Christmas feels a little different when the Indian Ocean is just steps away.

At The Mora Zanzibar, the festive season swaps winter evenings for warm island sunsets, beachfront celebrations and long days by the sea. From 22 December to 14 January, Treasures & Tides brings together festive dining, live entertainment, family experiences and special celebrations across the resort. 

Whether you are travelling to Zanzibar for Christmas, planning a New Year’s escape or simply extending your holiday into January, this is what you can expect during the festive season at The Mora Zanzibar.

Christmas in Zanzibar: a different kind of festive escape

Christmas in Zanzibar combines the atmosphere of the festive season with everything that makes an island holiday special: warm weather, the Indian Ocean, outdoor dining and evenings spent beneath the stars.

At The Mora Zanzibar, the celebrations begin before Christmas itself, with a programme inspired by exploration, the sea and the island’s surroundings.

The first events include The Call of the Tides on 22 December, followed by Secrets of the Sunken Kingdom on 23 December, bringing together cocktails, festive dining, music and evening entertainment.

It sets the tone for a Christmas that feels celebratory without losing the relaxed rhythm of Zanzibar.

Christmas Eve at The Mora Zanzibar 

On 24 December, Christmas Eve takes the form of The Lost Treasure Map.

The evening begins with a sundowner welcome cocktail and canapés at Eclipse Bar before continuing with the Captain’s Festive Feast at Horizon.

Live music accompanies dinner, followed by a rooftop celebration beneath the Zanzibar sky. Younger guests are also catered for with a movie under the stars at Outliners Club.

It is a Christmas Eve built around spending time together, with different experiences taking place throughout the resort rather than a single traditional dinner.

Christmas Day — including a very Zanzibari arrival for Santa

Christmas Day is one of the highlights of the programme.

The day begins with the Festive Treasure Brunch, before Captain Santa makes his arrival by traditional Zanzibar dhow.

For younger guests, the celebrations continue at Santa’s Treasure Cabana before The Grand Treasure Hunt, where families follow clues around the resort and collect Pirate Gold Coins in search of The Mora’s Hidden Treasure.

In the evening, the programme continues with Hidden Treasures of the Indian Ocean, combining festive dining with live band entertainment at Eclipse Pool Bar. 

For families spending Christmas in Zanzibar, it means children can still enjoy some of the traditions they associate with Christmas — only with a distinctly island-inspired twist.

Festive experiences for families

A festive holiday does not need to revolve only around Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Throughout Treasures & Tides, The Mora combines dining and entertainment with experiences that can be enjoyed by different generations.

Alongside Captain Santa’s arrival and the Treasure Hunt, the programme includes children’s celebrations, a movie beneath the stars and festive appearances later in the season. 

This makes a Christmas holiday in Zanzibar an option for families looking for both resort time and a sense of occasion during the festive period.

A culinary journey through the festive season

Food plays a central role throughout the programme, but the idea is not to repeat the same festive dinner night after night.

Instead, the celebrations move through a series of different culinary themes.

On 26 December, Beach Rendezvous includes live BBQ and taco stations, freshly baked pizza, grilled seafood and tropical treats.

The following evening, Pearls of the Ocean introduces an Asian street-food experience with live sushi and other cooking stations before the Moonlight White Party on the beach.

On 28 December, Voyage to the Spice Coast celebrates Indian flavours, while 29 December moves towards the Mediterranean with The Mediterranean Treasure Port. 

Combined with beach parties, DJs, live musicians and entertainment around the resort, the programme gives each evening its own character.

Beach parties beneath the Zanzibar sky

There is also plenty happening once dinner ends.

The programme includes themed parties and outdoor entertainment, from Beneath the Neon Sea on 23 December to the Moonlight White Party on 27 December.

Guests are invited to dress in white or neon for Beneath the Neon Sea, where the programme includes neon body painting, glow games, LED dancers and music from The Mora’s in-house DJ. 

For the Moonlight White Party, the dress code switches to white, with DJ music, fire dancers and cocktails on the beach. 

These events are one of the ways the festive programme makes use of the setting itself — turning the beach and resort spaces into part of the celebration.

New Year’s Eve in Zanzibar

For anyone considering spending New Year’s Eve in Zanzibar, 31 December is naturally the centrepiece of the programme.

At The Mora Zanzibar, the evening is celebrated with The Grand Treasure Gala.

It begins with The Final Treasure Toast at Muyuni Beach Cabana, featuring sparkling wine, signature cocktails and gourmet canapés.

Guests then continue to the beachfront for The Crown Jewels Banquet, followed by live music, dance performances and DJ beats leading up to the midnight countdown and celebratory toast.

It combines the atmosphere of a New Year’s Eve gala with something that is difficult to recreate elsewhere: welcoming the New Year beside the Indian Ocean.

And the celebrations do not end on 1 January

One of the advantages of travelling over the festive season is that the celebrations at The Mora Zanzibar continue beyond New Year’s Eve.

On 1 January, The Treasure Found includes brunch, mimosas, Bloody Marys and live acoustic music.

The programme then continues on 7 January with The Season Continues, followed by A New Year of Moments on 14 January, combining brunch, rooftop cocktails, a Chef’s Special Night and DJ entertainment by the beach. 

So even guests arriving after Christmas or New Year’s Eve can still experience part of The Mora’s festive programme.

Planning your Christmas or New Year holiday in Zanzibar

If you are considering Zanzibar for the festive season, it is worth thinking about which part of the programme best matches your stay.

Families may want to be at the resort for Christmas Day and Captain Santa’s arrival, while travellers looking for dining, music and celebrations may prefer the period between Christmas and New Year.

For New Year’s Eve itself, The Grand Treasure Gala is the key event.

And if you prefer a quieter start to the year, The Mora’s festive experiences continue well into January.

Discover Treasures & Tides at The Mora Zanzibar

From Christmas Day by the Indian Ocean to beachfront parties and New Year’s Eve beneath the Zanzibar sky, Treasures & Tides brings together a full season of festive experiences at The Mora Zanzibar.

Download the programme.