Ratgeber
Planning a halal-friendly holiday in Zanzibar
Zanzibar combines beach and old town in a Muslim-influenced setting where halal cuisine and prayer options are widespread. Check the halal information with each property, choose the travel season by climate and clarify entry and health notices with the FDFA (EDA) and the FOPH (BAG). Halal Travel is a Swiss travel agency with video consultation.
Von Halal Travel, Stand
Schritt für Schritt
- Choose the travel season by climate and rainy season
- Plan the journey with a stopover and a time buffer
- Choose beach region and accommodation by family needs
- Ask the property about halal information and the serving of alcohol
- Check entry and health notices with the FDFA and the FOPH
Checkliste
- Rainy season and climate checked
- Generous connection times chosen
- Property's halal information requested
- Family room or villa reserved
- Sun and mosquito protection packed
- Light, covering clothing with you
- Entry and health checked with the FDFA and the FOPH
- Prayer mat packed
Zanzibar lies off the coast of East Africa and is known for beaches, spices and the old town of Stone Town. The island is predominantly Muslim, which makes meals and everyday life familiar to many travellers. This guide describes in general terms how to plan a stay and what to look out for. Climate details and travel duration are guidelines.
Travel season and climate
Zanzibar lies close to the equator, and temperatures are warm all year. There are rainy seasons, which vary from year to year. Check the weather for your travel dates before you book.
In the dry season demand is usually higher. Around holiday periods, early booking is advisable. If you are flexible, you often find quieter weeks in the transitional seasons.
The island has several coastal regions, each with its own character. The north and east have well-known beaches, while other places are quieter. When choosing the region, ask about tides and access to the water, because the swimming time during the day depends on them.
Stone Town and beaches
Stone Town is a historic old town with narrow lanes, markets and mosques. Plan one to two days there. The beaches lie on the coast and differ in calm and waves.
Depending on the tides, swimming may be limited on some stretches of coast. Ask the hotel about conditions at the beach and about pools for children.
Spice plantations and excursions to coastal villages are popular items on the programme. Plan them for the cooler hours of the day and check whether providers take children. For excursions, ask about duration and food.
Meals and halal
On the island halal cuisine is widespread in everyday life. Fish, seafood, rice dishes and spices shape the cooking. Still, ask the hotel directly about kitchen, origin of the meat and alcohol.
Have details confirmed in writing. We do not claim a certificate for any property but pass on what the hotel promises. More in the guide [Planning a halal trip](/m/halal-travel/planen).
Fish and seafood are common at meals. If you have concerns about preparation and ingredients, ask at the restaurant. For children a simple dish such as rice with vegetables or bread is worthwhile if the seasoning is too intense.
Prayer and everyday life
Mosques are present in everyday life. On request hotels provide a prayer mat and mark the prayer direction. Ask for this when booking.
Dress modestly outside the beach areas, especially in Stone Town and in villages. Find out about customs on site and respect them.
Dealings with one another are usually friendly and relaxed. A respectful manner, modest clothing in town and asking before taking photos are appreciated. Discuss this in advance with children and teenagers.
Before arrival, ask your accommodation to tell you the prayer direction and a quiet place, and ask about prayer times in the area. In Zanzibar the call to prayer can be heard far and wide, which shapes the daily rhythm. In Stone Town many mosques lie close together, while at remote beaches the distances are longer. Plan excursions so that you can keep prayer times, and discuss this in advance with your driver. During Ramadan some restaurants are closed during the day.
Getting there and organisation
From Switzerland you reach the island with a stopover. Plan a calm arrival and enough time between flights. With children, an intermediate stop is worthwhile to split the journey.
You will find health notices and entry rules at the FDFA and the FOPH. We advise by video call and send a non-binding offer that records your wishes.
On the beach too, the rules of the property and the area apply. Ask about areas suitable for families and about times when it is less busy. A quiet stretch of beach makes everyday life with children easier.
Combining with other destinations
Some travellers combine Zanzibar with a stay on the mainland or with a city on the Gulf as a stopover. This splits the long journey and makes it more pleasant for families. Check flight schedules and connection times.
We discuss with you in the video call whether a combination makes sense and send a non-binding offer. We record all the properties' assurances.
For planning: leave a buffer at the beginning and end of the trip. Delays at connections happen, especially on routes covering long distances. A spare day before a connection can save a lot of stress.
