Zanzibar: Spice Farm & Stone Town Private Tour with Lunch

The Spice Farm That Explains Why Zanzibar Smells Like History

You visit a working spice plantation where you handle cloves, nutmeg, and cardamom; take a boat to Prison Island to see giant tortoises; explore Stone Town's narrow alleys, markets, and historical sites including a former slave market museum; and eat a Swahili lunch. Hotel pickup and private transportation are included, so you move between stops without arranging anything yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Spice farm and Stone Town tour

• Visit local spice farm
• Explore Stone Town alleys and markets

The experience

You walk into a plantation and immediately your eyes water, not from sadness, but from clove. The air is so thick with it you can taste the spice before you touch a single leaf. That's the moment the guide hands you a nutmeg, a cinnamon stick, a piece of cardamom, and suddenly the whole island makes sense. Zanzibar didn't become famous for its beaches or its ruins. It became famous because of what grows here, and because traders came from across the Indian Ocean to buy it. The spice farm visit isn't a quick photo stop. You're walking through actual working plantations, learning which trees produce what, and understanding why this small island off the coast of Tanzania became one of the most fought-over places in East Africa.

After the farm, the tour moves to Prison Island by boat, where you'll see giant tortoises that have been living there for over a century. They move slowly, eat lettuce from your hand if you're patient, and somehow make the whole afternoon feel less rushed. Then comes Stone Town itself: the narrow alleys, the carved wooden doors, the markets where vendors still haggle the way they did two hundred years ago. A guided walk takes you through the historical sites, including the former slave market museum, which is heavy and necessary and changes how you see the rest of the town. The architecture is a mix of Arab, Indian, and African influences, all crammed into streets so tight that two people can barely walk side by side. Your private guide navigates it all, pointing out details you'd miss alone: the date carved into a doorframe, the way the wind moves through the alleyways, the shop that's been selling the same spices for forty years.

Lunch is Swahili food, included in the price, eaten somewhere in or near Stone Town. The day wraps around hotel pickup and drop-off, so you're not arranging transport between stops or figuring out where to eat. It's a private tour, which means the pace is yours. If you want to linger at the spice farm or spend an extra twenty minutes in a market, there's no group waiting.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your hotel.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• government fees and entry charges.
• Swahili lunch.
• professional tour guide service.
• entry to the former slave market museum in Stone Town.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 12:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 to 90 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Hungarian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by ONIRIQUE ZANZIBAR

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the main attractions of Zanzibar City (spices, history, and wildlife) without arranging transport, timing stops, or finding lunch. The private pickup and fixed itinerary handle all three, leaving you to focus on what you're seeing.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

33 verified traveler reviews

5 ★33

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Hungarian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

Is the spice farm tour hands-on?

Yes. You handle and taste the spices (clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom), and learn about them through scent, taste, and touch as you walk through the plantations.

What's included in the price?

Private transportation, bottled water, government fees, Swahili lunch, tour guide service, and entry to the former slave market museum are all included.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

The tour is wheelchair accessible, and transportation options are wheelchair accessible. Stone Town's narrow alleys may present some navigation challenges, so mention accessibility needs when booking.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the spice farm?

No. Hotel pickup and private transportation between all stops (the farm, Prison Island, and Stone Town) are included.

What happens on Prison Island?

You take a boat to Prison Island to see giant tortoises. You can observe them and, in some cases, feed them lettuce by hand.