You’ve probably seen the breathtaking overwater villas on Instagram. The turquoise sea that sparkles like it’s been filtered. The romantic resorts built for barefoot billionaires. A dream destination, and for many, it truly is. But beyond the curated images lies a more complicated reality.
In this article, I take you inside the Zanzibar tourists rarely see, where luxury and inequality dance side by side, where economic systems favor outsiders, and where local communities often live in the shadow of five-star dreams.
What (and Where) Is Zanzibar?
Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania, made up of two main islands, Unguja (commonly just called Zanzibar) and Pemba, plus smaller islets. It sits off East Africa’s coast in the Indian Ocean and has long been a historic hub for trade, spice farming, and cultural fusion.
The capital, Stone Town, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the oldest Swahili coastal trading towns in existence.
Why Is Zanzibar So Popular With Tourists?
Zanzibar exploded as a tourist destination in the last two decades, thanks to its Instagrammable beaches, rich culture, and proximity to safaris on the mainland. European honeymooners, wellness influencers, and now even remote workers are flocking to the island.
The rise of luxury tourism here is no accident. High-end resorts like Xanadu, The Residence, and Zuri Zanzibar offer experiences that rival the Maldives or Bali. Some villas even go for $5,000 to $7,000 per night, complete with personal butlers, rooftop pools, and open-air cinemas.
But here’s what they don’t tell you: these resorts are often foreign-owned, charge in U.S. dollars, and are intentionally designed to keep guests inside the bubble, cut off from local people, food, or culture.
Who Really Benefits From Zanzibar’s Tourism Boom?
This is where things get sticky. Most locals are paid in Tanzanian shillings, yet the economy in tourist areas operates almost entirely in dollars. In some high-end restaurants or resorts, they won’t even accept the local currency. That means tourists are spending big, but much of the money leaves the island through foreign-owned businesses, with locals earning only a small fraction.
Even basic jobs like drivers, cleaners, or tour guides often go to mainland Tanzanians instead of islanders due to differences in education and opportunity.
Meanwhile, projects like Fumba Town, a luxury real estate enclave, are selling villas for $400,000 and up, mostly to foreigners. Locals can’t afford to live there, let alone own property.
Is It Still Worth Visiting?
Yes, but how you visit matters.
If you only stay inside a luxury resort, you’re missing the soul of Zanzibar. You won’t know the taste of real Zanzibari street food. You won’t hear the stories of the men and women who built the island. And you won’t understand why some locals feel invisible in their own home.
But if you step outside the gates? There’s magic. From exploring Stone Town’s labyrinth alleys, to riding a dala-dala with locals, and tasting Zanzibari pizza under the stars in Forodhani Gardens, there’s a version of Zanzibar that’s authentic, raw, and unforgettable.
My Experience in Zanzibar
If you’ve ever searched “Zanzibar” online, chances are you’ve seen the pristine beaches, the infinity pools, the overwater villas that scream honeymoon goals. But I didn’t come to Zanzibar just to sip cocktails in a resort. I came to peel back the layers to see what lies beyond the Instagram-perfect facades. And what I found was a tale of two Zanzibars: the dream, and the dilemma.
Let’s start from the top: yes, Zanzibar is stunning. The ocean here wears shades of blue I’ve only seen in postcards. Resorts like Ycona or Xanadu feel like a waking dream; villas that go for $1,500 to $7,000 a night with lazy pools, chef-ready kitchens, and views that blur the line between Ibiza and the Indian Ocean. I stayed in one of those too. You can’t not be impressed. It’s luxury done right: curated, quiet, and exclusive.
But let me rewind the tape. We landed in Zanzibar and headed to our first destination, a villa deep in Nungwi. The road? A literal obstacle course. Our car got stuck multiple times, navigating potholes and unpaved backroads. The contrast between the glamour of the villas and the struggle of getting there was jarring. But the deeper I went, the clearer it became: Zanzibar is an island built on contrast.
I also tried a $50-per-night budget hotel to compare the experience. Roaches on the bedframe, a basic fan-cooled room, chipped tiles in the bathroom, but it was walking distance to the beach. That was its selling point. Still, it reinforced something important: Zanzibar gives you exactly what you pay for. You spend $50, you get $50. You spend $1,500? You’re in heaven.
But the biggest wake-up call? The illusion of all-inclusivity. Most luxury resorts in Zanzibar are designed like bubbles. You land at the airport, get picked up in a tinted luxury SUV, and are ferried straight into a resort where every meal, every activity, and every breath you take is designed to keep you inside and away from the local community. And I was part of the problem, too. As influencers, we’re often hired to show the best side of paradise. But what if paradise is only half the story?
So I stepped outside the bubble. I walked the streets. Talked to local vendors who told me tourists rarely stop to say hello. Ate Zanzibar pizza and chicken shawarma in Forodhani Gardens (pro tip: avoid the seafood stalls unless you like yesterday’s fish reheated). I met Ally Jape, a local guide who took me through Stone Town and helped me connect with the heartbeat of the island. That’s where the real Zanzibar lives: in the people, not just the beaches.
Another thing? Almost everything in the tourist zones is priced in dollars. Even water. Locals get paid in Tanzanian shillings, but many businesses, especially those owned by foreigners, won’t even accept it. That subtle economic divide shows up again when you realize how much land is being bought out for foreign resorts and luxury real estate, like Fumba Town, where homes start at $400,000 and stretch to the millions.
Zanzibar is a complex island. Beautiful, yes. But not without its contradictions. It’s a place where a resort can feed you five-star meals, while just outside the gate, the local kid selling coconuts has never set foot on that beach. It’s a place where tourists experience curated perfection, and locals struggle for inclusion.
But if you travel with intention and you step beyond the resort gates, you’ll find a deeper beauty here. One that isn’t manicured or marketed, but raw and real.
That’s the Zanzibar I came to see.
Conclusion:
Zanzibar challenged me, and that’s a good thing. Yes, it’s beautiful. The sunsets are surreal, the resorts are world-class, and the sea seems to wash your worries away. But once I stepped outside the curated experience, I saw something deeper: a place rich with history, heart, and hope, but also grappling with modern inequality.
This island is not just a destination. It’s a conversation. And as travelers (especially African travelers), we have a responsibility to listen, learn, and travel with more intention.
If you’ve ever dreamed of Zanzibar, I say go. But go with open eyes. And open hands. The real Zanzibar begins when you leave the pool deck. Lastly, if you want to become a travel content creator too, join my Creator Academy.