Zanzibar is the only place to go/visit for the beach holiday safari in Tanzania. Zanzibar is famous for the availability of many beaches and resorts/hotels where visitors visit Zanzibar for different reasons including beaches. It has a land area of 1,464 square kilometers and Pemba is about half that. Mainland Tanzania has a land area of some 942,832 square kilometers. The country lies between 1 and 11 degrees south of the Equator.
The Island of Zanzibar is attractive to many civilizations, all in search of new markets, adventures and new areas to explore. The islands’ superb resort and diving and fishing assets and its distinctive historical and cultural heritage should guarantee the future of tourism.
Zanzibar islands consist of two main islands Unguja and Pemba.
Zanzibar has more pronounced seasonality than the Mainland, with peak seasons in August and in December-January, which is typical of a resort destination dependent on European travel, though climate also influences. The northern monsoon winds blow between December and March and the south-west monsoon between April and November. The rainy season starts in March or April and last several weeks. June to October is the dry season.
The average temperature in Zanzibar is 25 C but it can reach 39 C. On the Mainland, temperature ranges between 25 and 30 C on the coast and between 22 and 27 C in the north.
Zanzibar Island has a lot of activities to do for those who visit Zanzibar for beach holidays. That activities/ tour are as follows:-
It’s also known as Changuu Island. It’s located in the western part of Zanzibar Island just off Stone Town. This name comes after the prison built there for slaves. Now the island is a home to a tortoise shelter. This island is located 20minutes by boat ride from stone town, and some beautiful coral reefs. Most visitors combine one day to visit prison Island, and stone town because of short distance drive. Prison Island the main attraction is the giant tortoise who can live up to 20 years. Being here, you get a chance to explore and learn the history of these beautiful creatures and also about Prison Island itself. Prison island has a beautiful beach, clean water and fascinating history. The island is also a perfect place for swimming and relaxing on the beach.
• Boat ride
• Snorkeling
• Sunbathe
• Seeing an feeding the giant tortoise at the island
• Swimming and beach relaxation
• Taking photos with the giant tortoise and fishes
• Learn the history about the prison Island
This historic stone town declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO since 2000. In this mystic and atmospheric town, you will find a mixture of Arabic, African, Indian and European cultures living comfortably together. This building was constructed from coral stone during the 19th and 20th century.
This town offers a chance for history lovers to know and understand the history of Zanzibar through time. Lots of key buildings are still in place some being turned into great museums like the infamous house of wonders and the neighboring Old Fort. Stone town is the town of large bazaars, mosques, winding and narrow alleys and large Arab houses with two cathedral and over 50 mosques.
Activities done here are;
• Walking tour
• Go through old slave market
• Visit Darajani market place
• Visit House of wonders
• Visit Anglicans church
• Visit the peace memorial museum
• Explore old fort and
• Visit Sultan’s Palace museum and central market
In the past days Zanzibar was known as the Island of Spices. Cloves, vanilla, nutmeg, tropical fruits, cardamoms were exported all over the world. Going to spice plantation you will walk with your guide through the spice farm. This tour you will learn how spices are grown, cultivated, harvested, used as medication and flavor in our dishes. You will touch, smell and taste the spices and herbs directly from the plants.
You will get a chance to interact with local life and tastes some of the fruits that will be available in the farm accompanied by a good spice tea.
Jozani forest is the largest area of indigenous forest on Zanzibar Island, also known as Chwaka Bay National Park since is located south of Chwaka Bay on low lying land. It covers an area of 50km2 and is a home to a known Red colobus Monkey- an endangered species found only on Zanzibar as well as other monkey species, bush babies, duikers and birds. The area is prone to flooding, which nurtures a lush swamp like environment of moistures loving trees and ferns. These monkeys are very photogenic and accompanied by a guide you will get very close to them. Jozani forest is a natural pharmacy and truly an amazing source of natural remedies. Every plant cures different diseases. It’s not allowed to walk off the paths without the guide, so as to protect the wildlife
• Walking tour –forest nature trail takes about 45 minutes’ walk.
• Visit Information Centre
• Bird watching
• View the mangrove habitat
This is a unique and exclusive experience with your own traditional Dhow cruse, touring the beautiful water and islands around Zanzibar. This experience will start embarking on a traditional dhow from the Fumba fishing village. It is an unmissable day tour while you are in Zanzibar, the protected water around the islands of Zanzibar. The tour starts operating since 1995. Sailing is one of the traditional dhows in this tour, constructed from African mahogany by Zanzibar’s craftsmen.
• Exploring Menai Bay conservation area in traditional wooden dhow
• Snorkeling with guide in the beautiful clear waters
• Rest on the white sand with a coconut tree providing shade
• Visit 2 hundred years old baobab tree
• Dolphin tour
• Swimming at the secret spot in the hidden mangrove lagoon (Kwale Island)
• Feasting on the seafood barbecue(BBQ)
• Enjoying amarula liquor with your coffee
The coral reefs around Zanzibar and its satellite islands have not entirely escaped the world-wide blight that has destroyed corals all over the world, but the damage is said to be relatively minor. Divers who had dived sites in the Red Sea, Australia and other parts of the Indian Ocean, describe as world-class those in Pemba, Mafia and parts of Zanzibar.
Mafia Island is the diving center in Zanzibar. It’s close during April and May but the shield created by the Archipelago keep dive sites in Mafia open from June to September during the strong breezes that can prevent diving at other sites in Tanzania safari.
Deep-sea fishing is done mainly in Mafia and the Pemba Island channel (a 2400-ft. deep channel separating the island from the mainland). Many of Tanzania’s lakes and rivers are suitable for freshwater fishing, with Lake Victoria the best known. Marketing seems to be mainly by word of mouth. There is no estimate of the numbers involved in this activity.
Zanzibar Islands are featured as single destination attractions and, frequently, as an add-on to the wildlife Tanzania safaris. Mnemba Island, a tiny island, which is part of Zanzibar, contains one of the world’s most exclusive luxury resorts-with only 10 rooms.
Pemba and Mafia are pristine islands promoted mainly for their coral reefs and for big game fishing. Chumbe Island, which won the British Airways Year 2000 Tourism for tomorrow award, is designed as an ecotourism resort. A few international tour operators feature Ras Kutani, the principal beach resort on the Mainland.
NOTE: This is not the end of activities to do in Zanzibar there are a plenty of activities to do you can visit our website for more information www.africanaturaltours.com
Tourists travel to Zanzibar by plane and by boat from the Mainland Tanzania: nearly 60% of tourists arrive by flights from Mainland Tanzania and from their country of origin and 40% arrive by boat. Zanzibar alone receives charter flights and these are from different country including Italy. The airport for landing Zanzibar is Zanzibar International airport.
Accommodations in Zanzibar of Tanzania safari are hugely varied from authentic beach lodges to 5star hotels. There’s midrange up to luxurious hotel, depend on your budget to stay. The island of Zanzibar, is supportive for those who visit for honeymoon trip, family or friends you will have an exotic Zanzibar hotels.