Zanzibar
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Zanzibar

Zanzibar is an ideal beach or honeymoon holiday destination. The beaches of Zanzibar are the true attraction and there are all types of water sports available.

 
Mnemba Island, Zanzibar - luxury relaxing holiday

Although Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, we have listed it separately for ease of reference.

Zanzibar is an archipelago made up of Zanzibar and the islands of Pemba, Mafia and several other islets. Zanzibar Island (Unguja) is 60 miles long and 20 miles wide, occupying a total area of approximately 650 square miles.

There is an airport on Zanzibar Island (Kisauni Airport) with direct flights from South Africa, Kenya and other parts of Tanzania or else you can fly to Dar es Salaam and catch a ferry or short flight to Zanzibar.

Red Colobus MonkeyZanzibar is home to the enchanted Jozani Forest, where curious red colobus monkeys are found, which are endemic to Zanzibar and now classified as endangered. The Jozani Natural Forest Reserve is located in the central east region of Zanzibar island. Jozani is also home to other species including Syke's monkey's and small buck.

Zanzibar is also known as 'The Spice Island' partly due to the fact that it was the worlds leading producer of cloves in the 19th Century. Other spices include nutmeg, cinnamon, pepper and many others. Spice Tours are conducted around it's plantations which still produce more than 50 different spices and fruits.

Zanzibar is also famous for being the last place to abolish the slave trade!! Prison Island is situated just off Zanzibar and was once used as a prison for slaves. It is home to a family of giant tortoises and has a beautiful white beach and offers great snorkeling.

Stone Town is the main 'town' on Zanzibar island and has been declared a World Heritage Site.
 
The Arab houses in this city date back to the 19th century when Zanzibar was one of the most important trading centers. These Arab houses usually have brass studded beautifully carved wooden doors. One can spend hours wandering through the narrow streets of Stone Town or take a guided tour.

Attractions in Stone Town are:
The Old Dispensary, the Market, Livingstone's House, The Peace Memorial Museum, The Palace Museum, The Arab Fort, The House of Wonders, Slave Market and the Marhubi Ruins.

Zanzibar's climate is equatorial.
From June till September: Very low levels of rainfall and average temperatures around 25°C.
From October till December: Generally very humid with short rains and temperatures rising into the 30s.
In January and February: The heat soars with average highs of 29°C, humidity remains high.
From March till May: Heavy monsoon season with heavy downpours followed by sunshine.

The currency in Zanzibar is the Tanzanian Shilling. The food is mostly what is locally available so lots of lobsters, prawns, crab and fish is on offer. Zanzibar time is 3 hours ahead of GMT.
 
The beaches in Zanzibar are breathtaking, interspersed with picturesque fishing villages, where the Zanzibar people live a simple way of life. There are lots of great beaches; the majority of which are along the East Coast and Nungwi which is near the northern tip of the island. There is also Mangapwani Beach located on the west coast that is a really beautiful beach. The northeast coast is where you'll find the unspoiled beaches of Matemwe. Most of the hotels along this beach face the Mnemba Island. Another great beach in Zanzibar is the famous Kiwengwa with stretches of outstanding reefs and beautiful white sands.
 
Take diving booties to the coast as the some of the reefs have sea urchins.
 
Due to its location, Zanzibar enjoys warm currents almost year-round which provides the perfect playground to the many species of fish found around the many coral reefs surrounding Zanzibar. This makes it one of the best diving destinations in the world. The Mnemba Atoll is a prime dive site in the northern region, opposite Matemwe. Experienced scuba divers can enjoy exciting wall dives, night dives and drift dives. In deeper waters, lush coral gardens often stretch as far as the eye can see, and large gamefish (barracuda, kingfish, tuna and wahoo) hunt together with large Napoleonic wrasse, graceful manta rays and sharks.

Please note: Women are expected to dress modestly in public and beachwear should be kept to the beach. Nude or topless sunbathing is illegal and offends the Muslim community. When visiting villages, you should try to keep your shoulders & knees covered.

Visas are required by most passport holders but in most cases can be obtained on arrival with the minimum of formality. It is recommended that visitors check with the nearest Tanzanian embassy or Tourist Office for up-to-date information. South African passport holders do require visas for Tanzania and are easily obtainable on arrival.

We have a number of Zanzibar holiday special packages or Zanzibar itineraries or honeymoons or email us now to book your This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. now.