Everything You Need To Know Before Visiting Beautiful Zanzibar

Is there anywhere in the world that sounds more beguiling than Zanzibar? You can virtually feel the sea breeze, hear the rustle of palm leaves, and smell the spices by just saying Zanzibar. I had always been intrigued by this Indian Ocean spice island, just by the name alone, but once I set foot on the island and watched the iconic dhows, with their triangular sails, on the ocean, sampled the cuisine, and experienced this interesting mix between African and Arabian cultures, I truly fell in love with it. Zanzibar is an archipelago of four islands off the coast of East Africa. Its main island, Unguja, is often referred to as Zanzibar. Because of its strategic location along the spice and slave trade routes in the Indian Ocean, Zanzibar has been a stronghold for many countries throughout its history. Oman even declared Zanzibar its capital for 30 years in 1832. Zanzibar then became a British protectorate until it joined Tanganyika in the 1960s to form Tanzania. Today, its mainstays are spices and tourism. That said, finding people who have visited the island is still quite rare, making this a dream location still very much off the beaten track.

How To Get To Zanzibar

None of the US airlines fly directly to Zanzibar, but you can connect through hubs such as Dar es Salaam in mainland Tanzania; Middle Eastern airports such as those in Doha, Qatar, and Dubai, UAE; or through Johannesburg, South Africa. If you fly into Dar es Salam, you have the option to take a short flight to the island or go by ferry. Pro Tip: Finding Tanzanian shillings in the U.S. is virtually impossible, so hold out until you land in Tanzania and get the local currency from the ATMs in the airport. Make sure you always have plenty of change on you, as things are cheap and market stalls and cafes do not usually take cards.

Why You Should Visit Zanzibar

If the name alone doesn’t convince you, then visualize a perfect Indian Ocean island with palm-fringed white sand beaches, an interior that still has plenty of indigenous forest (which plays home to a cute species of monkey only found on Zanzibar), and a capital, Zanzibar City, that is full of amazing architecture that is a mix of Omani palaces, Arabian arches, and Indian wooden balconies and studded doors. The town’s narrow streets are bustling with life, offering visitors a heady mix made up of local women offering you henna tattoos, Maasai warriors playing pool in a corner cafe, colorful markets, delicious food, fabulous shopping, and plenty of varied history. And then there are the beach resorts. The best way to experience Zanzibar, at least in my mind, is to have a two-stop vacation: a stay in Stone Town to enjoy all the town has to offer for a few days, then a drive through the interior to one of the many beach resorts to spend a few days relaxing on the beach. A week or two would not be too long.

Best Time To Visit Zanzibar

Zanzibar is very close to the equator, and because of that, the temperatures are steady throughout the year, going from warm to quite hot (77 degrees to slightly above 85 degrees), with the advantage of a fresh sea breeze reaching you nearly everywhere on the island. Between March and the end of May, you have the so-called heavy rains, but even then, the days are mostly dry with only odd, heavy showers. The short rains take place in November. Zanzibar is predominantly Muslim, so do check what dates Ramadan and the two Eid celebrations fall onto, as you will find many shops and cafes closed, although the beach resorts will offer business as usual. Please note that there is malaria on Zanzibar, so you will need to get a suitable combination of malaria prophylaxis. Check with your nearest tropical diseases institute which brands are recommended for the time you are planning to go.

 

Best Things To Do In Zanzibar

The House Of Wonders The House of Wonders (Bait al Ajaib) in Stone Town was once the ceremonial palace of Sultan Bargash bin Said, the Omani sultan who ruled Zanzibar between 1870 and 1888. The building incorporates most of the typical Zanzibari architecture: enormous wooden doors, a reminder of both Arab and Indian craftsmanship; the tall columns creating shady verandas around the building, and rooms located on the outside of the building, creating an airy and cool courtyard inside. It is now a museum in dire need of a bit of love and care but has an intriguing and eclectic mix of artefacts from throughout Zanzibar's history. Next door, you'll find the old Arab Fort dating back to the 17th century, which is worth exploring.

 

The Markets

The Darajani Market is the main market in Stone Town and, in fact, Zanzibar Island. This is where everyone does their food shopping, exchanges gossip, hangs out. and meets with friends. The atmosphere is electric, the colors, noise, and smells a feast for the senses. Obviously, with Zanzibar being the Spice Island, do not miss the spice section. There is a small souvenir market next to the Old Fort with local arts and crafts on sale, and, at night, an absolute must-do is the food market in the Forodhani Gardens just in front of the House of Wonders. Make sure you have plenty of small denominations of Tanzanian shillings in cash as the food is cheap, and cards are not taken.

The Jozani Forest

The Jozani Forest, inland of the island, is part of the Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park, and the only home of the rare red colobus monkeys. You can book guided tours from Stone Town (or any beach resort) to the reserve, and a guide will take you through the mature forest, full of teak and mahogany, raffia palms and wild date palms. You will spot animals such as chameleons, elephant shrews, and bush babies, if you are lucky. You will certainly spot the friendly monkeys, which you are not supposed to touch, but which will reach out for you, being just as interested in the visitors as the visitors are in them.

The Spice Plantations

There are several spice plantations that are open to visitors: Book a tour through your hotel, and you will learn so much. Even if you are a keen cook, you will be amazed by the cinnamon, ginger, lemongrass, chili, cardamom, vanilla, turmeric, curry leaves, nutmeg, cloves, bay leaves, and many more kitchen staples that grow here. You'll also find coconut, jackfruit, durian, guava, papaya, and ten species of banana.

Shopping In Stone Town

Apart from the markets and the ubiquitous street stalls and locals simply displaying their wares by the side of the small lanes in the old town, Stone Town has superb shopping. The whole town is an interior decorator's dream come true. Gizenga Street is filled with art galleries selling the typical native Tingatinga paintings, shops selling African carvings, and colorful kangas, all with a typical sayings imprinted on them, and Maasai beaded jewelry. The area around Shangani Street has a few more up-market souvenir shops.

Best Restaurants To Try In Zanzibar

The Tea House At The Emerson On Hurumzi Hotel Formerly the Emerson and Green, the Emerson on Hurumzi Hotel, mentioned also in best places to stay, offers typical Zanzibari food at The Tea House on their roof terrace at night. A small and cozy place with fab views, you will sample the best Zanzibar’s cuisine can offer. Forodhani Gardens Forget restaurants and head to the Forodhani Gardens night market to sample Zanzibari street food. From freshly caught and grilled fish and shrimp to the Zanzibar pizza, a cross between an omelette and a pancake, you get extremely cheap and extremely interesting food with a superb setting and atmosphere thrown in. Mercury's Did you know that Freddy Mercury was born on Zanzibar? Mercury's, the bar named after him, is right next to the dhow harbour and not only offers great cocktails, but fabulous seats for the famous Zanzibari sunsets. Best Places To Stay In Zanzibar The Serena Inn The Serena Inn is a luxurious hotel in the place to be in Stone Town. Perfect for sunset drinks on the terrace, great shopping just steps away, and all the conveniences you could wish for after a day's dusty exploring. Emerson On Hurumzi Hotel Emerson on Hurumzi Hotel is my personal favorite. It's a converted townhouse right in the heart of old Stone Town with a roof terrace, from where you can look out over the higgledy-piggledy roofs of the city all the way to the ocean. Superb personal service and gorgeous interior design. Breezes Beach Club Along the coast of Zanzibar, you can find accommodations ranging from five-star luxury resorts to hostels, but for a nice resort, not too pricey but with all the amenities and a great spa, Breezes Beach Club and Spa is a good choice. Plenty of water sports are available, but it still remains a relatively small and cozy place.