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Indian Ocean gem A perfect end to an East African safari
EPIC Zanzibar

Zanzibar

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Epic Zanzibar journeys

Experience the wonder of coral fringed Zanzibar

Beautiful sandy beaches fringed by coral reefs, and the cultural magic of historic Stone Town.

Zanzibar is an archipelago made up of the Zanzibar and Pemba Islands, and several islets. It’s located in the Indian Ocean, just 40 kilometres off the Tanzanian mainland of East Africa. Zanzibar, known locally as Unguja, is 97 km long and 32 km wide.

Zanzibar is characterised by exquisite white sandy beaches fringed by coral reefs, deep turquoise waters and the magic of historic Stone Town – the only functioning ancient town in East Africa.

Long the destination of Arab traders, Zanzibar is a melting pot where Africa meets Arabia, having been a pivotal trading port for the commodities of spices and very sadly, slaves. The historic port of Stone Town still bears the scars of the slaving years. Fishing remains a big part of life in these stunning islands and waters.

Mafia Island and its surrounding archipelago (including the tiny islet of Chole) has a great deal to offer as an unspoiled, little-visited alternative to other Indian Ocean locations around Zanzibar and along the coast. This is what Zanzibar was 30 years ago.

Visitors today still find essentially small, rural farming and fishing communities whose lives have continued in much the same pattern as has been traditional for millennia.

The southern region of the archipelago houses the Mafia Island Marine Park, a UNESCO World Heritage listed area. The park is home to a wonderful variety of marine life and offers some, if not the best diving on the African coast.

Mafia’s best kept secret is its population of whale sharks; in the summer months good numbers inhabit the waters of the channel to Mafia’s north feeding off the plume of nutrient from the Rufiji River. The islands also witness humpback whales and turtle nesting over the same period.

Photography: Crispin Jones, Olga Budko, Kaspars Eglitis, Humphrey Muleba on Unsplash

Best Months

June – October

Shoulder Season

December – March (Can be wet)

Epic Suggests

Allow 5-6 Days

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What to see on Zanzibar

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4 Nights Luxury Zanzibar

Photo: Olga Budko UNSPLASH: A perfect add on for your East African safari. 1 night in the beautiful Stone Town Park Hyatt and 3 glorious nights on one of Zanzibar's best beaches in your own private Xanadu villa.

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Zanzibar
5 Nights trip

5 Nights Epic Zanzibar – Serena Hotel & Xanadu Villas

Resting approximately 40 kilometres from the Tanzanian coast, this idyllic archipelago consists of Zanzibar and Pemba islands as well as numerous smaller islets. Zanzibar Island is characterised by exquisite white sand beaches fringed by palm trees and lapped by turquoise waters lined with coral reefs brimming with an abundance of exotic marine life. This underwater paradise is a mecca for watersport enthusiasts who flock here for the excellent scuba diving, snorkelling, deep sea fishing, kayaking, kitesurfing, and sailing on traditional dhows. The island’s old city, Stone Town, features a maze of narrow alleyways lined with boutiques, bars, restaurants, lively bazaars, mosques and ornate Arab houses. Don’t miss the chance to relax in the lap of luxury on the exclusive private island of Mnemba, lying just 3 kilometres off the coast of the main island. Photo by Xanadu

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South Africa
6 Nights trip

6 Nights Epic Zanzibar – Serena Hotel & Thanda Island

Pricing On Request, dependent on season Resting approximately 40 kilometres from the Tanzanian coast, this idyllic archipelago consists of Zanzibar and Pemba islands as well as numerous smaller islets. Zanzibar Island is characterised by exquisite white sand beaches fringed by palm trees and lapped by turquoise waters lined with coral reefs brimming with an abundance of exotic marine life. This underwater paradise is a mecca for water sport enthusiasts who flock here for the excellent scuba diving, snorkelling, deep sea fishing, kayaking, kitesurfing, and sailing on traditional dhows. The island’s old city, Stone Town, features a maze of narrow alleyways lined with boutiques, bars, restaurants, lively bazaars, mosques and ornate Arab houses. Don’t miss the chance to relax in the lap of luxury on the exclusive private island of Mnemba, lying just 3 kilometres off the coast of the main island.

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South Africa
Why choose us The Epic Difference
Why Epic Epic Private Journeys
1
Knowledge and experience

Everyone at Epic lives and breathes the product and the places we sell. We want you to feel the passion, awe and respect for these precious wilderness destinations. We're now into our third decade of Epic excellence in an industry we love.

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Overwhelmingly, our clients return for safaris to their favourite places, or set out on new adventures with us. Camp and lodge staff become lifelong friends, many clients end up supporting community and conservation projects. We love it when people feel a part of the growing Epic family.

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At Epic, we pride ourselves on exceptional, personal service and attention to the smallest details of your journey. We have never been set and forget, available to our clients 24/7 wherever they may be in the world.

