Natural beauty, Cultural richness, and a pinch of exotic mystique. That's Zanzibar.
Heyya, Welcome to the Zanzibar Blog. As we excitedly approach the end of the year, You're probably hunting for your next travel destination right??. well, that could be Zanzibar. I'm gonna provide you with a complete Zanzibar travel guide so you know all that you need to know for an exotic, enchanting, and tropical vacay. Let's go!!
Zanzibar is just off the coast of Tanzania, consisting of Zanzibar Island, Pemba Island, and many smaller towns.
What's in Zanzibar
If you thought all that you could do on this beautiful Island was swim then you were wrong.
There's Stone Town: one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, It's the main city of Zanzibar. It is historical, and artistic, and has enchanting 19th-century architecture.
Chwaka – a small fishing village by the sea.
Jambiani – fishing village along the beach with lots of small hotels and guesthouses
Kendwa– another small fishing village, and a great place for scuba diving.
Kizimkazi– another small village on the south coast, great for dolphin tours
Nungwi– a popular small resort town
Paje– a small village on the east coast known for kiteboarding.
Unguja Ukuu- has numerous archaeological sites
So with all these towns on the island, You will do more than just swim trust me.
How to Get in
By Boat: There are many ferries and catamarans that can take you between Dar es Salaam (The Capital city of Tanzania) and the Island. Azam Marine, Sea Express, Sea Star, and Seagull Kilimanjaro, are among the nicest available. Rates are $35 for non-residents for economic seats, $40 for business seats, and VIP seats are $60. You are allowed 25kg luggage and extra fees apply for extra luggage. The rides are around 2 hours.
A Tip to secure a good seat on the boat. (Arrive at least 30 min in advance)
While there’s good comfortable seating in First Class, you’ll stay in a freezing room with the A/C set to 18°C but if you get along with a bit of cold you should be fine. But If you prefer to stay on the sundeck outside, choose economy.
Flying Horse makes the same journey for $20. However, it will take around 4½ hours.
You may be able to hire a private boat for cheaper, but the trip will take considerably longer and unless you know something about boats, you could be on a vessel that is not equipped for bad weather conditions or an emergency. Remember: you get what you pay for.
You can also make same-day trips, Ferry schedules allow you to do the return trip on the same day. For instance, leave Dar es Salaam at 07:30 and return from Zanzibar on the 15:45 ferry. That leaves plenty of time to explore and have a nice lunch. The trip is beautiful and lasts about 2 hours. However, if the weather is bad it can take much longer and the trip can be very unpleasant. If you suffer from seasickness the on-board staff hands out free sickness bags at the start of the journey or you could take your own anti-seasickness pills before you start the ride.
Things to be careful about: The "porters" at the Dar es Salaam ferry terminal will hassle you for money, expect tips for referring you to "the best boat" or guide you to a ticket office that sells tickets at inflated prices. To avoid touts be forceful and head straight towards the ticket office of the ferry you intend to take.
Touts will tell you anything to get you to use a service that pays them commission, and scam you in any way they can. They will say the company kiosk you are heading towards is closed, the ferry runs only later or only goes to mainland destinations (when they do service Zanzibar), they will say their service is a 90-min ferry (when it actually takes over 2 hours), they will quote you a price for first-class tickets (but issue "e/c" economy tickets and pocket the difference), they will sell you a return ticket (leaving you to later find out it is actually only valid for return travel with a different, cheaper company and the seller has pocketed the difference). The dock is a zoo -- a prime hangout for pickpockets. So have all your guards up, borrow some from your neighbors if you need to.
And note that, Although Zanzibar is part of the Union it maintains its own immigration service and you need to have a valid passport to enter, even if you come from mainland Tanzania. This basically means you must fill out a Tanzania arrival card for your arrival in Stone Town, and a Tanzania departure card when you leave. Also, note that immigration in Zanzibar may check your vaccination records for yellow fever.
By Plane: Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ ) on Unguja Island, is about 5 km south of Zanzibar City.
Airlines that fly to Zanzibar are: Regional Air, Precision Air, ZanAir, Coastal Aviation, Tropical Air, Mango, Flydubai, Qatar Airways, Oman Air, Auric Air, Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, and Fly540.
There are taxis waiting for passengers when you exit the terminal. Despite having a "list" of prices for the various tourist destinations on the island, prices are negotiable. Although you can arrange a pick-up at the airport with your hotel or tour company, even a little negotiating will get you a better price than the inflated one quoted by most hotels. However, some Stone Town hotels do offer free shuttle service from the airport.
Getting Around
You can get around by Taxis, also negotiate with drivers before you enter.
By dala dalas which are minivans, small buses, and sometimes pickup trucks that service all the major villages on the island at a very cheap price.
By Zanzibus, a shared taxi which seats up to six people with smaller luggage or four people with larger luggage. The fare between any two beaches is $53 and a taxi between stone town/airport to any beach location is $38. Pick up and drop off wherever you choose, tickets must be booked online before travel from the Zanzibus site.
