What To Wear In Zanzibar
To sum it up - keep cool but be modest
- This is a strong Muslim community and as tourism is very new there is no flexibility in the dress code.
- Shoulders should definitely be covered as should your knees and avoid dressing as a tourist when you are out in the towns and villages.
- This is a hot and humid country so natural fabrics; cotton, linen, silk will work best.
- If you have blonde hair you may even want to tie it up and hide it under your hat to reduce the chances of being pestered – it's a novelty.
- On the beaches at hotel resorts things are more relaxed – bikinis are okay – but definitely not thongs or topless.
- Walking on the beach, our advice would be to cover up with a loose shirt and sun hat. It protects from the strong sun and also avoids unwanted attention.
- Also remember if you wade in to the shallows to explore the reefs, beware the reflected sunlight, as it catches people out and you can get very burnt.
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