Mauritius vs. Zanzibar: Which is Better?

5 months ago 38

Which is the champion vacation island, Mauritius oregon Zanzibar? This is simply a regular question connected the minds of South African travellers seeking a formation flight connected a tropical Indian Ocean island. But they’re some truthful different. So the abbreviated reply to the question is: it depends.

It’s each down to your preferences, truthful we’ve breached it down to assistance marque the determination a small easier.

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Getting there

Mauritius: If you’re successful Johannesburg, determination are regular nonstop flights to Mauritius connected respective airlines including Air Mauritius, FlySafair and SAA. Direct flights are besides disposable from Cape Town connected Tuesdays and Sundays. You volition person to link via Johannesburg if you are travelling from Durban. Direct flights are astir 4 hours.

Zanzibar: There are nonstop flights to Zanzibar from Johannesburg with FlySafair connected Tuesdays and Saturdays. You volition person to link via Johannesburg if you unrecorded successful Cape Town oregon Durban. Direct flights are astir 4 hours.

*Note: formation schedules tin alteration passim the twelvemonth owed to seasonality.

The winner: Zanzibar by a tiny margin, arsenic flights from Johannesburg are somewhat cheaper (you tin people astir R1,000 per idiosyncratic if you comparison FlySafair). However, if you person to alert from Cape Town oregon Durban, it mightiness enactment retired the same.

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The visa situation

Mauritius: The land has been visa-free for South Africans since earlier the Dodo disappeared.

Zanzibar: The islands and the Tanzanian motherland are visa-free for South Africans.

The winner: It’s a draw. Both are visa-free for 90 days.

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The vaccination situation

Apart from the accustomed regular and recommended vaccinations, you volition not request immoderate jabs to spell to Mauritius oregon Zanzibar.

The winner: Another draw!

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The accommodation

Mauritius has been successful the tourism crippled for a agelong time, truthful boutique spa hotels and exclusive luxury resorts each offering a precise Western acquisition are the norm. But, though astir of the accommodation successful Mauritius leans toward the higher end, it besides has a large postulation of self-catering villas and bungalows for smaller budgets and a much easygoing land experience.

Zanzibar accommodation is simply a premix of old-world Arabic decadence and stylish land luxury. You volition beryllium capable to find formation lodges, wellness retreats, 5-star resorts, humble chalets, autarkic hotels, and adjacent a floating houseboat furniture and breakfast. And though the work isn’t ever connected par with Westernised luxury resorts, the accommodation offers past and the benignant of charm you won’t find anyplace else.

The winner: Mauritius if you privation luxury, Zanzibar if you privation personality.

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The beaches

Mauritius beaches are famously beauteous and person a large vacation vibe. You tin expect yachts and paddleboarders floating by, families hanging retired nether thenar trees, and radical strolling on enjoying the warmth of paradise. It is besides a fashionable honeymoon spot, truthful expect starry-eyed lovers enjoying candle-lit dinners to adhd an other interaction of paradise atmosphere.

Zanzibar beaches are conscionable arsenic lovely, but you are much apt to find white-sailed dhows perched connected the shores and section fishermen bringing successful their catch. Beaches are mostly rather packed with crowds and section hawkers selling crafts and coconuts. Of course, determination are besides galore beaches wherever the soil is disturbed lone by the tide and fringe of tropical trees if you’re consenting to cough up a fewer other Rands. The surrounding islands, Pemba and Mafia, are adjacent amended for a backstage flight and surviving retired your castaway dream.

The winner: Mauritius if you privation tranquillity, Zanzibar if you bask the hustle and bustle.

See: The Amazing Beaches of Mauritius
And then: Where Are the Best Beaches successful Zanzibar

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The nutrient and drink

Mauritius is simply a multicultural land that has been influenced by the flavours of Asia, Europe, and Africa. You volition beryllium capable to effort unsocial dishes specified arsenic thenar histrion hearts and chilli brackish fruit, but besides acquainted dishes specified arsenic curry and dim sum. It is besides celebrated for its Creole cuisine and thoroughfare nutrient scene, truthful the eating options are plentiful. Who doesn’t privation to beryllium capable to sensation the satellite successful 1 holiday?

Zanzibar prides itself connected its caller seafood and exotic spices. Although Zanzibar is decidedly a paradise for seafood lovers, the chiseled Indian and African influences volition fulfill spice lovers. But determination are besides section dishes specified arsenic Zanzibar pizza and urojo which are dissimilar thing you person ever tried before, and a large acquisition if you are feeling a small adventurous with your meal plans.

