Butterfly Centre Zanzibar – Explore Colorful Butterflies, Nature & Conservation
Step inside one of East Africa’s largest netted butterfly gardens and walk among hundreds of free-flying butterflies native to Zanzibar. Set in the village of Pete, just minutes from Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park, the Zanzibar Butterfly Centre is a lush tropical enclosure where you can watch the full life cycle unfold — from egg and caterpillar to chrysalis and first flight.
This short, guided experience is also a genuine community conservation project. Every entry fee supports the local farmers who rear the butterflies at home instead of cutting forest for charcoal. It’s relaxed, family-friendly, and pairs perfectly with a morning at Jozani Forest.
Duration
Half Day
Tour Type
Nature & Wildlife
Difficulty
Easy
Age
All Ages
Wildlife
Butterfly
Drinks
Bottle of water
Fees
Included
Pickup
Available
Overview
The Zanzibar Butterfly Centre is a community-run tropical butterfly garden in the village of Pete, roughly two kilometres west of the Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park entrance on the main road between Stone Town and Paje. Inside a large netted enclosure planted with flowering shrubs, indigenous trees, and fruit feeding stations, hundreds of butterflies native to Zanzibar fly freely around you — landing on the plants, on the feeding trays, and often on your own hands.
A local guide walks you through the complete butterfly life cycle, from tiny eggs and feeding caterpillars to hanging chrysalises and the moment a new butterfly opens its wings for the first time. The guided walk usually runs 30 to 40 minutes, and most guests spend around an hour to an hour and a half at the centre in total. There is also a separate chameleon enclosure where you’ll meet Zanzibar’s remarkable colour-changing reptiles up close, and guests are sometimes invited to hold one.
What makes this stop different is the model behind it. The centre works with around 40 butterfly farmers from Pete village, many of them women, who are trained to collect eggs from the wild without harming the forest, rear the caterpillars at home, and sell the pupae back to the centre. It gives families a reliable income that depends on the forest staying intact rather than being cut for charcoal or timber.
Your entry fee funds farmer training, micro-loans, and community projects in the Pete area. If you’re looking for a short, meaningful nature experience in Zanzibar that works brilliantly for families and photographers alike, the Butterfly Centre is one of the island’s most worthwhile half-hour detours.
Guiding travelers across Zanzibar with a passion for sharing the island’s beauty, culture, and hidden gems. Rama and his local team are committed to delivering authentic experiences, friendly service, and unforgettable adventures across Zanzibar.
Highlights
Colorful Butterflies
Hundreds of free-flying species in a lush greenhouse
Life Cycle Education
Learn about eggs, caterpillars, pupae & emergence
Butterfly Farming
Support local farmers & conservation projects
Tropical Gardens
Peaceful walk through native plants & flowers
Photo Opportunities
Capture stunning butterfly close-ups
Community Impact
Empowering Zanzibari families through sustainable income
Itinerary
Hotel Pickup & Transfer to Pete Village
Your day begins with a comfortable pickup from your hotel and a scenic drive to Pete Village, home of the Zanzibar Butterfly Centre. Your guide will share insights about the project’s role in conservation and community development.
Welcome & Introduction
Arrive at the centre and receive a warm welcome. Learn about the history of the Butterfly Centre and how it contributes to protecting Zanzibar’s forests while creating jobs.
Guided Tour of the Butterfly House
Enter the large netted enclosure where dozens of butterfly species fly freely around you. Watch them feed on flowers, observe pupae hatching, and discover the remarkable metamorphosis process with expert commentary.
Educational Exhibits & Gardens
Explore informative displays about butterfly species native to Zanzibar, their habitats, and the sustainable farming techniques used by local communities. Stroll through beautiful tropical gardens filled with host plants.
Souvenir Shop & Refreshments
Visit the small shop for locally made butterfly-themed souvenirs (proceeds support the centre). Enjoy cold drinks and light snacks before your return journey.
Return to Hotel
Relax on the drive back with unforgettable memories of Zanzibar’s fluttering wonders.
Price
Includes
- Professional Local Guide
- Entry Fee to Butterfly Centre
- Guided Tour & Educational Talk
- Hotel Pickup & Drop-off (extra cost option)
- All Government Fees
Best Time to Visit the Butterfly Centre
The Zanzibar Butterfly Centre is open year-round, and because the garden is netted and partly shaded it runs in any weather. What changes with the season is how many butterflies are actually on the wing. Warm, bright months bring the enclosure to life — butterflies feeding at the fruit stations, drifting past at eye level, and settling on outstretched hands.
Time of day matters more than the month. Aim to arrive between 9:00 and 11:00 AM, once the sun has warmed the enclosure but before the midday heat. That's when butterflies are most visible, easiest to photograph, and most likely to land on your hand. Many guests pair the visit with Jozani Forest, just 2 km away.
What Guests Say
Frequently Asked Questions
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The Zanzibar Butterfly Centre is a community-run tropical butterfly garden in the village of Pete, on Zanzibar's Unguja island. It consists of a large netted enclosure planted to mimic natural lowland forest, where hundreds of butterflies native to Zanzibar fly freely. Visitors take a guided walk of about 30 to 40 minutes covering the full butterfly life cycle, meet the centre's chameleons, and learn how local farmers rear butterflies as an alternative to logging and charcoal production.
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The centre is in Pete village, on the main road between Stone Town and Paje, roughly two kilometres west of the entrance to Jozani–Chwaka Bay National Park. It is about a 45-minute to one-hour drive from Stone Town, and a short drive from the east coast beaches of Paje, Jambiani, and Bwejuu.
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The guided walk itself lasts around 30 to 40 minutes. Most guests spend one to one and a half hours at the centre in total, allowing extra time for photography and the chameleon enclosure. Including hotel transfers, plan for a half-day if you are travelling from Stone Town or the north coast.
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Yes. It is one of the most family-friendly stops in Zanzibar. The paths are flat, the visit is short, and children usually love watching caterpillars feed and butterflies land on their hands. The chameleon enclosure is typically the biggest hit — guests are often invited to hold one and watch it change colour.
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Yes, and most guests do. The Jozani–Chwaka Bay National Park entrance is only about two kilometres away, which makes the two an easy morning pairing: the red colobus monkeys and forest walk at Jozani, then the butterfly garden at Pete. Let us know when you book and we will arrange both in a single trip.
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Often, yes. The enclosure has fruit feeding stations where butterflies gather, and your guide will show you how to stand still and offer your hand. Nothing is guaranteed — these are living creatures behaving naturally — but visits during warm, sunny mid-morning hours give you the best chance.
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Butterflies and chameleons only. The centre is not a zoo — it is a butterfly conservation and farming project with a small chameleon enclosure alongside it. The chameleons are kept separately because they prey on butterflies.
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Yes. Entry fees fund the running of the centre, training and micro-loans for the roughly 40 butterfly farmers in Pete village, and wider community projects in the area including water infrastructure and forest protection. The farming model gives families an income that depends on the forest remaining standing, which is exactly the point.
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Bring a camera or phone for photos, sunscreen, a hat, light clothing, and drinking water. Closed or comfortable walking shoes are fine — the paths are flat and easy. Avoid strong perfume or insect repellent, which can discourage butterflies from coming close.
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For anyone interested in nature, photography, or community-based conservation, yes. It is a short and inexpensive stop rather than a full-day excursion, so it works best combined with Jozani Forest, a spice farm, or a Stone Town visit. Guests consistently mention the quality of the guiding, the close encounters with butterflies and chameleons, and the fact that the money stays in the village.
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Book This Tour
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