Traveling to Zanzibar with Superb Africa Safaris

Zanzibar is an exotic island with centuries of history, culture and trade. Today the island maintains its old world charm while embracing modernity, culminating in a vacation paradise.

Zanzibar is an island partner within the United Republic of Tanzania, located in the Indian Ocean about 35 km off the coast of mainland Tanzania at six degrees south of the Equator. Zanzibar is made up of many islands, the main two being Unguja (sometimes called Zanzibar) and Pemba. The highest point is 390 feet above sea level. 

Season Summary in Zanzibar:

SUMMER - November to May Hot, some humidity with rains in November, May and June. 

WINTER - June to October Warm with rains in June, otherwise sunny.   

BEST - December to March and July to October 

ISLAND EXCURSION & ACTIVITIES

Stone Town

 
Stone Town holds magic and mystery. Shafts of bright light joust with deep shadows creating a fascinating world within its narrow streets, built for pedestrian traffic. The streets wind between tall buildings, opening unexpectedly into ornamental squares that endow the town with gathering points for local people as well as atmosphere of Arabian Nights charm.

Main Festival venues are centred around The Old Fort, House of Wonders and Forodhani Gardens, whose waterfront make a pleasant place to spend hours of an evening at any time of year, with the local traders selling freshly cooked kebabs, seafood, breads, chai and sugar cane juice.

Places to visit in and around Stone Town

Beit el Ajaib (House of Wonders)

Formerly the Sultan’s Palace, built in the nineteenth century by Sultan Barghash, the Festival is proud to be using this venue for exhibitions, film screenings, seminars and workshops. 

People's Palace Museum
Located adjacent to the House of Wonders is another fine building, which served as the residence of the Al Busaid Sultans of Zanzibar until the Revolution in 1964. It now serves as a museum, where for a few shillings you can hire a guide to show you round and talk you through local history.

Livingstone House
David Livingstone, the famous explorer (we presume), stayed in this house before sailing to the mainland in a dhow to begin his last expedition in 1866. The building is now the main office of the Zanzibar Tourist Corporation (ZTC). Located in the north east side of town on the Malawi Road, leading to Bububu.

Prison Island Tour
One of the three small islands visible from the seafront, the island used to house a prison which was actually used for quarantine. There is a small fee payable to ZTC on landing at the island, which hosts a sandy beach, coral reef with good snorkelling, peacocks and the famous giant tortoises. 

Dolphin Tour 
This tour takes you to the South coast of Zanzibar Island by road. Once you reach Kizimkazi village you will board a boat that will take you searching for dolphins.
You have an 80% chance of seeing them and with a bit of luck might even swim amongst them.

Jozani Forest Tour 
Jozani Forest is located approximately 35 km southeast of Zanzibar township in the southern region. It is a narrow neck between Chwaka Bay in the north and Uzi Bay to the South. It contains about 100 species of trees in a total of 43 families.

The forest has an area of 2512 hectares, that includes the whole ground water forest, coral rag forest and salt marsh area. Though until recently, only the forest was gazetted, the area together with the adjacent Chwaka Bay forest have been converted into a reserve known as Jozani Chwaka Bay Conservation Area (JCBCA). 

Spice Tour

A visit to Zanzibar would not be complete without a Spice Tour, which will take you through much of the countryside and if you have an ‘official tour’ you can get good information about a whole heap of spices, tropical fruits and rare plants - see how they grow and get some good cookery tips. Learn about the fruits and spices from the moment they are planted until they are dried and turned into powders or dried candies. If you are interested in this please let us know. While there you can sample a multitude of unusual fruits and spices. Zanzibar is the world’s foremost exporter of black cloves.

Swahili Cultural Tour
A four-hour excursion, which takes you to Kizimkazi to the southern part of the island. Kizimkazi is a traditional fishing and farming village. It has a long history dating in the 12 century. It is the first place visited by the Persian who built a mosque in 1170. In the mosque are inscription written in kofic. The exceptional long graves here are still a misery. A wall whose remains are visible even today formerly surrounded the village.

Most residents of this village are fisherman but are also small farmers. Typical activities include food gathering, artisanship and businesses. You will enjoy seafood and locally grown fruits and root crops such as cassava, bananas and coconuts too. A visit to Qur-ani School and traditional drama and dance are arranged.

Shopping
A variety of locally produced crafts can be found in the shops and bazaars of Stone Town. Buying such goods benefits the local community so we encourage you to look out for such goodies

 Island Trips can be combined with a Wildlife Safari in Tanzania or Kilimanjaro Climb.

You have a choice from basic guest houses accommodation to luxury beach resorts. 

To get a list of recommended hotels in Zanzibar, click here.

If you would like to get more information regarding tours and accommodation in Zanzibar, contact us here.