The winner: Mauritius if you’re looking for a wide variety, Zanzibar if you’re aft seafood.

Also read: 9 unsocial things to effort successful Dodoland
And this: 12 tantalising things to effort successful Zanzibar

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The activities

Mauritius is ace organised and decidedly the spot to beryllium if you emotion h2o sports oregon are funny successful trying them retired for the archetypal time. You volition find the accustomed windsurfing, scuba diving, paddle boating, kayaking, and snorkelling, but besides antithetic additions specified arsenic glass-bottom vessel rides, undersea walks, aquagym, and h2o polo. On land, you tin capable your days with golf, biking trips, yoga classes, and shopping. And Mauritius besides has respective bars and clubs if you bask drinks and dancing aft dinner.

Zanzibar is decidedly much focused connected rustic relaxation than Mauritius, though you volition find a fewer astonishing activities. You tin instrumentality tours of the spice orchards, thing precise unsocial to this portion of the world. Equally truthful is simply a travel to Stone Town, the past bosom of Zanzibar which stands frozen successful time. Aside from these, there’s the accustomed kite surfing, scuba diving, and snorkelling.

Tip. If you person clip and privation to marque the astir retired of your travel to East Africa, brace a abrogation to Zanzibar with a travel to the mainland. The Serengeti and Kilimanjaro are good worthy the other effort.

See: The Great African Experience: Tanzania Calling

The winner: Mauritius wins hands down for the sheer diverseness and measurement of activities, but Zanzibar is simply a bully telephone if you’re conscionable readying connected lazing astir and relaxing.

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The kids

Mauritius is simply a large vacation destination if you are travelling with kids. Many hotels successful Mauritius person large kids’ facilities and connection babysitting services. Most resorts person dedicated kids’ clubs, pools, and age-appropriate activities to support them entertained.

Zanzibar is much suitable if you are travelling alone, with friends, oregon conscionable with your partner. There are not arsenic galore family-friendly resorts, though of course, you volition find definite stays that are equipped to look aft kids. There are not arsenic galore activities that are suited for youngsters, though immoderate kiddos mightiness beryllium blessed to tag on connected past tours oregon play connected the formation portion the parents bash their h2o activities.

The winner: Mauritius.

Also read: Tips for Flying With Children

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The cost

Mauritius attracts a ample fig of planetary tourists, truthful often the prices bespeak the demand. There is an abundance of luxurious, all-inclusive 5* vacation packages disposable (more truthful than low-budget stays and backpackers) and formation prices tin ramp up, particularly successful highest season. Travelling to Mauritius tin beryllium expensive, but it is decidedly imaginable to acquisition a dreamy honeymoon oregon tropical flight if you program it right.

Zanzibar is considerably little developed truthful uncovering inexpensive flights, accommodation, and cost-effective Zanzibar vacation packages is overmuch easier. Flights tin often beryllium recovered for astir R7,500 pp instrumentality from Joburg and packages including accommodation, flights and meals for astir R25,000 pps. However, Zanzibar is by nary means a rundown land destination – it besides has a fig of exclusive formation resorts and hotels that volition connection an exclusive backstage land acquisition and complaint you accordingly.

The winner: Zanzibar, but you mightiness beryllium capable to find little luxurious stays for the aforesaid terms successful Mauritius.

Find a vacation bundle you love.

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The verdict

The verdict: Again, it truly depends connected what you privation and expect.

Mauritius is sweetener and spice and everything nice. There are less opportunities for exploring beyond the island, but Mauritius is the spot that conjures up dreams of searching for waterfalls, drinking cocktails, and aureate afternoons frolicking connected the beach. And it does for a reason. It is simply a heavenly spot with an abundance of activities and world-class resorts that marque it a fashionable destination among radical wanting an effortless vacation of relaxation and luxury.

Zanzibar whitethorn beryllium little developed and a spot unsmooth astir the edges, but it is loved for its culture, absorbing experiences, and ornate architecture. It is wide fashionable with radical wanting a much rugged and authentic experience. Zanzibar besides gives you the enactment of exploring the different 2 main islands that marque up the archipelago and the mainland. A travel to Zanzibar volition marque for unforgettable throwback stories.

Both are awesome, but for antithetic reasons. So if you tin bash some successful your lifetime, adjacent better!