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From our travellers

Anita and the whole Epic team did an outstanding job organizing, planning and executing our trip to Kenya. Their attention to detail, from assisting us with choosing our outstanding accommodations, to having a pre-trip preparatory call with a staff member on the ground - to having several people immediately waiting for us at the airport and helping every step of the way, made our vacation the best ever! When there was a flood in Kenya just a couple months before our departure date and our accommodations were closed for the year, Anita was able to find us superb last minute accommodations, which ended up being the favorites of our trip. We loved every minute of our incredible trip and are so grateful for working with Anita and Epic.
Danielewicz family
My husband and I recently returned from a trip to East Africa, arranged for us by Sam and Epic Private Journeys. We had the most wonderful time! Their expertise in laying out our itinerary, and arrangements was impeccable! Thanks to their knowledge and experience, we were thrilled with each location that we visited, enabling us to enjoy the wildlife, as well as the culture of these beautiful countries. The guides, accommodations and travel arrangements were all fabulous. We enjoyed a mix of canvas tents and lodges, each with their own unique personality and natural beauty. This involved several moves throughout Kenya and Tanzania, and all of our travel connections went flawlessly! Their communication with us in preparation, for the trip was so helpful. From completing visa applications, to packing lists to recommending unique stops along the way, they were immensely patient and generous with their time, answering all of our questions, and making us feel completely prepared to go. And they continued to be in touch with us along the way, always available to provide guidance. We are so grateful to the team for this fabulous experience, and cannot wait to get our next African journey planned!
Julie and Monty
Re-entry has taken longer than expected, but I'm finally taking a breath to respond.  Might also be due to Pisco Sours twice daily during our entire trip! THE TRIP WAS FABULOUS!!! Everything we hoped for and more from an Epic trip.  A gift of memories beyond measure!! Hotels? We would return to all! I am clearly spoiled!   Thank you again for another successful adventure.  Cindy & Jack – Amazon & Machu Picchu
Cindy and Jack
Our trip to Africa was a dream come true; everything we wished for was granted by the genies at Epic! From the onset they listened, responded, explained and supported. Advice and recommendations were spot on, there was no point in which we felt the experience wasn’t designed entirely around us. We would do it again in a heartbeat. Anna
Anderson family
Climbing Kilimanjaro with Epic was nothing short of a life-changing experience. Their commitment to excellence and a genuine passion for providing a transformative journey created moments our family will remember for the rest of our lives. From the early calls about training and health markers to the team helping us with the climb on the ground, Epic's meticulous planning, attention to detail, and unwavering support ensured that every step of the climb was not just a physical feat but a soul-stirring adventure. For us, the journey was not just about reaching the summit but about the transformative moments along the way—the camaraderie forged in the tents with the guides, porters, and cooks, the breathtaking landscapes that unfolded with each day, and the profound sense of accomplishment as the summit came into view. Every person on the expedition was willing to help and went above and beyond to create a memorable experience for all of us, and we genuinely felt they enjoyed our presence as well. Epic's commitment to sustainability and ethical tourism also allowed us to have peace of mind throughout the journey, knowing that we would leave as little of a footprint behind. Climbing Kilimanjaro was a project on our minds for a long time. Embarking on this adventure with Epic made it an even better experience than we thought possible. They truly gave our family an 'experience for the books,' and we look forward to creating more memories with them in the future.
Leonardo Abedum de Lima Hanzawa
Our Safari in Africa was a once in a lifetime experience for our family. Throughout the planning Bridgit and Rob carefully listened to and answered our questions and fully understood our expectations, needs and concerns as a family of 5 traveling in Africa. Anita’s attention to detail with the complicated logistics made the safari seamless from beginning to end. Kudos Anita! Trekking gorillas in Uganda was one of many highlights and truly an unforgettable experience. Our kids thanked us too many times to count for such an incredible trip. Thank you, Epic, for making this a magical family vacation where lifelong memories were created!!!
Shelly – Family of five
Just wanted to let you know we had a wonderful, successful climb/week on Kilimanjaro. We cannot begin to express how impressed we were with the crew/guides/cooks/porters and level of service and care. We had no idea we’d be taken such good care of and all agree it ”made” the trip. All of my friends thanked me again and again for finding Epic for our climb. We always felt safe and cared for. The connections we all made on the trail/at camp with these amazing souls will stay in our hearts and memories forever. What a beautiful group of people.
Lynne – Mt Kilimanjaro
I just wanted to thank you so much for everything you did to help put together our incredible Africa adventure. It truly was a trip of a lifetime, and I know how hard you worked behind the scenes to make it all happen. I also know how much effort it took in the eleventh hour when our flight got cancelled to make sure we would still be able to make our dream trip a reality. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. We hope to embark on another adventure with Epic in the future, and in the meantime have been telling all of our friends to reach out to you to plan their next trip.
Dana
It was such a pleasure being with Epic and we had a fabulous trip. Thanks to your exquisite planning and extraordinary knowledge of the places we visited.
J. Rock – Botswana, Zambia
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