ZANZIBAR, TANZANIA. Its history and culture allure every visitor. Zanzibar is a magical island located only a few kilometers of the coast of Tanzania. If you decide to visit, here are ten things that you shouldn’t pass by. However, be a traveler not a tourist – get to know the island and its people. Ask them about their lives and how development of the tourism is affecting them. They will have a lot to tell you.
Breathtaking Zanzibari sunset | Liza Nagode
Stone Town. This UNESCO World Heritage Site and a seat of local government is a true architectural gem, reflecting diverse influence underlying Swahili culture, including Indian, Arab, Persian, and European. Located on the west coast of the island, Stone Town consists of a labyrinth of narrow streets surrounded by stone houses, shops, and markets. As the streets tend to be too narrow for cars to pass, the town is crowded with bicycles and motorcycles that rush around the corners. Very alike alleys are perfect to get lost in. Walking around, make sure you observe fully carved wooden doors that adorn majority of the houses and represent a strong Indian and Oman influence. If you are on a budget, Karibu Inn Guest Houses, which offers spacious rooms, a computer for its guests, and extremely nice and helpful staff, would be a great choice. The prices depend on the time of the year you are visiting. The hostel doesn’t have an official website. However, you can make your reservations here.
Zanzibari Sunsets. The sunsets on the island couldn’t be described differently than absolutely breathtaking! Make sure you are either sitting in one of many cafes or restaurants located on the coast, enjoying some fresh seafood at Forodhani market, or standing on a terrace of the House of Wonders, a museum of Zanzibari and Swahili history and culture, which is also the tallest building in Stone Town. The combination of setting sun and dhows, traditional Zanzibari wooden boats that rush back to the coast, will make your mind wander.
Sunset Food Market in Forodhani Gardens. Located along the main Indian Ocean sea-walk in Stone Town, these beautiful gardens host restaurant, bars, and various stunning vegetation. The gardens get especially crowded at sunset when vendors display samosas, cassavas, plantains, corn, and freshly caught seafood, ranging from octopus to lobster. Each vendor has a grill where they warm up your meal, which you can enjoy while watching a beautiful Zanzibari sunset. The prices vary and the vendors are almost always going to charge more to unknowledgeable tourists. However, don’t be afraid to bargain! You can have a delicious, big meal for no more then one euro.
Spice Tour. Being known for its spices and herbs, one can’t really know the island without attending a Spice Tour. Strongly influenced by Indian cousin, Zanzibari cousin as well uses a great variety of spices, such as cloves, nutmeg, pepper, and cinnamon. All are locally grown! The guided walking tour gives you an opportunity to learn more about these spices and its cultivation while getting to know Zanzibari rural life. You can also learn how to climb a coconut palm and enjoy some freshly picked coconut. The trip can be organized through your hotel/hostel one of the many tourist agencies that are located along the main streets of the town. The prices of the tour vary and largely depend on the group size. You can pay up to 36 euros for an individual tour or as low as 18 euros for a larger group tour. The tour usually includes transportation from and back to the hotel.
Nutmeg | Liza Nagode
Lukmaan Restaurant. The restaurant serves a vide variety of local dishes at a very affordable price. You can get a huge meal that consists of a big bowl of rice with curry or masala sauce and chapati for only two euros. Tables are big and shared, which contributes to the homey atmosphere. The restaurant is located on Mkunazini Street, which is hidden behind the main local market. However, as it is well known among locals, you can most certainly stop and ask anyone on the street. As people are nice and welcoming, they will most certainly be more then happy to help you out.
Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park. Besides being the only national park in Zanzibar, Jozani Forest is also known for being home of the Red Colubus monkey, a rear rain forest species that is currently representing a main conservation concern for the island authorities. Its well-developed trail and knowledgeable guides are worth the price. The tour includes a walk through the Jozani Forest and a visit of the Mangrove Forest. Make sure you ask your guides about the effect this conservation practice has on local families, whose livelihoods depend on the forest. Same as the spice your, you can organize it through the hotel/hostel you are staying at or by visiting the tourist agency. The price usually includes transportation from and back to Stone Town. The prices vary. You can pay up to 45 euros for a private tour or 22 euros if you visit as part of the larger group.
Red Colubus monkey in Jozani Forest | Liza Nagode
Jambiani. Located on the southeast cost, approximately six kilometers from Paje, Jambiani is a beautiful and quiet beach village that is particularly well known for seaweed farming. Every morning when the tide is low you can observe Jambiani women planting seaweed that is later sold to middleman for extremely low prices. The product is later sold on to various cosmetic and pharmaceutical factories that are located mainly in Japan for a much higher amount. If you have the opportunity, try to get to know the life of these women that are struggling to feed their families every day, while the other parties involved are making a huge profit. The village offers numerous guesthouse and hotel options. One of them is Jambiani Villa Guesthouse, a spacious house for six people that is equipped with a nice kitchen, a large dining area, three rooms and its own private garden where you can spend the days tanning and reading. It is located right on the beach, five steps away from the ocean. The prices vary on the season but tend to be around 16 euros per night per person. You can make your bookings here.
Snorkeling or Scuba Diving in Mnemba Island. This small island is located opposite Matemwe Beach. Its surrounding Indian Ocean reef has been declared a Marine Conservation area and hosts a great variety of corals and fish. The island is privately owned so make sure that you stay far enough from the coast. You can organize your trip from Stone Town by visiting One Ocean – the Zanzibar Dive Center. The staff is very helpful and is more then happy to recommend you other PADI centers around the island if you want to organize your trip from another town. Click here for more information.
Full Moon Party in Kendwa. Although the idea originates from Finland, Full Moon Party is organized in Kendwa, a beach town on the north coast of Zanzibar, every month around the night of a full moon. It attracts a huge crowd of locals and tourists. Organized by Kendwa Rock Hotel, the party offers food, drinks, and dancing till the early morning hours. If visiting, you can stay with the organizer or in one of the many hotels or guesthouses located in the close proximity. Prices vary on the time of the year and you can expect to pay more around the time of the party. To learn more about the history of the Full Moon Party and the nowadays version of it, click here.
A Ride with Dala Dala. Dala Dala is a form of Tanzania’s public transportation. In Zanzibar the bus consists of a smaller truck with an open back part that holds sitting benches and is covered by a thin roof. Expect the truck to get really crowded! Just when you will think that absolutely no more people can fit in order for the ride to be safe, five more passengers will embark, with their shopping bags, chickens etc. It is a unique experience indeed. Each bus has a fixed route and picks up passengers at designated locations. However, Dala Dala can also stop anywhere on the way to drop of building materials etc. and pick up potential passengers. The cost of the trip depends on the distance. However, most likely you will not pay more than one or two euros and will thus save a lot of money that you would otherwise have to spent on privately organized transport.
— Liza Nagode