READ ALSO: Zanzibar Best Places to Stay: Long Stays in Stone Town & More
Table of Contents
READ ALSO: 6 Fun Outfits for Music Festival Styles
Zanzibar Festivals: Sauti za Busara & More
Zanzibar usually hosts three international festivals each year: Sauti za Busara music festival in February, the Zanzibar International Film Festival in July, and the Jahazi Literary & Jazz Festival in August/September.
Of these three festivals, I have been to Sauti za Busara and the Zanzibar International Film Fesitival.
READ ALSO: 3 Accurate Answers About Zanzibar Island Tanzania & Lots More
Zanzibar Cultural Festival: Sauti za Busara
I LOVE Sauti za Busara! This music festival features artists from all over Africa.
Even more interestingly, though, it features international collaborations of artists from very different countries with very different musical styles. The result? Amazing, melodious, and eclectic music!
You can read more about my experiences at Sauti za Busara here.
READ ALSO: Flights to Nungwi & More
Zanzibar Festivals #2: The Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF)
I attended the Zanzibar International Film Festival more out of curiosity than anything else.
Although I can watch a movie or two, I am not a big film buff.
That said, I greatly enjoyed ZIFF.
Not only did I enjoy it because of the great films I watched on African issues—films made by Africans—but also because, unbeknownst to me until then, ZIFF is not just about films nor does it only focus on Africa.
Another name for The Zanzibar International Film Festival is The Festival of the Dhow Countries.
As such, it also features movies and performances from South East Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, The Persian Gulf, Iran, Pakistan, and the Indian Ocean Islands.
READ ALSO: Experiences at Sauti za Busara
I found it interesting to learn more about the non-African cultures that have had a great influence on Zanzibar’s culture.
Another activity I greatly enjoyed at ZIFF was dhow racing. Watching a dhow race felt surreal.
Not only was it beautiful to watch, but the excitement of this unusual sport is also strangely contagious!
READ ALSO: Is Zanzibar Dangerous in 2025 & Lova Nantenaina
A Caveat About Visiting When There is a Festival in Zanzibar
Zanzibar during a festival is VERY different from what it is normally.
This is particularly true for Sauti za Busara.
I often jokingly say that during Sauti za Busara, all of Dar es Salaam ships out to Stone Town.
While that is not actually true, I am sure you get the idea.
If what you want is to get a sense of everyday Zanzibar, and/or enjoy some peace and tranquility in an enchanting environment, DO NOT visit Zanzibar when there is a festival going on.
If instead you want to experience all Zanzibar has to offer, plus the added excitement of a huge event going on, then you know when best to schedule your trip to Zanzibar.
(Sorry, I can’t tell you anything more about the Jahazi Literary & Jazz Festival because, as I mentioned earlier, I haven’t been…yet.)
READ ALSO: The Exciting Bwibo Restaurant Menu Price List 2025 & More
Planning a trip to Zanzibar soon?
Looking for ideas about what to do while you are there? If so, you are in luck.
Today, I’d like to share some of the things I’ve most enjoyed doing in Zanzibar over the past 18 years—that’s how long it’s been since my first trip to Zanzibar taken shortly after I first moved to Tanzania.
These tips cover both the historic part of Zanzibar, Stone Town, as well as other areas of the island.
This is not an exhaustive list.
Rather, these are simply some pointers shared with love from me to you. I hope you find them useful!
READ ALSO: Cheesy Bites Arusha & 4 Pictures of the Beautiful Kasha Boutique Hotel, Zanzibar
Photo Credits: Rene Mayorga, Olivier Lejade, Rod Waddington, africahousehotel.com, Zanzibar Retreats, WillGoTo, africanmeccasafaris.com, MoongateClimber, mygola.com, David Berkowitz (CC BY 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons, David Berkowitz, This Is Africa, Art of Safari, The Island Town Hotel Zanzibar, Yoni Lerner, Emerson on Hurumzi
Hello, I am also planning on going to the Zanzibar Film Festival but I see little information online about it. Was it easy to attend if you didn’t submit a film to the festival?
Hi Laura,
Welcome to Chick About Town! Yes, ZIFF is open to the public. It’s as easy as showing up at the venue and purchasing a ticket. The location of the festival is traditionally the Old Fort located right in the heart of Stone Town.
Biche