Private Stone Town & Spice Farm Tour in Zanzibar

Walk Stone Town's narrow streets, then taste spices straight from the farm

A private half-day tour of Stone Town and a working spice farm in Zanzibar City with a local English-speaking guide, hotel pickup, and an air-conditioned vehicle. You'll explore the UNESCO-listed old town (the Old Fort, Anglican Church, and Darajani Market), then move to the spice plantations to learn how cloves and other crops shaped the island's economy, taste fresh fruit from the trees, and meet local farmers. The tour runs five to six hours and includes bottled water and all fees.

Step-by-step itinerary

Zanzibar Spice Farm and Stone Town Tour

• Visit Zanzibar spice farm
• Learn about spice cultivation
• Taste fresh fruits at farm
• Explore Stone Town's narrow streets
• Visit Old Fort and Anglican Church
• Shop at Darajani Market and local shops

The experience

Stone Town is a maze of narrow cobblestone streets where Arab, Persian, and European architecture collides. You'll start at the Old Fort, a military stronghold that anchors the town's history, then move through the Anglican Church and wander the lanes where locals sell handmade crafts and souvenirs. Darajani Market is where the day gets loud and real: vendors call out over piles of fresh vegetables, aromatic spices, and tropical fruit, and your guide will walk you through it, explaining what grows where and how these flavors built Zanzibari cooking.

After Stone Town, the tour shifts to the spice farms on the outskirts. A guide leads you on foot through the plantations, pointing out clove trees, nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla: the crops that once drew traders from across the Indian Ocean. You'll learn how each spice is cultivated, harvested, and used, and why they mattered so much to the island's economy. The sensory part comes next: you taste fresh fruit pulled straight from the trees, and locals often provide informal entertainment, making it feel less like a tour stop and more like a working farm you've been invited into.

Your own vehicle and driver mean no waiting for a group to assemble, and the five- to six-hour pace lets you linger in the market or ask questions at the farm without watching the clock. Pickup from your hotel is included, as is bottled water and all entrance fees. If you want lunch, your guide can stop at a nearby restaurant or arrange it at Lukman Restaurant in Stone Town. You choose at checkout.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• a local guide who speaks English.
• hotel pickup.
• bottled water.
• fresh fruit tasting at the spice farm.
• all entrance fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30, 09:00, 10:00 and 11:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 55 years) · Senior (56 to 95 years) · Youth (6 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 5 years): free · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 5 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Viva Ocean Tours & Safaris

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're traveling as a couple, a small family, or a group of friends who want to move at your own pace without waiting for other travelers. The private vehicle means you set the rhythm in Stone Town and can linger at the market or ask your guide as many questions as you want at the farm.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (6 to 17 years); Child (3 to 5 years): free; Infant (under 3): free.

What is the Old Fort in Stone Town, and what will I see there?

The Old Fort is a military stronghold that stands at the heart of Stone Town and reflects centuries of Arab, Persian, and European influence on the island. Your guide will explain its history and the role it played in Zanzibar's past as a trading hub.

How long do we spend at the spice farm, and what exactly happens there?

The spice farm portion is part of the five- to six-hour tour. You'll walk through the plantations with your guide, learn how cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla are grown and used, taste fresh fruit picked from the trees, and often meet local farmers who work there.

Is lunch included in this tour?

Lunch is not included in the base tour, but your guide can stop at a nearby restaurant or arrange it at Lukman Restaurant in Stone Town if you'd like to add it. You'll choose this option when you book.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to bring?

The tour includes private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, a local English-speaking guide, hotel pickup, bottled water, fresh fruit at the farm, and all entrance fees and taxes. Bring sunscreen, comfortable walking shoes for the narrow streets, and cash if you want to shop at the market or tip your guide.

Will I have time to shop for souvenirs in Stone Town?

Yes. The tour includes time to wander the narrow streets and shop for locally made crafts and souvenirs, and you'll also pass through Darajani Market, where vendors sell spices, fresh produce, and other goods.