Where is Zanzibar located?

Many travelers know Zanzibar for its white-sand beaches and blue water, but are not sure where it is on the map. Zanzibar is a group of islands just off the coast of Tanzania, in East Africa, in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.

Zanzibar on the map

Part of Tanzania in East Africa

• Zanzibar lies in the Indian Ocean, off the east coast of Tanzania.
• It is made up of several islands, the main ones being Unguja (often called Zanzibar Island) and Pemba.
• The islands sit about 35–50 km from the mainland city of Dar es Salaam.

On most maps you will see Zanzibar marked as a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania, sometimes written as “Zanzibar Archipelago”.

How far is Zanzibar from major places?

Why visit Zanzibar after safari?

Because of its location, Zanzibar is the perfect place to relax after a Tanzania safari. You can spend your days game viewing in Serengeti or Ngorongoro, then fly to Zanzibar for beach time, spice tours, and Stone Town history — all within the same trip.