Is Zanzibar Safe To Visit In 2024–2025?
Is Zanzibar Safe To Visit In 2024–2025? (Expert Opinion, Safety Tips, And Everything To Know) Many people are drawn to the island of Zanzibar. This lovely resort off the coast of Tanzania has gorgeous beaches, centuries of history, and the distinct Swahili culture, which is a fusion of African, Middle Eastern, and Portuguese influences. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people visit Zanzibar, and the number is rapidly increasing. Visitors can enjoy the exquisite old architecture of Stone Town as well as pristine beaches like Kendwa and Nungwi Beach, among other things.
Zanzibar has captivated the imaginations of world travelers and armchair travelers alike for decades. But, while this storied island is undeniably beautiful, is it safe to visit? Here’s our opinion.
IS ZANZIBAR SAFE TO VISIT IN 2024-2025?
If you’re wondering if Zanzibar is safe for travelers, you may rest assured that it is. Because tourism is Zanzibar’s principal source of income, the local government takes tourist safety very seriously. While the island is fairly safe, it is nevertheless important to exercise caution when sailing around Zanzibar because pirates may be hiding in the street. Worry not on your sailing adventure with Focus East Africa Tours! Our local guides are well-versed in the local terrain and maintain close communication with both authorities and locals to ensure your safety at all times.
Is it safe to visit Zanzibar in 2024-2025? Yes. Zanzibar is generally safe to visit, and with the proper precautions, you should be OK. Keep a check on your belongings, however, as petty theft is rampant in the country, particularly near tourist attractions. Although violent crime is uncommon, it does occur. To get a sense of how to travel safely to Zanzibar, look at the travel advisories in effect for the entire country of Tanzania.
Tanzania, for example, is under a Level Two travel advisory from the US State Department owing to crime, terrorism, and violence against minorities, including LGBT persons.
These are issues that Zanzibar faces as well, but not to the extent that you should cancel all trip arrangements immediately. Before visiting Zanzibar, it’s a good idea to learn about the country’s political condition and relationship with Tanzania. In 1964, Zanzibar joined Tanganyika to establish the United Republic of Tanzania, but it maintained its independence, even having its own president and cabinet.
On the island, there is an independence movement as well as regular civil unrest, which is frequently directed at the ruling party. Election violence is all too common. You may meet a demonstration in Zanzibar, especially if you visit during an election year.
Make sure you stay out of the path and don’t join the protest. They can become aggressive at times, and you don’t want to end up on the wrong side of the law. Aside from civil upheaval, travelers to Zanzibar are concerned about crime. Common crimes include:
- Pickpocketing
- Bag snatching
- Tourist scams
- Sexual harassment
- Sexual assault
- Armed robbery
In Zanzibar, crime rates are slightly higher, and you should probably take precautions to ensure your safety. While crime is not so prevalent that you should cancel your plans, you should be careful of your surroundings while you travel throughout Zanzibar. In terms of natural calamities, Zanzibar has little to worry about.
You should avoid visiting the island during cyclone season, which lasts from December to April. Cyclones typically affect the southern Zanzibar archipelago, causing severe winds, storm surges, and flooding.
CRIME IN ZANZIBAR
For good reason, most potential visitors to Zanzibar are concerned about crime. Statistics and anecdotal evidence both concur that the region has a high crime rate.
According to Numbeo, the general crime rate in Zanzibar is moderate. It does, however, have a high rate of burglaries, vehicle break-ins, and theft. Many respondents believe that crime has grown in the last three years.
One issue could be corruption and bribery; Zanzibar ranks 79.69 out of 100 in this category on the Numbeo crime index. The homicide rate in Zanzibar is moderate.
Tanzania as a whole has a reasonable homicide rate of 6.48 incidences per 100,000 inhabitants, which is close to the global average. It does, however, struggle with other types of violent crime, such as armed robbery.
The majority of crimes in Zanzibar involve theft of some kind, ranging from petty theft to armed robbery. Criminals frequently target outsiders. They assume foreigners to be wealthy than locals (generally correctly) and are aware that outsiders may lack the street smarts required to escape a robbery. Foreigners are frequently involved in violent crimes that escalate from robbery.
It’s also worth noting that gender-based violence is prevalent in Zanzibar. According to UNICEF, sexual violence affects 10% of women in Zanzibar. While this number refers to Zanzibari women, the attitudes that allow so much sexual abuse to occur on the island also apply to visitors.
