A Travel Guide To Zanzibar, Tanzania
It is no hidden fact that as far as travel destinations on the African continent is concerned, Zanzibar, Tanzania is a tourist favorite and with all the reasons to back it up! In this guide, you will learn a bit about Tanzania, the island of Zanzibar and all there is to do, see and experience in this East African slice of paradise.
A little about Tanzania
Tanzania is located in East Africa, sharing borders with Kenya and Uganda (to the north), Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (to the west), Zambia, Malawi & Mozambique (to the south) and the Indian Ocean to the east. Tanzania's unique position geographically makes it a hub for commerce, trade, cultures and of course, tourism.
Zanzibar Island
The island of Zanzibar lies on the east coast of Tanzania, consisting of two main islands; Unguja Island (popularly known as Zanzibar), Pemba Island and other smaller islets. Some of the major touristic cities on the Zanzibar island include Stone Town, Nungwi, Michamvi, Jambiani, Kendwa, Paje, and Kizimkazi. Different parts of the island present unique tourist experiences to its visitors.
Pre-Travel & Arrival Tips
Like every country worth visiting, there are a set of things to be aware of and put in place before arriving in Zanzibar, to allow for a smooth travel experience.
Visas
For Ghanaian passport holders, Zanzibar (and Tanzania) are visa free for touristic visits up to 90 days. This means, Ghanaian passport holders do not require a visa to visit Tanzania. Depending on your passport, you could require a Visa on arrival, a E-Visa or a Referral-Visa for entry into the country's land, air or sea borders. Visit https://visa.immigration.go.tz to ascertain your visa requirements and cost for entry into Zanzibar.
2. Vaccination
Right up the list from a valid visa (if required), is your Yellow Fever Vaccination Card. This is a must-have document for most African countries, and Zanzibar, Tanzania is no exception.
3. Ports of Entry
Tanzania has four (4) International airports; Dar Es Salaam Julius Nyerere Airport, Kilimanjaro Airport, Mwanza Airport and Abeid Amani Karume Airport I Zanzibar. Furthermore, all the three main islands in Zanzibar; Pemba & Mafia islands have their airports although the Abeid Amani Karume Airport is the busiest and receives the most tourists arrivals in Zanzibar. It's best to know which airport is closest to your destination and schedule your landing ports accordingly.
NB: Zanzibar can be accessed by two routes: by air and via ferry from Dar Es Salam.
The ferry takes 2 hours from Dar Es Salaam and departs 4 times in a day.
4. Currency Conversion & Finance Tips
The predominant currency used in Zanzibar is the Tanzanian Shillings (Tsh, as its called), although most service points price in both Tsh & USD. Note: Even though some hotels and restaurants accept card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex), Zanzibar is very cash-driven and most vendors and tourism services providers will opt for cash as a primary payment option. Forex bureaus are also pretty ubiquitous so you can easily convert your currency from USD, Euro, GBP, KES, ZAR, DIRHAM etc. for payments.
THINGS TO DO IN ZANZIBAR
Now that we've learnt about the country, its island, immigration policies, arrival requirements and money tips, let's get to the fun part: what to do after you touch down in Zanzibar!
The island is vast & generous with its offerings as such, there's so much to see & do while in Zanzibar! Below are a few recommendations for tours, activities and experiences to indulge in when you visit.
Stone Town
Lodge in a traditional sultan home
Take a historic walking tour of stone town
Visit the old fort
Visit the Freddie Mercury Museum
Visit Darajani Market
Visit Forodhani Garden Park
Visit Changuu Island
Experience a hammam Persian bath
Visit the spice farms/ market
I highly recommend spending a night or two in stone town, in addition to your island escape to Paje, Jambiani, Nungwi etc.
Water-based activities across cities
Visiting an island for any purpose; leisure, romantic getaway or a friendcation is synonymous with experiencing some quality time by the ocean. Be it just lounging, chasing sunrises and sunsets, dolphin-watching, snorkeling, scuba diving or swimming with different species of animals, Zanzibar is a haven for aquaphiles and has something to offer every kind of ocean lover. Below are a few of my recommendations for watersports:
Swim with Turtles in Nungwi
Swim with / watching dolphins at Mnemba Island
Go Snorkeling/ Scuba diving at Mnemba Island
Enjoy a beach day at Nakupeda sandbank
Swim with horses at Kendwa
Enjoy kitesurfing at Jambiani
Chase sunsets & enjoy beachside partying at Michamvi
Experience a Safari blue tour
Kayaking at Kendwa
Bucket-list activities
Additionally, there are some bucket-list activities / places that are unique to Zanzibar I believe should be experienced at least once, if you find yourself on the island. Find a few of my recommendations below:
Lunch at The Rock Restaurant, Zanzibar
Cave swimming at Maalum or Kuza caves
Sunset Jumping / Watching at Forodhani Park
Feeding Giant Aldabra tortoises at Changuu Island
Tandem Skydiving over the island
Final Notes:
Zanzibar is a perfect destination for touristic visits on the African continent, and I highly recommend visiting for a group experience, a romantic getaway or a friendcation. It can be done alone over a 7-10 day period, or paired with explorations of Safari adventures, Arusha, Mt. Kilimanjaro or Dar Es Salaam over a longer duration.
Purchase My Ultimate Zanzibar Travel Guide
If you'll like more in-depth information covering everything from flight options and cost, accommodation recommendations, tours with costs, nightlife options, trip cost breakdown & travel advisory from my #ZanzibarExperience, click here to download a copy of my twenty (20) page Zanzibar Travel Guide to aid your travel planning
Plan A Private Trip To Zanzibar
Want a carefully curated private trip to Zanzibar alone, with a loved one or friends & family? Send an email to info@shesuthmanblog.com & I'll be more than happy to assist you plan an unforgettable Zanzibar Experience for you & yours.
Thank you for reading. I hope you found this travel guide useful for your Zanzibar travel planning & Happy Travels!
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