Sun, sea and cheap beer are all on offer in one African city that’s fast becoming a favourite among Brits. With bargain flights and accommodation tempting tourists to enjoy its nightlife, one city has been dubbed the “Magaluf of Africa” on an island once known for luxury travel.
The island itself was ranked the fasted-growing African destination in 2024 by the United Nations Tourism body, and international visits boomed by 130% to more than 2 million per year from 2021 to 2024. While many visitors flocked to the luxury beach front villas and historic sites in Tanzania, Zanzibar City has started to attract crowds in search of cheap pints and partying.
Pints of beer can be picked up for as little as £1.06, according to PintPrice, while a meal at an affordable restaurant costs as little as £3.84, according to Hikers Bay.
Revellers in search of the bustling nightlife can stay in a budget double room for two adults for as little as £13 per night, making it just £6.50 per person, as found by the Daily Star on booking.com.
However, some residents have felt uneasy with the behaviour, and in the UNESCO-protected old part of Zanzibar City, Stone Town, decency laws have even been introduced to counter the emergence of crop tops and hot pants.
“Some people expose parts of their bodies that are not allowed to be seen in the public,” local guide Maulid Omar told The Telegraph.
Authorities insist they are carefully managing and monitoring the situation, as Tim Henshall, the head of tourism marketing UK for the Tanzania High Commission, told the paper they have the infrastructure, hotel rooms and facilities to cope with demand.
Its sharp rise in tourism coincides with a rising movement against overtourism in Europe in places such as Tenerife, where locals have pleaded with tourists to stay away.
Badly behaved Brits abroad have added fuel to the fire this weekend, when a violent fight broke out between two women.