Zanzibar Beaches Vs. Seychelles Beaches : Are you looking for the finest safari destinations for your beach holiday in Africa? Some of the top African beach safari destinations include Zanzibar and the Seychelles, both of which are archipelagos in the East African coast of the azure-blue Indian Ocean, Seychelles being more of Southern East compared to Zanzibar. Zanzibar and the Seychelles will give you once-in-a-lifetime experiences when you choose them for spending your precious beach holiday. Whether you are an experienced traveler or a first-timer, and you are thinking of having a beach holiday in either Zanzibar or the Seychelles you have to know the differences between the beaches of the two stunning destinations.
Zanzibar is an incredibly fascinating destination situated at a distance of about thirty-five kilometers (35 kilometers) off the East African coast. It is home to some of the wonderful beaches and the ancient ruins of medieval buildings that date back to the Arabian and Portuguese eras. Zanzibar also hosts one of the World Heritage Sites, the Stone Town, commonly referred to as “Mji Mkongwe” in Swahili. It is a historic site of Zanzibar built during the Portuguese era in Africa.
On the other hand, Seychelles is an amazing country with 115 islands in the Indian Ocean off the East African coast, where you can spend your beach holiday. It also hosts some of the World Heritage Sites such as Aldabra Atoll, the Vallée de Mai, and the Fond Ferdinand Reserve, most of which are incredibly beautiful.
If you are thinking of planning a beach holiday in Africa, you should consider either one of these two archipelagos or even both. Now let’s compare and contrast Zanzibar beaches and Seychelles beaches using the following criteria:
Privacy
Due to its fame and historical significance Zanzibar is preferred by thousands of travelers as compared to the Seychelles. Therefore, most beaches of this idyllic island are usually but not always crowded. The Seychelles’ beaches, on the other hand, are always not crowded thereby making them more private and unspoiled. They are a perfect gateway and a spot for having a romantic honeymoon.
Moreover, Zanzibar hosts some epic private beaches and resorts including the Mnemba Beach, which is situated on Mnemba Island, a private property in Zanzibar. Therefore, you should not generalize that there are no private beaches in Zanzibar.
Costs
The costs for beach vacations in these two archipelagos differ from one to another. The beach holidays on Zanzibar’s beaches are cheap since many beaches are public. If you want a budget beach holiday Zanzibar should be at the top of your list. The Seychelles on the other hand, has more private beaches. They are luxurious and need a reasonable amount of money to be spent on them. For instance, the average daily cost of a beach stay in the Seychelles’ beaches is $165 as compared to $47 in Zanzibar.
Best time
Observing the best time to visit these two islands is very important in order to have a remarkable beach holiday. Try to avoid the rainy seasons of these two countries. The rainy season in Zanzibar lasts from March to May. In Zanzibar, the best time for a beach stay is from June to October, when the weather is cool and dry. Contrary to Zanzibar, the best months to visit Seychelles are April, May, October and November. The rains start in December and last through January.
Most tourists choose Zanzibar over Seychelles because it offers a combination of a beach stay, a cultural tour, and a historical trip. Zanzibar is home to Stone Town, a medieval old town that showcases the architectural designs of Arabians, Persians, Indians, and British. You can walk through this old town while exploring a number of stunning buildings, including the Anglican Church Cathedral, Mtoni Palace Ruins, Peace Memorial Museum, Kidichi Persian Baths (formerly used by the sultans), and Makusurani graveyard to see some ancient graves of Arab rulers. Zanzibar is endowed with other wonderful attractions including spices, Jozani Forest, Forodhani Market, the House of Wonders, the Old Fort, and many others. The Seychelles on the other hand, is splendid for private beach holidays. Beach holidays in the Seychelles can also be complemented by visits to other alluring attractions, such as Aride Island Nature Reserve, where you will witness millions of seabirds of 10 different species including magpie robins, brush warblers, fodies, and blue pigeons. You can also book a visit to the Port Launay National Marine Park, which is the only marine park in the Seychelles.
It’s also possible to combine Serengeti and Ngorongoro Safari with Zanzibar which is an hour flight away.
Accessibility
The Seychelles is easily accessible because it has direct intercontinental flights from continents including America, Europe, and Asia. Zanzibar, on the other hand, has few direct intercontinental flights from a few locations in big continents. However, reaching Zanzibar means you will have to take indirect flights from various countries to one of the intermediate airports. These include Dar es Salaam Airport (DAR), Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), Bole Addis Ababa Airport (ADD) or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO). From these airports, you can take a direct flight to Zanzibar’s Kisauni Airport (ZNZ). During your beach holiday in Zanzibar public transport called “daladala” can take you to and from your favorite spot.
Group safaris
If you want to have a fantastic joint group safari, Zanzibar beats the Seychelles as the services provided there favor the group. Seychelles’ beaches are favorable for solo travelers and may be difficult for groups, but this does not mean it is impossible. Kids are comfortably taken care of in Zanzibar Resorts, which offers special services for them such as babysitting, cycling, and walking tours through the Stone Town.
Generally speaking, beach holidays are among the most rewarding type of safari experience in Africa. You can even get the most out of it if you combine them with a wildlife safari or mountain climb. Zanzibar is very close to Mount Kilimanjaro and other wildlife sanctuaries such as Serengeti and Ngorongoro. For this reason, you may choose Zanzibar over the Seychelles. But if you just want a solo trip on the private beaches of the Indian Ocean, the Seychelles is your best option.