Many female visitors report feeling uneasy in Zanzibar because street harassment, generally in the form of catcalling, is frequent. There have been reports of rising levels of violence, including sexual assault, directed at foreign women. Be cautious when going about Zanzibar, and avoid walking alone at night. Check that you are not being followed back to your lodging. If you’re traveling alone, don’t advertise it, since you never know who might be looking to take advantage of you.
THEFT IN ZANZIBAR
Petty theft is the most common crime in Zanzibar, and it is possible that you may face it as a tourist. Pickpockets, bag snatchers, and various scams operate in Zanzibar. They frequently target tourists because they know that visitors will be captivated by the beauty of their surroundings and will be carrying precious cash, phones, and passports.
In Zanzibar, a little extra care might go a long way toward preventing theft. Make sure you are always aware of your surroundings and are not roaming around with your phone in your hand or your bag unzipped by accident.
Keep in mind the impression you’re providing. Even when you soak in the sights around you, walk with purpose. Don’t convey the idea of wealth; attempt to keep your assets hidden.
Make sure you keep a firm grip on your belongings at all times. Never leave your bag unzipped or dangling from the back of a restaurant chair. Keep valuables in your bag’s front pocket or a secure inside pocket.
Keep your bag close to your body at all times to actively defend your possessions. Of course, the best defense against theft is to keep burglars away from your goods.
Instead of the official paperwork, provide a copy of your ID. Leave the majority of your cash in your hotel room, locked in a safe. Never leave your valuables unattended when swimming.
Go as a group so that someone is always on duty to keep an eye on everyone’s belongings, or leave your phone and wallet at your hotel while you go swimming. Pickpocketing is common in popular tourist destinations surrounding Zanzibar.
The UK government advises its people visiting Zanzibar to exercise caution in and around Stone Town, the popular historic hub of Zanzibar, as well as on local beaches. Make sure you stay in a heavily populated section of the beach. This is not the place to go alone in quest of the perfect lonely stretch of beach, as criminals and robbers frequently target anyone walking alone on the beach.
ARMED ROBBERY IN ZANZIBAR
In Zanzibar, theft can sometimes escalate into armed robbery. Tourists are occasionally victims of this type of violent crime because criminals regard them as easy targets. Robbers will typically threaten victims with machetes, although they may also use weapons.
There have been numerous incidents of armed thieves targeting beachgoers as well as outright attacking hotels and resorts. In order to discover possible victims, they will also track tourist activities such as tour buses and dive boats.
As you walk throughout Zanzibar, keep in mind that you are a potential target. That should not frighten you, but it should make you more conscious of how you move around the area.
You should be especially cautious at night, as this is when the majority of robberies occur. If you leave your hotel or resort, make sure you are traveling in a group.
If you must return to your lodging, hire a taxi rather than walk because walking exposes you to potential risk. If you are the victim of a robbery, do not fight back.
Armed robbers are likely to have more experience robbing people than you do fleeing them, so there is a good chance that things will go wrong if you put up too much of a struggle.
Concentrate on escaping safely, even if it means handing over your belongings. Because armed robberies can escalate to assault, including sexual assault, you don’t want to prolong the interaction any longer than necessary.
AVOIDING BAD AREAS IN ZANZIBAR
Knowing where to go in Zanzibar might go a long way toward ensuring your safety. Avoid lonely beaches at all times of day and night. Muggers and robbers operate at all hours of the day and night. They wait on the beach, hidden, for a tourist to pass by alone. Then they take your belongings, and there isn’t much you can do about it.
Obviously, the danger increases after dark, when the robber may resort to more brutal means because they are confident no one can see them. Stone Town is the old town of Zanzibar and a renowned tourist attraction due to its historic buildings and distinctive street culture.
It is, nevertheless, an ideal location for theft. Many travel advisories, including the official Canadian government one, urge tourists to keep an eye on their valuables while at Stone Town. Theft and pickpocketing are very prevalent in Zanzibar Town. Robbers and muggers frequent the beaches surrounding Zanzibar Town.
THINGS TO CONSIDER TO ENSURE YOUR SAFETY WHEN VISITING ZANZIBAR IN 2024-2025
Here are some additional travel tips for Zanzibar:
Zanzibar’s Muslim community is, for the most part, conservative. Dress modestly because there are fines for both men and women who break the rules; save your bathing suit for the beach. You also can’t buy alcohol in much of Zanzibar, so make sure you only drink it in safe places like resorts.