What to see
Jozani Forest has excellent nature trails, featuring some very exotic (and large) trees. There are also Red Colobus Monkeys that are Native to the Island, these monkeys are sadly now nearly extinct. They are very curious and playful and will likely pose for a picture. The entry fee is $8 and includes an optional visit to a beautiful mangrove forest which is highly recommended.
In Stone Town, you can visit:
The inner city which blends Moorish, Middle Eastern, Indian, and African traditions and architectures, it is possible to spend days winding through Stone Town's alleys. That said, a day will give you plenty of insight. The inner city is small and can easily be explored by foot.
While in Stone Town, you can shop for souvenirs, and visit the few city's historic sites.
The House of Wonders It carries this name because it was the first house in East Africa to have electricity, running water, and an elevator. That's interesting enough to want to visit.
Former Slave Market (entry fee is $5 - this fee includes a guide, who you may or may not tip. This is the site of the old Slave Market. The museum only consists of slave chambers, a memorial, and an Anglican Church built on the site of the tree that served as a whipping post. Apart from the slave chambers, nothing is left, as a hospital has been built into the old market. However, you can go into the holding chambers in the cellar to see how this wretched piece of history played itself out in small dark dungeon-type cells. The property was purchased by Dr David Livingstone (one of the biggest proponents of the abolishment of slavery) who wanted to turn the grounds into a haven after the atrocities committed there by the Oman Arab slave traders.
What to do
There are a lot of things to do on Zanzibar Island. It just depends on where your interests lie. But here a some things that you can do apart from swim.
Spice tour. Zanzibar Island, a.k.a., the Spice Island, was an important stop in the Spice Trade centuries ago. Today, it is one of the few places in the world where saffron is produced, and many other Middle Eastern/Asian spices (cardamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, etc.) are grown here. Several companies take you on a tour that winds you around the island, showing you how cinnamon, jack fruit, and licorice are grown; letting you sample some of the exotic fruits grown on the island; and allowing you to tour the beautiful plantations. In Stone Town be wary of booking and paying directly on the street, in which case the tout might just take your money without a booking. Another common scam is for a tout to follow you into (or give you directions to) the office, in which case the tour price will increase by $5, with you paying the commission. You can take a taxi to the Kizimbani area yourself, where spice tours are offered. Again, depending on your bargaining skills you may be able to get it for $9 (two people) plus the tips (a little less than $3). On the tips: you will be expected to tip the guy who climbs up the coconut tree singing a song (yes, it is that touristy), the guy who does the fruit tasting, the guy braiding stuff from palm leaves while you walk around, and of course your guide. Usually, TSh 1,000-2,000 ($1). Given the nature of this, even more people may show up during your tour and may expect tips. So keep that in mind.
East Beaches. The seemingly endless beaches near Paje or Jambiani are very popular among travelers. The sand is brilliant white, and the warm waters of the Indian Ocean are a deep teal.
Kendwa Beach. With a beautiful sand beach, you can swim during low and high tide, which is not always possible on the East side of the island. Kendwa offers lots of beach bars and restaurants serving everything from pizza to local curries. Kendwa Beach is also known for the Full Moon Party, arranged on Saturdays just before or after a full moon. While not as big or extreme as those arranged in Thailand, the parties in Zanzibar attract quite a large group of people, especially when the full moon coincides with public holidays in Europe and North America (i.e. Easter and Christmas)
Scuba diving and snorkeling. Cristal clear water and beautiful reefs make Zanzibar a great place for underwater activities. Unfortunately, in some areas reefs are in poor condition and fish populations are low. Snorkel boat trip with equipment from $35 per boat.
Ride on a local's dhow. These traditional boats make for a wonderful sunset cruise.
Zanzibar Butterfly Centre (Located near Jozani National Park), is a community development project and tourist destination just down the road from Jozani Forest. Revenue from admissions is used to pay farmers in the village sustainably farming butterflies. This genuine little project really makes a real difference to the farmers' income and provides a wonderful experience for visitors as they can see spectacular local species flying close at hand in a beautiful tropical garden.$5 per person
What to Buy
Zanzibar currency is the Tanzanian shilling (Tsh). On the beaches, US dollars and shillings are accepted, but US dollars receive much less than the official exchange rate. The best would be to trade some of your dollars or euros for shillings and use that to buy food. There are four ATMs on the island, all in Stone Town. A store that accepts credit card payments is a rarity. So don't rely totally on your bank card. Take extra cash.
Stone Town is a one-stop souvenir shopping for travelers. You can find beautiful textiles, handmade jewelry, intricate wood or stone carvings, spices, knick-knacks, etc.
