What to pack for Zanzibar is shorter than most tropical packing lists once you strip out what you won’t actually need, but it includes a few island-specific items that are easy to miss.
Zanzibar confiscates plastic bags at customs — not just shopping bags, but garbage bags and the bags you probably used to organize your suitcase. It’s a real, enforced ban, with designated desks at the airport specifically for collecting them, and it catches more travelers off guard than almost anything else on this list. It’s also the best illustration of why a Zanzibar packing list needs to be genuinely Zanzibar-specific rather than generic beach-trip advice — between the plastic ban, the dress code, and the bush-flight weight limits if your trip includes a safari leg, there’s more to get right here than sunscreen and swimwear.
What to pack for Zanzibar: Pack This Instead of Plastic Bags
Swap every plastic bag in your suitcase for nylon or mesh drawstring laundry bags, silicone reusable pouches, and a foldable tote for market trips. Ziplock bags for toiletries are fine as long as they leave the country with you rather than getting discarded locally — it’s bags meant for disposal or general use that get collected, not a sealed liquids bag in your carry-on.
Clothing and Dress Code
Outside resort pools and private beaches, cover shoulders and knees — this applies in Stone Town, markets, and villages, and matters more for how smoothly your trip goes than almost anything else you pack. Skip short shorts, mini-skirts, crop tops, strapless or sleeveless tops, low necklines, and tight clothing for anywhere outside your resort. Standard swimwear is fine at resort pools and private beaches; a rash guard or one-piece is the better call for snorkeling trips to Mnemba or Chumbe, both for modesty and for the UV protection.
Pack a scarf or shawl for modesty — hotel staff report it’s the single item guests forget most often — and consider bringing a kanga or sarong from home, which doubles as a beach cover-up, a light blanket on boat trips, and a quick mosque cover if you visit one. Stick to breathable fabrics: cotton, linen, and bamboo handle Zanzibar’s humidity (regularly above 80%) far better than heavy denim. If your trip pairs Zanzibar with a mainland safari, neutral olive, khaki, or tan long-sleeved shirts and lightweight trousers work for both legs of the trip. Bring one light layer — a fleece or cardigan — for dry-season evenings, which can drop to around 20°C (68°F).
Footwear
Reef or water shoes are close to essential on the east coast (Paje, Jambiani, Michamvi), where low tide exposes sharp coral and sea urchins — neoprene or mesh with a solid sole is the right type. Bring closed-toe walking shoes or sneakers for Stone Town’s uneven coral-rag alleys and steep steps, and sport sandals rather than flip-flops for general beach walking and town exploration; save the flip-flops for showers and pool decks specifically.
Sun and Insect Protection
Use reef-safe, mineral-based sunscreen — zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, without oxybenzone or octinoxate — and expect the white cast that comes with it; it’s the tradeoff for not damaging the reefs you’re there to see. A UPF 50 shirt and a wide-brim hat (better coverage for ears, neck, and nose than a baseball cap) cut down significantly on how often you need to reapply, which matters since the UV index here regularly exceeds 11. Polarized sunglasses with a retention strap help with glare over the reef and keep you from losing them overboard on a dhow trip.
For insects, DEET at 25–50% or picaridin at 20% is the standard recommendation, applied each evening — mosquitoes here are most active roughly 5–9pm.
Health and Medical
Arrange malaria prophylaxis with a travel medicine doctor 4–6 weeks before departure — Zanzibar’s sea-level elevation makes the risk somewhat lower than on the mainland, but it isn’t zero. If your itinerary includes a transit through a yellow fever endemic country (Nairobi and Addis Ababa are common connection points), bring the physical certificate; enforcement at the airport is strict. A basic medical kit is worth packing regardless: loperamide, oral rehydration salts, bandages, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and any personal prescriptions, plus 5–6 electrolyte sachets if you’re traveling in the hot season.
Documents and Money
Bring your Tanzania e-visa confirmation, a passport valid at least 6 months beyond your entry date with at least two blank pages, and a photocopy or phone photo of your passport’s information page as backup. Carry $200–$500 in US dollar cash as a backup to cards, in relatively new bills — ideally 2009 or later — since older or worn notes are commonly refused; small denominations ($5, $10, $20) are the most useful day to day. Make sure your travel insurance specifically includes medical evacuation coverage, since a Zanzibar evacuation can run $10,000–$50,000, and confirm it covers snorkeling or diving if you plan to do either.
Electronics and Connectivity
Zanzibar runs on 230V, 50Hz power with Type G (UK-style, three rectangular pins) outlets as the main standard, and Type D appearing in some older buildings — a universal adapter covers both. Most laptop and phone chargers have built-in voltage converters and work fine; older single-voltage 110V appliances need a separate converter. Pack a power bank of at least 10,000 mAh, since full-day excursions can run 8–12 hours away from an outlet, and a headlamp or flashlight is genuinely useful outside Stone Town, where power outages at guesthouses and lodges aren’t rare. For connectivity, an eSIM or a local SIM from Zantel or Airtel, picked up in Stone Town, is the easiest way to stay online.
If Your Trip Includes a Bush Flight
If you’re combining Zanzibar with a mainland safari on a small domestic carrier like Coastal Aviation or Auric Air, pack a soft-sided duffel rather than a hard case — bush flights typically cap luggage at 15kg (33lbs) including carry-on, with maximum dimensions around 40 x 40 x 80cm, and hard cases that don’t fit the aircraft’s cargo pods can be left behind at the airstrip entirely. Compression packing cubes can cut your packed volume by 30–50%, which matters a lot against that weight cap.
Seasonal Additions
In the hot season (December–March, 32–33°C), pack an extra shirt change or two per day, extra underwear, and a strong antiperspirant alongside electrolytes. During the long rains (March–May), a packable rain jacket, quick-dry clothing, and a dry bag for electronics are worth the suitcase space. For the short rains (November–December), a compact umbrella or poncho covers most of what you’ll need.
For the Water
An IPX8 waterproof phone case covers underwater shots and spray protection on boats. A 5–10L dry bag is worth having for your wallet, passport, and camera on any boat excursion. If you’re bringing a camera, pack spare memory cards, a lens-cleaning cloth for salt spray, and a polarizing filter if you want cleaner reef shots from the boat.
FAQ
Can I bring plastic bags to Zanzibar?
No — plastic bags, including shopping and garbage bags, are prohibited and confiscated at customs. Pack reusable nylon or mesh bags and a foldable tote instead.
What type of power plug does Zanzibar use?
Type G (UK-style, three rectangular pins) is standard, with Type D appearing in some older buildings. A universal adapter covers both; voltage is 230V, 50Hz.
Do I need reef shoes in Zanzibar?
Yes, especially on the east coast (Paje, Jambiani, Michamvi), where low tide exposes sharp coral and sea urchins. The north coast has less tidal exposure but reef shoes are still a good idea.
How much luggage can I bring on a bush flight from Zanzibar?
Typically 15kg (33lbs) including carry-on, in a soft-sided duffel no larger than about 40 x 40 x 80cm — hard suitcases often don’t fit the aircraft’s cargo space.
What clothes should I avoid packing for Zanzibar?
Short shorts, mini-skirts, crop tops, strapless or sleeveless tops, and tight clothing for anywhere outside your resort or private beach — Zanzibar is a largely Muslim island where modest dress matters in public spaces.