Explore Zanzibar Island
About Zanzibar Island
The Zanzibar Archipelago, located in the Indian Ocean 15 miles off the coast of Tanzania, is a breathtaking spot to escape from the world. You’ll enjoy clear, turquoise-blue water; shallow sandbars perfect for wading; and many small, nearly deserted islands virtually unvisited by tourists. Explore the World Heritage Site of Stone Town, Zanzibar City’s old quarter. Or just go beach to beach between tiny fishing villages—each one’s better than the next.
things to do in zanzibar
Eat at a Zanzibar Pizza at Forodhani Gardens
Each evening, at Forodhani Gardens on the seafront of Stone Town, street vendors set up their stalls, selling seafood and meat kebabs, samosas, fruit, grilled maize, Zanzibar pizzas and sugar cane juice to tourists and locals alike.
Shop for Spices and Kitenge
Buy paintings, jewellery, material, wooden carvings, Maasai bracelets, ‘sexy shoes’ (kind of like metal flip flops, that make you sexy apparently), Zanzibar chests and exotic spices. A lot of these shops sell the same mass-produced stuff you find all over Africa, but you’ll find the odd cool item! Don’t forget to barter. Start low and then meet in the middle – it’s pretty fun when you get the hang of it!
Take a Walking Tour of Stone Town
Some people arrive in Zanzibar and head straight to the beaches, however I strongly suggest you stay in Stone Town for at least a day or two. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Centre and one of the most interesting places. Having a guide for a few hours will provide a great insight into the island U-Trip Zanzibar Car Rental Will be proud to find a guider for you.
Admire the Doors
Zanzibar doors are something else. While some doors and buildings are succumbing to ruin, there are still many of the original doors intact, ornately decorated and have meanings behind them.
Try the Local Food
There are tons of lovely food you can buy off the street including my favorites kashata, mishkaki and mango with chilli. If you’re looking for a restaurant, that’s cheap, authentic but really, really tasty, go to Lukman or The Passing Show Hotel in Stone Town. Local foods include fried fish, chicken, curry, biriyani and pilau rice, as well as samosas and chapatis. It will be an honor to take you there.
Go on Safari Blue
You start in the small village of Fumba on the south coast, sailing on a traditional dhow to Menai Bay where dolphins you have the chance to see and swim with dolphins. Snorkeling is the order of the day and you have chance to explore the reefs. Lunch is a seafood buffet that includes fresh lobster, fish, calamari, chicken and veggie options served on a sandbank. Drinks are also included! It’s a full day trip, so in the afternoon you sail to Kwale Island take a ride on a Ngalawa canoe, explore the mangroves, see an ancient baobab tree and relax on the beach before sailing back to Zanzibar at sunset.
Take a Spice Tour
Zanzibar is called ‘The Spice Island’ due to the spices grown on the island. You’ll get to taste things like vanilla, turmeric, cumin, cinnamon as well as many others, used for cooking or in traditional medicines. Your guide will explain what the spices are used for and their unique properties. I swear, you’ll end up putting turmeric in EVERYTHING.
Visit a Jozani Forest
Jozani Forest, is home to the rare red colobus monkey. As you walk through the forest, you’ll get chance to see the monkeys up close and learn about the various plants and animals that call this place home.
Eat Lunch at The Rock Restaurant
Head to the east of the island and you’ll find The Rock, just off Michanvi Pingwe beach. This restaurant is unusual, because it is literally built on a rock, in the Indian Ocean!
Visit Prison Island (Changuu)
Changuu (Prison Island) is a former slave prison, just off the coast of Stone Town. Today it is home to giant Aldebaran tortoise’s, imported from the Seychelles. You can feed the tortoises, enjoy the forest, sunbathe on the white sandy beach and get a great view of Stone Town. Surrounding the island is a coral reef, good for snorkeling and the water is dotted with colorful starfish.
Learn Some Kiswahili
While a lot of people speak English, knowing a little bit of the local language goes a LONG, LONG way in Zanzibar (or any part of Tanzania). Just speaking a few greetings will get you a huge smile, a lot of respect and the response ‘Ah, you speak Swahili?” Examples of common words used are:
- Mambo - How are things? (informal greeting)?
- Habari or habari yako - How are you?
- Asante or asante sana - Thank you or thank you very much!
- Shikamoo - Respectful greetings (you would use this to someone older than you – children may use this towards you)
- Poa - I’m cool!
- Nzuri sana - Very good!
- Karibu sana - You’re welcome
- Marahaba - Thank you for your respectful greetings. (basically, the reply to 'shikamo')