Itineraries. Updated November 2026. 5 min read.
Two countries, two sets of rules
Zanzibar is part of Tanzania. Americans need a Kenya eTA and a Tanzania visa, Zanzibar requires its own travel insurance, and Tanzania asks travelers arriving from Kenya for a yellow fever certificate. Rules change: check both governments' official sites before you book.
Tanzania eVisa (official)Zanzibar is a short flight from Nairobi and a whole extra country of paperwork. The trip itself is a fine one: three nights in the Maasai Mara, a night in Stone Town's lanes, then white sand on the island's east coast. What most planners skip is the part that catches people at the airport, so we put it first: a Tanzania visa, a mandatory Zanzibar insurance policy, a yellow fever certificate and a question about your Kenya eTA on the way home.
Our sample route runs 9 to 10 days and starts at about $4,500 per person sharing, mid-range, excluding international flights. It is a sample route we tailor to you, not a fixed departure. And because we are Kenyan, we will also tell you honestly when the Kenya coast at Diani is the better beach for your trip.
Who this trip suits
- Couples and honeymooners who have their hearts set on Zanzibar's turquoise water and Stone Town
- Travelers who want two countries in one trip and do not mind a little extra admin
- People flying home through Doha or Dubai, who can leave directly from Zanzibar
The paperwork, in plain English
- Kenya eTA: every American needs one to enter Kenya, applied for online in advance; it costs about $30 at the time of writing
- Tanzania visa: Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, so you need a Tanzania visa. U.S. citizens pay $100 for a multiple-entry visa (most other nationalities pay $50). Apply online before you travel
- Zanzibar inbound travel insurance: Zanzibar requires every visitor to buy a policy from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation, about $44 per adult, even if you already have your own travel insurance. The scheme was being linked with a mainland Tanzania policy in late 2026, so check the current rule when you book
- Yellow fever: Tanzania requires a yellow fever vaccination certificate from travelers arriving from Kenya, which it classes as a risk country. Get the vaccine at least six weeks before you travel; the certificate becomes valid 10 days after the shot
- Kenya re-entry: if you come back through Nairobi for your flight home and pass through immigration, you need a valid eTA for that second entry. Check the official eTA site for how your eTA covers re-entry, or avoid the question by flying home directly from Zanzibar
| Fee or document | Cost for a U.S. adult | When you need it |
|---|---|---|
| Kenya eTA | About $30 | Before you fly to Nairobi |
| Tanzania visa | $100, multiple entry | Before you fly to Zanzibar |
| Zanzibar travel insurance | About $44 | Before you land in Zanzibar |
| Second Kenya eTA, if needed | About $30 | If you leave the airport in Nairobi on the way home |
| Yellow fever vaccine | Clinic price varies | At least 10 days before you enter Tanzania |
| Total in fees | About $175 to $205 | Before you have paid for a single hotel night |
None of this is hard, but it is easy to miss one item, and airlines can refuse boarding without the visa or the yellow fever certificate. We send every traveler on this route a checklist with links to the official sites, and our vaccines page covers the yellow fever shot and where to get it in the U.S.
Flights between Kenya and Zanzibar
The usual connection is Mara to Wilson by light aircraft, a road transfer across Nairobi to JKIA, and a Kenya Airways or Precision Air flight to Zanzibar of about 1 hour 45 minutes. Some operators route via light aircraft instead, and some regional carriers fly from Mombasa to Zanzibar on a limited schedule. Schedules change by season, so we match the flights to your dates before anything is booked. Going home, you can fly Zanzibar to Nairobi for the U.S. flight, or fly from Zanzibar through Doha or Dubai and skip Nairobi entirely.
Why this order
Safari first, beach last, for the same reason as every bush-and-beach trip: the Mara's early starts are tiring, the beach is the rest, and you fly home relaxed. Three nights in the Mara gives you two full days with the cats. One night in Stone Town is enough for the old town, the House of Wonders area and the night food market at Forodhani; then move to the coast. The north-east (Nungwi, Kiwengwa) has less tide and good swimming; the east (Paje, Jambiani) has wide tidal flats and kitesurfing.
Or Diani instead? A fair comparison
| Zanzibar | Diani, Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Paperwork | Tanzania visa, Zanzibar insurance, yellow fever certificate | Nothing beyond your Kenya eTA |
| From the Mara | Light aircraft to Nairobi, then a flight of about 1 hour 45 | Direct scheduled flight to Ukunda, about 2 to 2.5 hours with a stop |
| Culture | Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage old town | Swahili coast, Mombasa Old Town and Fort Jesus within reach |
| Beach | Turquoise water, some beaches with very big tides | Same ocean, long white beach, big tides at low water too |
| Beach vendors | Common on popular stretches | Fewer on some stretches |
If Stone Town and the island itself are the dream, go to Zanzibar; it is worth the paperwork. If you mostly want a beautiful beach after the safari, Diani gives you the same Indian Ocean with one country, one entry document and a direct flight from the Mara. Our 10-day Kenya route is built around it.
When to go
The best overlap is late June to October, when the Mara usually has the migration and Zanzibar is dry and breezy, and late December to February, when both are dry and the sea is warm. April and May bring the long rains to both, with some island hotels closed. High season prices are steep: one published example prices a 9-day Kenya and Zanzibar trip in August at $7,175 per person, excluding international flights.
What is included
- Transfers in Kenya and Zanzibar
- Accommodation throughout, full board in the Mara
- Flights from Wilson to the Mara and back, and from Nairobi to Zanzibar
- Mara game drives and park or conservancy fees
- A Stone Town walking tour with a local guide
- Our pre-travel paperwork checklist and 24-hour support
What is not included
- International flights
- Kenya eTA, Tanzania visa, Zanzibar insurance and the yellow fever vaccine
- Your own travel insurance
- Optional activities: balloon flight, spice tours, diving, dhow trips
- Tips, premium drinks and personal items
How to book
Send us your dates and tell us whether Stone Town or beach time matters more. We tailor the route, match the flights, and send a quote with every fee listed, including the government ones you pay yourself. Fees and fares change, so we price on the day. You can pay in full or monthly with no deposit.
