If you hear that active tourists have nothing to do in Zanzibar, and all the sights can be seen in a week - do not believe it. Since the island is small - only 80 km in length, it is possible to travel around it in a week, but it will be from a series of “galloping across Europe”, only instead of Europe, the African island of Zanzibar.
Thus, you just check the box that you have seen almost all the most interesting things on the island, but you will hardly be able to fully experience the real Africa.
If you have a two-week holiday in Tanzania at your disposal, that's better. During this time, you can safely explore all the most famous sights of Zanzibar.
Let's see what tour operators, guides at hotels and beach battles offer, what entertainment there are that you can arrange for yourself, more on that below.
You may be interested to know about the best hotels in Zanzibar by the sea and prices for holidays →
What to see in Zanzibar is a must
Small island with giant turtles
There is an opportunity to see giant turtles over 100 years old only in several places in the world, one of them is Prison Island. It is 30-40 minutes by boat from the port in Stone Town.
The island is a nursery for giant turtles, of which there are very few left in the world. Here they are looked after, taken care of the population and most importantly protected.
While in Zanzibar, visiting Prison Island is a must, because this is a unique opportunity to see these hulks with your own eyes.
Turtles roam freely around the fenced area of the island. You will be able to move freely with them, stroke their necks and even feed them with leaves.
If you decide to relax in Zanzibar with children, then the excursion will be an excellent occasion to spend time with the whole family.
In the rating - What to see in Zanzibar, the reviews of tourists about this excursion are unanimously positive.
The cost of an entrance ticket to the territory of the reserve is $ 5.
Walk through the Stone Town
The old part of the city of Stone Town is called the Stone Town, it is even included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
With a guide or on your own, visiting the old city is a must. The historical center of Zanzibar has collected the architecture of different peoples, but the Arab influence is felt most of all.
The streets of the city are very narrow and confused with each other; it will not be difficult to get lost in such a maze of tangles. You can comfortably walk around the city even in extreme heat, houses standing next to each other create a dense shadow, and the sea breeze refreshes a little.
While walking around Stone Town, be sure to see several famous historical sights:
House of Wonders
For a long time, the building was the Sultan's palace. Until 1964, dynasties of kings lived in it. In Stone Town, you will not find a building larger than this.
Why was it called the House of Wonders? You will find out during the excursion. Today, there is a museum inside the building.
The entrance ticket is $ 4.
Slave trade area
A monument dedicated to sad events is erected on the square.
The island had a large slave market that appeared in the early 19th century. Trafficking in persons was banned in 1873, before that more than 600 thousand people were sold on the island.
Fish market
A favorite place among tourists where you can buy good souvenirs and bargain. This is a maritime market with a slight predominance of products from the spice series. This is one of the most picturesque places in Zanzibar. If you do not plan to buy anything at the fish market, it is still worth a visit. Here you can see shark, blue marlin, octopus, squid and much more. The smell on the market is of course specific.
It is better to walk around the market without children, there are most of the scary moments, for example, butchering a sea turtle is not a very pleasant sight.
In the fruit market and in the spice market, the aromas are, in a good sense of the word, dizzying. Here you can buy quality spices and outlandish fruits.
A walk around the market will be a great idea for tourists who are wondering what to bring as a souvenir for themselves and their families.
English fort
Located near the House of Wonders, admission is free, with a sightseeing tour - $ 4.
Blue safari
In Zanzibar, you can be offered not only safari on the mainland, but also by water.
An excursion with an exotic name is, by and large, a boat trip. Tourists ride on wooden boats on the islands and shoals that form at low tide. Time is also set aside for snorkeling. The tour runs all day, fruit snacks and lunch are included in the price.
Lunch is not just a nice bonus, but an important part of the event. During a stop on one of the islands, guests are served national African dishes, shrimp, squid, octopus and grilled lobster. In a restaurant, such a dinner will cost $ 50-60, and the whole excursion with a hearty meal is about $ 65. And if you buy a tour from a tour operator, you can bargain up to $ 30 for one tourist from the beach-boys.
You will be interested to know about the prices for vacations: meals, air tickets, the cost of all excursions and other financial issues →
Spice plantation
"Tour of spices" can be bought at the hotel, or you can go to the plantation on your own.
Local guys stand at the entrance to the spice plantation, they conduct excursions for only $ 5. Everyone speaks English, and there are those who speak Russian.
The spice plantation is well worth a visit. You will learn how medicinal herbs and spices, which you often use at home, grow and look in nature.
The resourceful Zanzibari will treat you with coconut juice and show you their palm climbing skills, hoping to get a tip.