Tanzania as a prime tourist destination

When it comes to wildlife, Tanzania has much to offer. All members of the Big Five are found in the country's wildlife areas which are as follows:

Serengeti National Park - endless plains of the North
Ngorongoro Wildlife Area - a concentration of animals by the herd
Lake Manyara National Park - tree climbing lions found here
Mount Kilimanjaro - Africa's roof top and world's tallest free standing mountain
Tarangire National Park - birdlife in plenty
Selous Game Reserve - elephants by the thunder
Mikumi National Park - most accessible park in Tanzania

The history of the place coupled with the hospitality of the Tanzanians creates a good recipe for a safari.

The climate of the place is also great.

Tanzania has temperate to warm weather throughout the year, with high levels of humidity on the coast and dry on the central plateau. The heavy rains last from March to June. The hot, dry weather in January and February attracts the most tourists. 

The best time to visit the Serengeti is from January to March when the grazers are calving and there are plenty of lion around, or to witness the wildebeest migration to and from Kenya which occurs at the beginning of the dry season and returns again with the first rains, usually the beginning of June and mid-November. Zanzibar has a warm and humid climate year-round and its coastal resorts are tempered by sea breezes. The island is best avoided in April and May, the rainy season.

CURRENCY

There is no restriction on the amount of foreign currency you may bring into any of the East African countries. It is advisable to change the foreign currency into local currency only in banks and forex bureaus. Before you leave you can change the local currency back into your currency but you may be asked for the initial exchange receipt. US$ are acceptable for payments in most tourist establishments and are more commonly used than the Euros. Many hotels and all National Parks quote their rates in US$ for visitors. 

SECURITY

Tanzania is a peaceful country in its cities and out in the game parks. However, there are precautions one should take when spending one's holiday here, as you would in any unfamiliar area. Never show off your valuables, keep your money and passport in the hotel's safe. Ask your driver or hotel front desk which areas are not safe, and stay away from them. Always take a taxi after dark. 


Are these not enough reasons to visit Tanzania?


To get more facts regarding Tanzania, click here


Accommodation in Tanzania ranges from budget camping (where clients sleep in 02 man tents), lodges (normal facilities) to luxury tented camps that have all the facilities of a 5 Star hotel.

Mbuzi Mawe Tented Camp

To learn more about accommodation in Tanzania, click here

Did you know that the shortest war ever fought in history was fought in Zanzibar?
The island has accommodation facilities that cater for the needs of every traveler, be it a business traveler, a tourist, a group on conference or honeymooners enjoying moments together.

Zanzibar

To learn more of what can be done while in Zanzibar, click here

By joining us while on a vacation, you learn, you relax, you enjoy; we take your heart to the heart of the African continent.

Tanzania is a land of contrasts and majesty, Africa at its most wild and unexplored; why not visit our website to learn more of our Tanzanian Safari Packages

Zanzibar Serena Inn, Tanzania

Africa land of sunlight, space and splendour

Africa land of sunlight, space and splendour, land of lions, elephants, buffaloes, cheetahs and rhinos stamps her imprint on your soul like nowhere else on earth. Kilimanjaro, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Victoria Falls, Kalahari, Masai Mara, Nile, and Sahara: her names are a powerful evocation of the wilderness and that longing that is in all of us for the wild.

The Nile is Egypt is the world’s longest river. Kilimanjaro, the snowcapped roof top of Africa at 5,895 metres above sea level is the world’s highest free standing mountain. The Sahara Desert is the largest hot desert in the world and at 9,000,000 sq km it covers 11 countries.

The Masai Mara in Kenya is one of the Natural Wonders of the World. The Victoria Falls with its height and width is attributed as the largest sheet of falling water in the world. Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania is the world's largest unbroken caldera. Often referred to as "Africa's Garden of Eden."

Each different aspect of Africa is part of a journey through the soul of the continent: Palm fringed beaches along the coastlines, snow capped mountains situated very close to the equator, arid and semi arid lands where various animals have adapted to the rugged life, canopied rain forests teeming with birdlife and butterflies, volcanic mountains, and mighty rivers which serve as breeding grounds for the great reptiles – crocodiles.

Away from the wilderness areas are large cities, small and big towns that act as melting pots for different cultures. Excursions in these cities and towns offer the visitor a glimpse into life in urban Africa. Budget, medium and high end accommodation facilities exist to offer the intrepid traveler superb lodging, eating, entertainment and conferencing facilities.

At SUPERB AFRICA SAFARIS, we feature all these in the various packages that we offer.

We take your heart to the heart of Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands.

“I determined never to stop until I had come to the end and achieved my purpose”.
David Livingstone (1813-1873) Scottish missionary, doctor and explorer to Africa.