Eats
Zanzibar cuisine offers a much greater variety than the mainland one. While the usual cheap eating stalls cater the chapati, rice, chips, and Ugali dishes, esp. in Stone Town a lot of great food can be found. Forodhani Gardens is a nightly affair by the water. It is not to be missed in Zanzibar. It starts at around 5 PM and gets busy after the sun sets. If you love some local food, then this place is definitely worth a visit. A large open space with many food stalls and local food. Here you can also get the famous Zanzibar pizza, something like a savory crèpe, filled with beef, eggs, and salad in the default version.
It is possibly the cheapest food you will find on the island, and value for money too. Ranging from crab claws, and calamari steaks to plain old chips done in big woks. You are well advised to try the local sugar cane juice.
And if you're not big on local food nearly all beach hotels also include restaurants with typical western cuisine at varying degrees of quality.
Drink
While predominantly a Muslim community, small bars can be found everywhere in Zanzibar.
The sugar cane juice and fresh coconut milk that are mainly available in Stone Town are not to be missed.
Try the ginger beer (tangawizi, also available on the mainland) which is not a beer, but a soda with a spicy ginger flavor.
Beach bars on the beaches will supply you with good local beer and cocktails. You must try a Dawa-cocktail!
The Old Dispensary has a basic "top-storey" bar that offers nice views of the harbor and beaches.
Accommodation
A good way to save on accommodation is to spend most of your holiday nights in Stone Town. Use Stone Town as your base for exploring the island.
Forodhani park , Zanzibar Coffee House, The Dhow Palace Hotel, and Seyyida Hotel and Spa are among the the budget-friendly hostel
Respect
You may be on vacation but the locals aren't so try to be considerate of others as well.
Zanzibar is largely a Muslim community. Although they are used to Western ways, you should try to be respectful. This means:
So Adhere to the local ways of living in public places
Be discreet when drinking alcohol in public places
During Ramadan -- the month of fasting - You should avoid eating and drinking publicly during the daytime.
Cope
In the tourist areas around the waterfront, Kenyatta Road, and Shangani Road, you will be pestered by all manner of touts, and others wanting to offer you taxis, spice tours, music, gifts, etc. A polite but firm No, thanks usually doesn't do the trick and can get exhausting. The best thing to do here is to keep walking and wander into the more residential alleys where you won't be disturbed and still be safe.
Language
While you can get by just fine with English in Zanzibar, Knowing a couple of useful phrases in the local language will make certain things easier for you or maybe you would just like to exchange a few words other than Hello with the locals.
Here is a phrasebook containing some useful words for travelers in Swahili.
Hello (to one person)Jambo (response: Sijambo)
Hello (to a group)Hamjambo (response: Hatujambo)
How are you?Habari yako?
How are you? (alternative)Ukoje?
Fine, thank you.Nzuri, asante.
What is your name?Jina lako nani?
My name is ______ .Jina langu ______.
Where are you from?Unatoka wapi?
I am from _______.Ninatoka _______.
Please.Tafadhali.
Thank you (very much).Asante (sana).
You're welcome.Karibu.
Yes.Ndiyo.
No.Hapana.
I don't need. (Polite way of saying you don't want to buy anything) Sihitaki.
Excuse me. (getting attention) Samahani.
I'm sorry (in the sense of "pardon me"; used for minor transgressions).Samahani.
I'm sorry (in the sense of "please forgive me for wronging you"; used for major transgressions).Nasikitika.
Goodbye Kwaheri.
Good night.Usiku mwema)
See you later.Tuonane baadaye.
Later.Baadaye.
See you tomorrow.Tutuonana kesho.
My Swahili is terribleKiswahili changu ni kibaya sana.
I can't speak Kiswahili.Siwezi kuongea Kiswahili.
I only speak a little Kiswahili.Ninaongea Kiswahili kidogo tu.
Do you speak English?Unaongea Kiingereza?
Bathroom Bafu
Toilet Choo
Help!Msaada!
Where is the _______?_____(e.g. bathroom, police station...) iko wapi?
Leave me alone.Uniache!
Don't touch me!Usiniguse!
I'll call the police.Nitaita polisi!
Police!Polisi!
Stop, thief!Simama, mwizi!
I need your help.Naomba msaada
.I'm lost.Nimepotea.
I lost my bag.Nimepoteza mfuko wangu.
I lost my wallet.Nimepoteza pochi.
I'm sick.Mimi ni mgonjwa.
I've been injured.Nimeumia
I need a doctor.Nahitaji daktari.
Can I use your phone? Naomba kutumia simu yako?
No Problem. Hakuna matata.
I want to go to ____Ninataka kuenda ____
Which direction? Mwelekeo upi?
...hotels? hoteli?...
restaurants? restorenti?
bars?baa?...
clubs kilabu?
taxi teksi
Take me to _____, please. Nipeleke _____, tafadhali.
How much does it cost to get to _____?Itakuwa pesa ngapi kuenda _____?
I hope this blog got you all ready for your next trip, Thank you for reading this far. Please share them in your groups or socials for somebody who may need this information.
Have a safe trip and I will meet you in the next blog.
I would love to read all about your travel experiences, please don't hesitate to write them in the comments. Love from Esty.
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