Nakupenda Beach
Do you want to visit the Maldives? Zanzibar has a white coastline with an azure sea, a gentle entrance, no debris. The beach is located near Stone Town (western part) and is not always accessible to tourists due to the ebb and flow. The infrastructure is well developed, there are sea activities from excursions on private boats to diving. Locals bring ready meals. Lovers of souvenirs can buy inexpensive wooden figurines, handmade baskets, various attributes of local life.
How to get there on your own? Any local will take you from Stone Town on his own boat. The cost is approximately $ 40 round trip for one. You can take an excursion, the cost of a boat trip is from $ 75.
Excursion to Kilimanjaro and climbing prices
One of the expensive excursions in Zanzibar is a trip to the Kilimanjaro volcano. There are many options for a sightseeing tour, from one round trip to 12 days at the foot.
The cost of the excursion is on average from $ 500, depending on the program. It is best to buy a sightseeing tour for 5-7 days, the cost is from $ 900.
You can save money, fly to the foot on your own and buy the necessary additional programs in the city of Moshi, at a price much cheaper than in the city of departure.
To adapt (acclimatize) the body, it is better to spend 24-48 hours in the city, since the national park is located at an altitude of 1900 meters above sea level.
The cost of a flight from Zanzibar to Kilimanjaro with a stopover in Dar es Salaam starts at $ 210. It is better to buy tickets on Aviasales, he will find the cheapest flight options.
The price of a few days excursion to Kilimanjaro starts at $ 2,500 per person, this includes: flight, insurance, accommodation, meals, park safari, guide, and much more.Find out the program and whether the cost of air tickets is included before paying for the tour.
Fishing in Zanzibar
Zanzibar, what to see and where to go for men? On the island, they offer a trip to the open ocean for fishing, such entertainment is quite expensive in value - from $ 300. Many do not know, but you can arrange fishing on your own, it is much cheaper and more interesting.
On all the major beaches near the fishing villages, you will see local men, armed with a spear and a mask, go into the sea at low tide. They come not far - the water is just above the waist, and there they fish among corals and stones. For only $ 5-10, they will gladly take you with them.
On such fishing you can catch unusual fish, squid and octopus. Girls will also be interested - shells in the Indian Ocean are incredibly beautiful, collecting them as souvenirs home will be fascinating.
Where to go on your own
Having settled in the north of the island, you will find what to see in Zanzibar in Nungwi. It is the largest and busiest village on the island.
Here you can see a lot of interesting things from the life of the local population just walking around the village.
At the end of the village on the east side, next to the beach, there is a wooden boat workshop. Working men will be happy to show you the boat making process. The tools with which they make ships will surprise you very much.
As you go deeper into the village, you will see a football field and a school next to it. The school looks unusual. The local kids are in touch, they will show you the school and classes.
Beach battles can also arrange a tour of the village, it will cost only $ 5-10.
In the evening in Nungwi, you can arrange a walk along the beach under the stars, a great idea for romantics.
Interesting places of Zanzibar for tourists
- A trip with children to Tanzania must be accompanied by an introduction to monkeys. In Zanzibar, we recommend taking an excursion to the Jozani rainforest, here you can get acquainted with such a view as the colobus.
- A common tourist attraction for dining in Zanzibar is the Rock Restaurant. What is unique here is that they always prepare fresh and tasty dishes, prices are high, but you should definitely visit here. The restaurant was built by one of the local residents during low tide on a small rock, now the place is known all over the world.
Tips for traveling to Zanzibar on your own
- If you decide to relax in Zanzibar during the coronavirus period, it is worth knowing - they do not require a PCR test for Covid-19 upon arrival.
- You can apply for a visa at the airport (the airport building is small, don't get lost at the exit and you will find a local transfer without any problems). The cost of registration is $ 50 per tourist. Payment is made in cash without change or by bank transfer with Visa and MasterCard. Here you will have to fill out a migration card and a visa application form. Everything will take about 20 minutes.
- Full registration at the airport with baggage claim takes no more than 40 minutes.
- We advise you to change money at the airport. Banks and hotels are holding the most disadvantageous course. We do not recommend changing money on the street - there are many scammers.
- Important! Dollars on the island are accepted not older than 2009!
- You shouldn't take the Euro, here they are equal to the dollar. That is, 1 $ = 1 €, it is not profitable for Russians.
- In restaurants, fruit shops, souvenir shops, cafes - it is profitable to pay with local currency (shillings).
- SIM cards of local operators can be more easily purchased upon arrival at the airport. The cost of a SIM card with a regular tariff is about $ 22 for 10 MB of Internet.
- If you use the services of Fly Dubai, find out if they are fed during the flight, some flights, even long ones, do not have meals. Bring some snacks or extra money to buy food on board with you.
- Find out the reviews of tourists who have already been here and know about all the nuances of a vacation by the sea in Tanzania.
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