This year Ramadan coincided with Easter, and for Zanzibar, the beginning of the Rainy season – which is the low season. Choosing to travel to any country where Ramadan is practiced nationally will change your trip slightly as local life is at a different pace. From a personal experience in Morocco during Ramadan, I would have usually advised against but finding myself in Zanzibar during it changed my opinion slightly.

You cannot eat (or drink water) in public – Many restaurants, especially local ones, don’t open until the break of fasting at sunset. Most hotels will still serve food. You will find some more ‘hidden’ places that will be open. Be cautious, in Stone Town this year there is apparently a 500$ fine for eating in public. Also note that Many places won’t serve alcohol (until sunset). TIP: Book a place with breakfast included

Opening times change – you will find many shops closed during this time, during the day. Many government owned organisations will change their opening times during Ramadan so check with knowledgeable locals.

Places will be empty – One morning I basically had the whole of Paje beach to myself. Amazing for some relaxation time or peopleless Instagram photos. Ideal for a quiet romantic getaway, less ideal if you are solo travelling and looking for people to hang out with. Hostels are a lot emptier and it’s a lot harder to meet people at the bar, when the bar is closed or alcohol is banned until sunset.

Less demand means cheaper prices and better bargaining

Prices of accommodation are generally lower as people may chose to avoid travelling during Ramadan. As most tourist places work on the supply > demand ratio, you will find accommodation as very competitive rates. As always I would recommend booking only a night or two and if you decide to stay longer to negotiate on site – always turning to booking.com before booking as the rates are still sometimes discounted.

Everything is pretty much always negotiable, during Ramadan and low season your bargaining power goes up – from taxis, to kite-surfing lessons – give it a try, but always remember to be respectful and find a price that remains fair. I managed to swing a beginner’s kite-surf lesson for about $20.

Be understanding and respectful – Zanzibarians are generally extremely lovely people. It’s custom to say hello or ‘Mambo’ to passersby. However, as to be expected when people are fasting, they can be more tired and perhaps less friendly, patient or helpful than usual – put yourself in their shoes. As there are less tourists, you may also find that you’re over-solicited by street-sellers

As you would need to anyway here in Zanzibar and other Muslim countries, you need to DRESS APPROPRIATELY. By appropriately I mean respectfully. Despite the heat and it being a ‘beachy’ vibe, when in Zanzibar walking through town you really should respect local customs and have at the least your shoulders (chest) and upper legs covered, avoiding anything too revealing especially around the cleavage. Maxi dresses, long flowy trousers are the way to go.

To sum it up, travelling to Zanzibar during Ramadan will give you a very different experience of the island as local life will have adapted to the fasting rhythm. If you’re looking for a relaxing romantic getaway where you lounge around during the day and indulge at night then going during Ramadan could be a good time for a budget friendly trip. If you are looking to kite-surf (check the season) and do only activities for cheap, it’s also a good time to go. However, if you’re looking to eat, drink and socialize all day, you may want to pick another time to go or pick another destination.