Zanzibar Island Travel
Zanzibar Overview
Zanzibar is a group of islands that is located off the coast of Tanzania. The peak season for visitors is during the months of July to September. Off season is during March to May. But perhaps the best time to visit Zanzibar is during June when it’s cooler and drier with very little crowds and October to February when the only busy time is during the Christmas season.
Zanzibar Main Attractions
A must see during your visit will be Zanzibar Island, also known as the Spice Island which was an important stop in the Spice Trade centuries ago. For under $15, you can go on a spice tour which takes you around the island, shows you how anise is grown, lets you sample exotic fruit grown on the island, and allows you to tour the beautiful plantations. Zanzibar Island is also one of the few places in the world where saffron is produced.
Another great place to visit in Zanzibar is the Jozani Forest. It has excellent nature trails featuring some very exotic and very large trees. It’s also home to the Red Colobus Monkeys, native to the island, which are nearly extinct. There’s an entrance fee of $8 which also includes an optional visit to a mangrove forest. There are also a number of historical buildings all over Zanzibar, particularly in Stone Town, like The House of Wonders and The Arab Fort.
Zanzibar Activities
There are loads of activities to do on Zanzibar, it all just depends on what you’re interested in. You can take a tour of Stone Town and Slave Market to learn all about the islands’ history. You can relax on the beaches, go scuba diving or go on a Dolphin tour. There’s also the Zanzibar Butterfly Center which houses beautiful local species in a magnificent garden.
Zanzibar Accommodation & Dining
For food aficionados, visit the Forodhani Gardens if you’re not scared of trying local foods and finding the cheapest options to eat. There are other restaurants that are well worth the visit. Restaurants serve anything between the local delicacies to Italian and international cuisine. Be warned though as most restaurants are expensive. The same goes for the prices of accommodations. Most budget hotels in Stone Town charge $30 and up per night. Cheaper options would either be located out of the way or aren’t of the best quality or even both.
Zanzibar Shopping & Nightlife
As far as shopping goes, Stone Town is the best place to get some souvenirs like textiles, jewellery, wood or stone carvings, spices and other knick knacks. Forodhani Gardens also houses a curio market where you can get amazing bargains. There’s not much of a nightlife in Zanzibar due to its predominantly Muslim heritage. However, there are still small bars that can be located everywhere. Try visiting Africa House which overlooks the ocean; Taarab Square which is a live sports bar and the only outdoor cinema showing Indian, African and English movies, disco over the weekend and live music on public holidays; and the various beach bars.
Getting To & Around Zanzibar
You can get to Zanzibar by plane from Dar es Salaam. Air Excel, Regional Air, Precision Air, ZanAir, Coastal Aviation, Tropical Air, Sky Aviation, Zantas Air Services, Flightlink Air Charters, Ilyas Aviation, Northern Air, Kenya Airways, Uganda Airways, Air Tanzania, Kili Air, Tanzanair, SafariAirLink, Fly540 are just a few of the Tanzania scheduled and charter operators. You can also travel by boat from Dar on Azam Marine, Sea Express, Sea Star, Seagull and Sepideh Megaspeed Liners.
Disclaimer: We've tried to make the information on this web site as accurate as possible, but it is provided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information. You should verify critical information (like visas, health and safety, customs and transportation) with the relevant authorities before you travel.
