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Location

Located along the East Coast of Zanzibar, Ycona watches over a 500m long, white, sandy, soft, private bay in the North of Marumbi. The beach there offers exceptional sand banks. The resort owns over 60,000sqm of unspoiled tropical jungle and spice garden, overlooking the turquoise water of the Indian Ocean. Ycona guarantees an unforgettable African experience surrounded by world class comforts and modern touches, making the Resort the perfect escape for those who love style and quality, within tropical paradises.

Ycona offers an idyllic and central location for sightseeing and enjoying the facilities of Zanzibar.
The resort is ideally located facing one of the main Zanzibar roads, making the access to the main gate very easy.

The airport is just a 45 minutes ride, situated very close to the Unesco World Heritage Site - Stone Town, and the most famous local market, Forodhani. A few km away, Jozani Forest is found for those eager to observe the Red Colobus Monkeys. Mnemba Island, a "must", at about 40 minutes by car and a short boat transfer. The quad tour through the jungle, among other beautiful landmarks, is also worth the exploration. Our concierge team will take care of all your inquiries and prepare the best itinerary, for better time management.


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Frequently Asked Questions

Couples have sometimes asked us...

We want your stay to be extraordinary. Let us ensure you have all the information you need.
Zanzibar, or rather the Zanzibar archipelago, is made up of about 75 islands, among which there are the main two: Unguja in the South (the largest, the one improperly called "Zanzibar Island") and Pemba in the North, both surrounded by a multitude of smaller islands. Zanzibar is located in Africa, a short distance (about 40 km) from the coast of Tanzania, about 5 degrees south of the Equator.
The island of Unguja, commonly associated with the name "Zanzibar", has a maximum length from North to South of about 85km and a maximum width from East to West of about 30km.
The orography of Zanzibar is very varied. There are large cultivable areas, especially in the North / North-West, where there are the largest settlements of the population dedicated to agriculture or related activities. The entire eastern part of the island is of great tourist importance, due to the presence of long, white beaches of coral sand, splendid sea beds, coral atolls and, in general, enchanting landscapes.
Zanzibar is politically part of Tanzania, but it has its own government and parliament.
The official language of Zanzibar is Kiswahili, normally known as Swahili, which is spoken not only in Zanzibar but in much of East Africa, from Somalia to Mozambique, via Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda; In practice, over 100 million people communicate today in Kiswahili.

Do not worry! English is also spoken, as well as many other languages, not only in our resort, but on the rest of the island as well.
The climate is commonly referred to as the "equatorial belt climate", with tropical and high temperatures throughout the year. 

The climate is basically divided into two dry seasons that alternate with two rainy ones: the Great Rainy Season, between April and June, and the Short Rainy Season, between November and December. 

During the dry seasons the temperature often exceeds 30°C, and even during the rainy seasons the thermometer never drops below 22/24°C. 

June to September / October are the best months to visit Zanzibar. This is when you’re most likely to get clear blue skies and balmy temperatures.

Mid-December, January and February are also ideal months to visit Zanzibar. These months fall in the short dry season which offers the best weather for sun-worshipers who like hot weather. During these months you’re likely to experience clear skies, little if any rain and high temperatures. 

Yes, visitors from most countries require a tourist visa to enter Zanzibar, and the passport should be valid for at least six months. For citizens of most countries, single entry tourist visa can be easily and quickly obtained upon arrival, at the airport, or even online, pre-arrival.

Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous part of the United Republic of Tanzania, therefore, you do not need to obtain separate visas for mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar islands.

For more information please visit: http://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/africa/tanzania/passport-visa/





Certain vaccinations are recommended when travelling to Tanzania and Zanzibar.

The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommend the following vaccinations for Tanzania and Zanzibar: hepatitis (A and B), typhoid, cholera, yellow fever*, rabies, meningitis, tetanus. 

*Proof of a yellow fever vaccination is required if you are travelling from a country where yellow fever is present.

We strongly advise that you consult with a travel clinic or your doctor when planning your holiday to Zanzibar to ensure that you get the shots that you need.
Even though the chances of contracting malaria on Zanzibar are low, anti-malaria precautions are recommended. Anti-malaria tablets and mosquito repellent are the most common ones.

Ask your local travel clinic or doctor for advice on how to prevent contracting malaria while travelling. There are a number of effective anti-malaria prophylaxes to choose from these days. Some anti-malaria treatments need to be started before you travel so check in with a medical professional in advance.
Yes, it is safe. This is one of the safest African destinations, even for solo female travellers.

The Zanzibar Archipelago is part of Tanzania, which is one of the most stable African countries. Tanzania is ranked as the most peaceful country in East Africa, in fact.

The local people are generally welcoming and laid-back. Thus, it features all the necessary tourism infrastructure for a comfortable and safe holiday.

The only annoyance you are likely to encounter is the Maasai hawkers pushing their wares, sometimes over-zealously. The best way to deal with these persistent salesmen is to firmly decline and not give them attention. If you feel harassed report the problem to the hotel Team.
Yes, of course. Just send us your flight details and we will make sure to arrange your pick-up / drop-off accordingly.
Airport / port transfers as well as other trips can be organised.
Even though Zanzibar is very safe for travellers, here a few useful tips, just to be extra-sure and comfortable:

  • 99% of Zanzibar’s population are Muslims. Dress appropriately and respect Muslim cultural norms.
  • Don’t take your valuables to the beach.
  • Lock your valuables in the hotel safe when you go out.
  • Don’t walk around alone after dark.
  • Stay alert in Stone Town to prevent falling prey to pick-pockets and bag snatchers.
You can wear shorts at the beach and on the resort's property. It is also acceptable to wear bikinis and swimwear at the beach.

In other places, it is better to dress more conservatively. Shorts should preferably be loose-fitting, three-quarter pants that end below the knee. Ladies should avoid wearing very short shorts in public.

Walking around shirtless is not culturally acceptable, even for blokes. For women, wearing mini-skirts and skimpy outfits is sure to cause offence. Be particularly mindful when visiting Stone Town and mosques, where your torso and shoulders need to be covered too.
The tides in Zanzibar are one of the most fascinating characteristics of the island. Almost absent in the far north, the tides are very significant in the eastern part of Zanzibar.  

Depending on the time of day, it will be possible to walk for hundreds of meters in a seemingly endless shoreline of corals and pools of water where tiny fish, frantic shrimps and above all colourful starfish live. 

Then, the ocean rises again slowly, and soon, not only the shoreline, but a good part of the beach is covered by the waters of the Indian Ocean.

In practice, Zanzibar offers a constantly changing landscape; the tides are a wonderful phenomenon which makes the island unique.
The cuisine is a mixture of several culinary traditions due to the multi-cultural Zanzibar heritage. It reflects influences including Bantu, Arab, Portuguese, Indian and British. Fresh and eco products coming from our own local market are served daily in our restaurants. 
Although Zanzibar has essentially a small territory, it certainly offers interesting aspects from a fauna point of view. You can swim with dolphins in Mnemba and Kizimkazi, you can walk among over 100-year-old giant tortoises on Prison Island, you can observe rare monkeys endemic to Zanzibar in the Jozani Forest. On a botanical level, the symbolic tree of Zanzibar is undoubtedly the giant and majestic Baobab. And we have nice surprises for you in our private jungle in Ycona!