What to wear

Around town
Zanzibar has a predominantly Muslim population and you will find the dress standards, in Stone Town particularly, quite conservative.

Women are expected to cover up more than seems fair given the climate. You won’t need to wear a head scarf (as most local women do) but bare shoulders, midriffs and knees are frowned upon, even when swimming.

If you want to swim in town, bring a something (ie board shorts and a t-shirt) to wear over your bathers. Things are a little more relaxed at some of the tourist beaches in the North and East where swimming in bikinis seems to be accepted.

For guys, wearing shorts is fine as long as they are at least knee length.

(You will see plenty of tourists around who flaunt the rules. How much you try to fit in is really up to you).

Khangas, the colourful scarves worn by locals, can be worn as a sarong and make a great alternative to a beach towel as they are light and dry very quickly. You can buy them cheaply (2000-5000 TSH) from many of the small shops around town.

At work
At the hospital you will need to wear a white coat to identify you as a student. Apart from this, the dress requirements are quite relaxed. Long sleeve shirts and ties are definitely not required. Some of the doctors will even wear jeans and sandals.

It does get quite hot in the hospital, especially with a large number of patients crammed into a single consulting room. Try to strike a balance between looking professional and coping with the heat.

Although it is tempting to wear sandals, personally I wouldn’t go into any hospital wearing open shoes. You do see sharps lying on the floor from time to time too.