When we are prepare to go discover a new country and a new culture, it is important to learn about local customs in order to respect a maximum of the premises. I spent two months on Zanzibar so I decided to write this article for you share the best outfits to wear in Zanzibar.
Where is Zanzibar located?
La Tanzania, a country in East Africa, benefits from superb location at the edge of the Indian Ocean between Kenya and Mozambique.
Off the coast, Tanzania is home to several paradisiacal islands with some of the most beautiful marine flora and fauna in the world.
Among these islands, we find the famous Zanzibar archipelago. This archipelago is world famous for its turquoise waters and its fine white sand beaches.
When is the best time to go to Zanzibar?
The Zanzibar archipelago experiences a equatorial climate which happens to be very enjoyable all year round.
We find all the same two periods of rain:
- March to May
- October to December
It is possible to visit Zanzibar all year round, however, the best times are:
- January and February
- July to September
However, be aware that these conditions vary widely.
For my part, I spent two months in Zanzibar between the end of March and May.
Le May was the most complicated because this is the period when we had the most rain. When it rains in Zanzibar, the roads are quickly impassable due to the mud and the lack of means to drain the water.
Also, note that when I visited Zanzibar, May was the month of Ramadan. Since 98% of the inhabitants are Muslims, the archipelago slows down during this period and a certain number of establishments are closed during this month.
However, with May being the low season, it also means that prices can be negotiated and lower for many excursions.
How to dress in Zanzibar?
The Zanzibar archipelago benefits from more than generous climatic conditions throughout the year.
Le coldest month is probably the month August with a minimum temperature around 20°C. THE month of february is probably the hottest month with a maximum temperature around 36 ° C.
These temperatures happen to be quite pleasant with no big difference between the months of the year. Therefore, it would seem logical to dress a minimum when packing your bags for Zanzibar.
However, traditions and Zanzibar religions are very different and it is therefore advisable to adapt in order to respect the premises.
How to dress in Zanzibar for a woman?
As I said previously, due to its rich history, Zanzibar is 98% Muslim. So this means that women coming to visit this country must respect Zanzibar traditions to a minimum. Namely, it is advised to wear shoulders and knees when you walk in the villages in order to avoid shocking the locals.
It is not no need to cover your hair, however be aware that you will go more "incognito" if you are a lonely woman walking in Zanzibar.
I therefore advise you to take in your suitcase de long skirts ou robes further, or wide enough pants with t-shirts that will cover your shoulders (avoid tank tops).
Obviously, when you walk on the beach or want to swim, think about take your swimsuit. Whether it's a one-piece swimsuit or a bikini it doesn't matter.
Many tourists visit Zanzibar all year round and so locals near hotels and along beaches are used to tourists walking around in swimsuits.
Obviously, there is no obligation as to how you should dress in Zanzibar. It is simply a matter of respect towards the locals who can sometimes be shocked by certain clothing outfits.
How to dress in Zanzibar for a man?
Regarding men's clothing, it is less strict.
Indeed, a man can dress in the way he wants, there are no special rules.
In Zanzibar you will therefore have above all need of:
- Swimsuits
- Shorts
- Evening pants for mosquitoes
- T-shirt and tank tops
- A sweater
Of course, it is not necessary to recall that the naturism is strictly prohibited on the Zanzibar archipelago.
What to pack for zanzibar?
In addition to the clothes I just mentioned for women and men, it is important not to forget some things in order to make the most of your trip to Zanzibar.
- Solar cream : it is essential because the sun can strike very hard on the island. It would be a shame to ruin your vacation because of a little sunstroke.
- Cap / hat : nothing better to protect yourself from the sun
- Mosquito repellent : depending on how long you travel to Zanzibar there can be a lot of mosquitoes.
- Mosquito net: depending on the accommodation where you will sleep. Sometimes they are installed automatically but sometimes they are not in good condition so it's up to you.
- Photo material: in order to immortalize these beautiful moments that you will live on this small paradise island
Feel free to consult mon article if you ever decide to combine your vacation in Zanzibar with a safari.
How do the inhabitants of Zanzibar dress?
As for the inhabitants? How do they dress?
You have to differentiate between men and women.
The men simply dress with everyday clothes : jeans or shorts with a t-shirt or sweater as well as sneakers or flip-flops.
Men usually have 4 to 5 t-shirts and 2 or 3 pants. Obviously, the better-off people have more.
There is no real typical clothes for men, at the exception of Masai who wear their "dresses".
About the women, they are generally dressed with Kanga, these are pieces of fabric that are cut in half and one is used for the bottom and another for the top and the hair.
Kangas are the cheapest clothes for women, they are very colorful and on each Kanga there is a written sentence which is intended for those who read it. These sentences can describe emotional states etc ...
Women are always in dress / skirts so as not to reveal their shapes.
Note that they are dressed normally under their loose dresses / kanga. Indeed, they wear jeans or t-shirts underneath ...
For having tested all this, I am not even telling you about the heat it is under all these layers with the sun beating down ...
Similar items
Zanzibar, an archipelago of paradisiacal islands in Tanzania offers much more than beautiful beaches. Lots of activities are possible in Zanzibar.
There are many hotels to stay on Zanzibar. This article will help you make your choice according to your desires and your budget.
Zanzibar is an easily accessible archipelago. Depending on your budget and your time, you can get there by plane or ferry.
If you liked this article, you may like some articles on the same theme:
- Zanzibar: is it dangerous?
- Learn the basics of Swahili
- Which beach to choose in Zanzibar?
- How to go to Zanzibar?
- What to do in Tanzania?
- Traveling alone in Zanzibar?
- What is the religion in Tanzania?
- Zanzibar or Mafia Island?
- My humanitarian travel experience in Zanzibar
- Zanzibar: which beach to choose?
- Zanzibar: is it dangerous?
- The visit of Prison island to Zanzibar
- Visit Stone Town in Zanzibar
- Where to swim with dolphins in Zanzibar?
- Pemba or Zanzibar?
- The best diving spots in Zanzibar
- What to do in Pemba?
- What to do in Mafia?
- How to go to Pemba?
- Where to stay in Pemba?
- Zanzibar in 4 days: what to do?
- One week itinerary in Zanzibar
- 10 Day Zanzibar Itinerary
- 2 week itinerary in Zanzibar
- 2 week itinerary in Tanzania
- 3 week itinerary in Tanzania
- Traveling in Tanzania on a low budget
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Hello, thank you for your awesome article 👌 you made me want to visit Mafia.
Do you have any hotel advice in Nyamisati? Or airbnb? .
Could you please tell me the starting point of the bus in Dar via Nyamisati! .
Thank you in advance.
cordially
Phil
Hello, So given that to go to Mafia, I went by plane and back by boat. For the return trip, I did not sleep in Nyamisati. On the other hand, a friend did it and it seems to me that there is a small hospice next to the port to sleep there ...
To do Dar - Nyamisati or vice versa, you must go to the Dar bus station.