Tanzania as a whole has strong anti-LGBT laws, including Zanzibar. Many LGBT visitors are uncomfortable here, and there have been cases where LGBT travelers have been targeted and even deported because of their sexual orientation.
Zanzibar is an archipelago, and some of the islands can only be reached by ferry. Be cautious because ferries connecting Zanzibar’s main island and the other islands are sometimes overcrowded and unreliable. If possible, arrange for a private transfer.
During your travels, you may come across scammers ranging from airport gate agents demanding a fee to scalpers reselling ferry tickets. Make certain that you are giving your money to respectable individuals.
Leave your valuables at home. The people of Zanzibar are extremely poor, and Westerners who can afford to visit the islands are widely regarded as significantly wealthier by the locals. As in any other destination, keep your valuables, such as jewelry or watches, in the hotel’s safe. Walking on the Zanzibar beach or empty streets at night is not encouraged.
Respect local traditions. Being a largely Islamic region, Zanzibaris dress conservatively. We encourage that you dress modestly when on vacation in the islands, especially while visiting isolated areas. Cover your knees and shoulders, and avoid wearing short skirts and pants. In general, public shows of affection are frowned upon.
When visiting religious institutions: Use extreme caution when visiting religious institutions. On Fridays, avoid crowded areas and religious protests, particularly in and around Stone Town.
Consult a doctor. The danger of catching malaria on Zanzibar Island is substantially lower than in the rest of Tanzania. However, it is still advisable to consult a doctor prior to your visit and acquire the necessary immunization and preventive medication guidance.
Eat and drink responsibly, but avoid drinking tap water at all costs! The majority of Zanzibar’s drinking water is imported from the mainland, and tap water is unsafe to drink. Be cautious of fruits and foods sold on the street; if you have a sensitive stomach, avoid them entirely!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SAFETY IN ZANZIBAR
Here are some common questions that people wanted to know before traveling to Zanzibar:
What are the risks in Zanzibar?
When visiting Zanzibar, there are a few risks. The most well-known is, arguably, crime, specifically theft. There are also the usual concerns associated with any tropical vacation, such as floods during the rainy season, insect-borne infections, and stomach problems.
Is the island of Zanzibar secure from pirates?
Pirates are a persistent concern throughout East Africa, and Zanzibar is no exception. However, any pirate attacks that come as far south as Zanzibar normally happen far off the coast, so unless you are going on a long sailing excursion, you should be secure.
Is Zanzibar safe for female tourists?
Zanzibar is generally safe for female tourists, particularly those with prior travel expertise. Women, on the other hand, must take precautions such as not walking alone at night and staying in hotels with good security. Sexual harassment is all too common.
Is it legal to drink alcohol in Zanzibar?
Zanzibar prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages. Some bars, stores, and hotels in Stone Town sell alcohol, as do the majority of resorts that appeal to tourists. Make sure you’re not inebriated in public, as this is considered impolite.
Do I need anti-malarial medication for Zanzibar?
Malaria is an issue in Zanzibar, as it is in most tropical locales. As an added precaution, the CDC suggests taking anti-malaria medications when traveling there.
Is Zanzibar safe for stress-free travel?
Our major concerns are your comfort and safety. Our travel consultants would gladly answer any queries you have concerning safety in Zanzibar. During your trip, your local guide is happy to assist you, and your trip coordinator is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Traveling in Zanzibar is safe and simple if you follow this advice and do your homework ahead of time.
SO, SHOULD YOU TRAVEL TO ZANZIBAR?
Zanzibar is fairly safe to visit as long as you are prepared for the high prevalence of theft. Make sure you’re not flashing valuables or leaving your items unattended, and you’ll be well on your way to a secure Zanzibar holiday.
CONCLUSION: IS ZANZIBAR SAFE FOR TOURISTS?
Is it safe for visitors to visit Zanzibar? While no destination is completely risk-free, Zanzibar is not a dangerous country that continues to attract visitors looking for a one-of-a-kind and unforgettable experience. Zanzibar has a lot to offer, from picture-perfect beaches to the historical treasures of Stone Town and scented spice farms. Stay educated, use caution, and follow recommended safety procedures to make the most of your Zanzibar Safaris.
Learn about the local customs and traditions, respect the local community, and stay alert to your surroundings. By doing so, you may considerably reduce any potential risks while still having a pleasant trip on this beautiful island. Travel safely!
