Menai Bay has spinner and bottlenose dolphins, and sightings are common, but wild animals can never be guaranteed.
Safari Blue runs as a small group on a traditional dhow with up to 12 guests. If you would like the boat to yourselves, ask us about a private trip. The villa is used only by your group.
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.
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.