At a glance
| Stone Town | ≈ 75–90 min by road — UNESCO old town (2000) |
|---|---|
| Jozani Forest | ≈ 1h — endemic Zanzibar red colobus monkeys |
| Kizimkazi | ≈ 40 min — dolphins + 12th-century mosque |
| Prison Island | USD 4 entry + ~USD 30–40 boat — mixed reviews |
| Cheetah's Rock | Wildlife rescue centre — popular with families |
| Tanzania safari | ≈ 1h flight from ZNZ to Arusha / Kilimanjaro |
✓ Last verified: 2026-06-24 · by Tim Hennig, Boutique Hotel Matlai
Michamvi Pingwe is one of the calmest corners of Zanzibar, and that quiet is the point — but it does not mean you are cut off. The island is small, and from the southeast coast most of its best-known places are within a comfortable day’s outing, usually with a private driver the hotel arranges through trusted local operators rather than group bus tours. Some trips are worth the early start; one or two are honestly overrated, and we will say which. Here are the day trips we book most often for guests, with realistic travel times rather than optimistic ones.
Stone Town: the historic capital
Stone Town is the one trip almost everyone should make, and it is about 75–90 minutes by road from the east coast — allow a minimum of 75 minutes. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed in 2000, and rewards a full day with a private driver.
See the Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe, built 1698–1701 by the Omanis), Darajani Market — the best place on the island to buy fresh spices, with a higher daily turnover than the spice farms — and the Forodhani Gardens night food market, known for Urojo (Zanzibar mix soup), Zanzibar pizza, sugar-cane juice and mshikaki skewers. Freddie Mercury was born here, and the Slave Market Memorial is a sobering, important stop. One practical note: Stone Town is only 15–20 minutes from the airport, so it pairs well with a departure day.
Jozani Forest and the red colobus
Jozani is Zanzibar’s only national park and the only place to see the endemic, endangered Zanzibar red colobus monkey — about an hour from Matlai, and easily combined with Stone Town. The park was established in 2004 and covers 50 km² of groundwater forest, mangroves, wetlands and coral-rag scrub.
Guided walks with a ranger are mandatory — you cannot enter without one, and the guide fee is included in the entry ticket. Half of the entry revenue goes to local community organisations, including schools, so it is a trip that gives back as well as a good morning out.
Kizimkazi: dolphins and a 900-year-old mosque
Kizimkazi, about a 40-minute drive south, is where you go for dolphins and one of the oldest mosques in East Africa. Dolphin pods are common offshore here; it is a separate trip rather than something off the Matlai beach, and the hotel can arrange it. Go early, and choose an operator that keeps a respectful distance rather than chasing the pods.
In the village, the Kizimkazi Dimbani Mosque carries a Kufic inscription dating its founding to 1107 CE — roughly 900 years ago. The current building was largely rebuilt in the 18th century but preserves that original inscription, and the dolphin trip and mosque are often combined in one early-morning outing.
Sandbanks and islands near Stone Town
On the Stone Town side of the island, a boat trip to the Nakupenda sandbank is the standout — a tidal bar of white sand in shallow, clear water, usually paired with a dhow trip. Worth knowing: Nakupenda is on the west side, near Stone Town, and is not the same as the Mchanga sandbank that appears directly in front of Matlai on the east coast.
Prison Island (Changuu), 5.6 km northwest of Stone Town, is more of a mixed bag. The boat takes 20–30 minutes each way, and the draw is a colony of introduced Aldabra giant tortoises. History buffs will note the “prison” name is a misnomer — it was built around 1860 and used as a British quarantine station from 1893. At roughly USD 4 entry plus USD 30–40 for the boat, many visitors find it a tourist trap, so go in knowing what it is.
Half-day trips: Cheetah’s Rock, Maalum Cave, village tours
If you want something shorter, three trips stand out. Cheetah’s Rock is a wildlife rescue and conservation centre — home to cheetahs, white lions and bushbabies — that is not cheap but, by most accounts, worth every penny, and a particular hit with families.
Maalum Cave in Paje (20–30 minutes away) is a natural cave with a swimmable pool inside, an easy half-day that pairs with a Paje visit. And a private Makunduchi village tour on the south coast — about USD 90 for two people, including transport, a guide and water — runs three to four hours and is a genuine look at traditional fishing-village life, arranged as a private trip rather than a group tour.
Onward: a Tanzania safari
Because Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, a safari is a short flight away rather than a separate holiday. You fly from Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ) to Arusha or Kilimanjaro in about an hour, then head into the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater or Tarangire.
The classic combination is seven nights at Matlai plus three to five nights on safari, and it works in either order — beach then bush, or safari first and the beach as the reward afterwards. Most guests fly into the safari hub, then come to the coast to wind down.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Stone Town from Zanzibar’s east coast?
About 75–90 minutes by road — allow a minimum of 75 minutes. It is a full-day trip with a private driver, and Stone Town is only 15–20 minutes from the airport if you combine it with departure.
What is Jozani Forest known for?
It is Zanzibar’s only national park and the only place to see the endemic Zanzibar red colobus monkey. Guided walks with a ranger are mandatory and included in the ticket, and half the entry revenue funds local community projects.
Where can you see dolphins in Zanzibar?
Around Kizimkazi on the southwest coast, about a 40-minute drive. Pods are common offshore; go early and choose an operator that keeps a respectful distance.
Is Prison Island worth visiting?
It depends. The Aldabra giant tortoises are the draw, but at roughly USD 4 entry plus USD 30–40 for the boat and a 20–30 minute crossing, many visitors find it a tourist trap. Worth knowing before you book.
Can you do a safari from Zanzibar?
Yes. Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, so you fly from ZNZ to Arusha or Kilimanjaro in about an hour, then head into the Serengeti, Ngorongoro or Tarangire. A common trip is seven nights at Matlai plus three to five nights on safari.
How do you book day trips on Zanzibar?
The hotel arranges a private driver and trusted local operators rather than group bus tours, so the timings and pace are yours.