u/Spare-Paper6981

We have 7 nights in Zanzibar and plan to split our time between 2 areas, but I’m really torn on where to go.
I keep seeing that most people recommend Nungwi or Kendwa (north) because the beaches are beautiful and swimmable regardless of tides. But I’m unsure if that area is right for us.
My hesitation:
Sounds quite busy/touristy
Read that beach vendors (“beach boys”) can be persistent
Not sure we want a party/resort feel
So my question is: are we actually missing out if we skip the north completely? We do love the beach and swimming in the ocean, so I don’t want to make a mistake.

For our second base, I’m deciding between:
🏝 Matemwe vs Jambiani
Matemwe:
Looks stunning and relaxed
Maybe a bit more “resort / quiet luxury”
Closer to Mnemba trips (which we’d consider)
Jambiani:
More of a village atmosphere
Seems more cultural / local life feel
Worried it could be either perfect… or a bit too busy / scruffy?

What we’re looking for:
Beautiful beach (important)
Good swimming / ocean time
Not too crowded or touristy
Some local culture, but not chaos
Relaxed vibe (not party resort)

If you had 7 nights, how would you split them and why? Would you skip the north entirely or is it worth 2–3 nights?

We will be doing a Safari as a family of four with two teenagers. We really just want to relax, and we have seven nights to kill after safari. Would you spend them in Zanzibar? We were hoping to relax at the beach and not do too much but definitely like to see local life a little bit i it doesn’t sound quite as wonderful as I expected, though. Thoughts from people who have traveled as tourists Not interested in tour guides.

We are planning to do six nights Safari. Keeping it up that length because of cost (although we would love to do longer!) we are contemplating adding a night in Moshi before heading to Arusha. Is it worth it to see Mount Kilimanjaro? We love hiking although will likely be pretty jet lagged to do too much but would love to at least see it up close.

I should add that we are coming from the US and are very happy to have a few days at the beginning to reset to the time zone. We will also have 3 teens with us. We will have 9 nights in Tanzania and 7 in Zanzibar.

We have time and are wondering if staying a night and Moshi when we first arrive would be worth it. I almost feel like we would be missing out if we go to Tanzania and don’t see it. We could arrange a short hike or coffee tour? We are also planning on spending two nights in Arusha anyway just to adjust to jet lag. I’d rather have a few nights before going on Safari and enjoy it rather than be eight hours behind the time zone and so jet lagged we can’t function.

Another question, is it worth booking Arusha independently and arranging transport from airport ? It seems the Safari companies count and charge this as nights of Safari, but you’re not actually really doing too much. So I am thinking it would be cheaper to just book on my own. We really just want a few days to relax and let ourselves adjust to the jet lag so that we can properly enjoy the Safari.

Any advice?

We will be traveling home from Zanzibar to NYC through Nairobi. The flight arrives and departs in the same terminal. Is that long enough for a transfer? Do we have to go through any type of screening or just switch planes?

I’m trying to book a pretty last-minute trip for this summer and wondering it ii will be able to find decent accommodation. The problem is I can’t even find a way to search for the lodges as many of them don’t even have availability on their websites. I prefer to choose the places myself rather than have someone choose them for me but will be using a guide for everything else. I’m just trying to figure out if it’s realistic to think I could go this summer before I start contacting safari companies. Booking.com does not really have many higher end places so that is not very helpful.

Any advice appreciated.

We have 6 nights in Zanzibar. We will be post safari so defintely want to relax but also like to explore. Do not want crazy nightlife as we are a family with teens and prefer quieter areas. Would you recommend splitting the stay in order to see two areas or staying put? Looking at Maternwe or Pingue and not sure on other area if we do more than one. We would like to avoid the beach boy harrasment as much as possible.

The more I read about Zanzibar, the more I’m starting to question going. A lot of posts make it sound like you’re constantly being approached or harassed on the beaches, and I’m wondering if that’s overblown or if it’s really like that.

Has anyone had a genuinely relaxing, positive experience there? If so, what area would you recommend staying in to avoid the constant beach vendors/hassle as much as possible?

Is Diani Beach a better option?

We are looking to do a 6–7 day safari in Tanzania this summer. I’ve noticed that many itineraries are entirely drive-based, typically starting in Arusha and then going to Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater. I love this itinerary but Im wondering about travel options.

I’m wondering how people generally handle the long drive times. Do many people fly one way (for example, fly out to the Serengeti and drive back), or is driving both directions the norm?

The drive times seem quite long, especially with only 6–7 days, so I’d love to hear others’ experiences. Did you find the drives part of the adventure, or did they become tiring? If you flew one leg, did you feel it was worth the extra cost?

We are traveling as a family with older teens and are trying to find the right balance between experience, comfort, and budget.

I’m really torn and could use some advice. I originally had my heart set on Tanzania, but the logistics of Kenya just seem so much easier (flights, getting around, etc.).

If I go with Kenya instead of Tanzania, am I going to feel like I missed out in a big way?

I’m also planning to pair the safari with some beach time. I’ve always wanted to go to Zanzibar, which is part of why Tanzania is appealing. But I could also do Diani Beach in Kenya, which seems simpler logistically.

Has anyone done either (or both)? Would love honest thoughts on:

Kenya vs Tanzania safari experience

Zanzibar vs Diani for the beach portion

Whether the extra effort for Tanzania is actually worth it

Trying to make the best call without overcomplicating the trip

We are a family of five who are planning a two week trip to Kenya. We are keen to use a local tour company rather than using one based out of the US or UK to avoid the extra expenses they tack on Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. It would be helpful to hear about companies that you have actually used yourself. Thanks.

I was super cautious and started at .5.mg tirz. No positive or negative effects. I’ve been reading that many people stay on the same dose for weeks before increasing. What is your experience with this? I feel like that will take forever!’