JOZANI FOREST Jozani Forest is one of the most popular places to visit in Zanzibar. The forest is the last sanctuary in the world to see the Zanzibar red colobus monkey. The forest is located in the Eastern part of the island and is one of the lushest places on Zanzibar. It’s a staunch reminder of what we have done to our environment over the centuries.
It’s easy to get lost and find the monkeys in the Jozani forest. There are many nature trails leading through beautiful forest and the red colobus monkeys are not shy at all.
HISTORICAL CITY TOURIt is a three-hour tour which begins at your hotel or entry point where you walk and driven around the historic old city. Our first visit during this tour and excursion in zanzibar is the fruit market which was opened in 1904. Here you will see and buy a variety of the tropical fruits and spices. This is the best place where you will feel multiculturalism of Zanzibar consisting of the residents of different origin. From here you will then proceed to the Anglican Cathedral at Mkunazini built by Bishop Streers in 1874 exactly on the site of the former slave market. The guide will also show you the place where is believed that slaves were kept before auctioned. The crucifix of the Church came from the tree in Chitambo under which the heart of Dr. Livingstone was buried. From here the next stop is the National Museums of Zanzibar commonly called Peace Memorial Museums.
SAFARI BLUE“Zanzibar’s most talked about sea adventure”, a very special product comprising a full day excursion exploring the very beautiful Conservation area of Menai Bay, south-west of Zanzibar Island. Safari Blue’ departs from the fishing village of Fumba exploring from there the sandbanks, islands, lagoons and wonders of the Bay and the Indian Ocean in the comfort of our traditional dhows. On arrival the participants are given a short briefing about the programme for the day and safety on board.The dhows are hand built from African mahogany, finished and maintained to the very highest standards. The most stunning natural creations must be the two pristine sandbanks of soft white sand which rise out of the turquoise blue of the Indian Ocean. We stop at one sandbank in the morning to snorkel over the coral reef and then to relax and swim. There we offer fresh green coconuts and a light snack. After snorkelling, if the tide permits, we move on to have lunch and spend the rest of the afternoon on a second sandbank near to the island of Pungume. The sandbanks have been described by many clients as the most idyllic places in the world.
PRISON ISLAND TOURIs a relaxation excursion that takes half-day on the beautiful island off the Zanzibar Town. The use of the island has changed overtime. Although it was originally built as a prison it was never put into that function. Later it was used as a quarantine of slaves for the whole of East Africa. The remnants of the built are still visible. The island offers a stunning view of the Town especially during the night; there is very beautiful minor sandy beach where swimming on the crystal waters is marvelous. The coral reefs surrounding the island provide an opportunity of snorkeling. This is also a home of the giant tortoise, which is now under strict conservation. A short-guided tour around the island will provide the real picture.
HOUSE OF WONDERS Or the “Palace of Wonders” is the tallest building in Stone Town and a main Zanzibar point of interest. It’s right next to the Old Fort and is a sight to see while in Stone Town. It is also the spot for the first elevator in all of East Africa. History buffs can learn about the history of Stone Town here and view old exhibits and rooms. The name comes from all of the modern amenities the house had first in Stone Town such as plumbing and electricity. However, it now has none of those wonders as it under renovation and at the time of writing, entering is not permitted
PAJE BEACHIf there is a backpacker spot on Zanzibar, it’s Paje beach. The beach has hip cafes, burger joints, kite surfing companies, and hostels making it one of the great places to visit in Zanzibar. We spent a few days relaxing in the inviting turquoise waters which is the perfect thing to do for those looking for free things to do in Zanzibar.
For those looking to have an active holiday in Zanzibar the most popular thing to do in Paje is kite surf. There are an endless amount of schools and rental shops all dying to take you out on the water and show you the ropes of kitesurfing. If you’re not a beginner Paje has just the right amount of wind to spend the entire Zanzibar holiday improving your kitesurfing skills. It’s often considered one of the best places in the world to go kite surfing and it’s easy to understand why when you feel the wind and see the gorgeous water.
SPICE TOURFour hour guided tour, which starts at Kibweni Palace through to Kidichi. Here are the Persian Baths built by Seyyid Said Sultan for his wife the Princess Shehrzard, one of the family member of the Shah of Persia. You will then proceed to Kizimbani spice plantations. Here you can see, touch a wide variety of spices, fruits, herbs and ornamental plants and flowers. You will also have the opportunity to pick, smell, and savour fruits and spices which you have probably never seen on the supermarket shelf, Cloves, star fruit, tangerine trees, lemon grass, mangos teen, ‘lipstick trees’, to name but a few what you can expect to see! This is the cheapest place to buy locally made perfumes and oils. When the tour is over we drive back to the hotel.
PRISON ISLANDTake a boat just 5 km away from Stone Town to reach the iconic Prison Island, or Changuu Island to be technical. Built in the late 1800’s this prison was supposed to serve as an island for slaves, violent prisoners, and quarantined.
The main joy of visiting prison island is seeing the nearby tortoise sanctuary. There are some of the giant Aldabross tortoises that also call the Seychelles home. Make sure to bring sun block for the boat transfers and snorkeling
STONE TOWN Stone Town is the cultural heart of Zanzibar and little has changed in the last 200 years. The grand old Arabian homes lining the narrow streets and winding alleys give the city its own unique charm. The majority of homes in Stone Town were built in the 19th C when Zanzibar was one of the most important Swahili trading towns in the Indian Ocean. Visitors will notice the bras-studded, intricately carved wooden doors on many of the houses.
As the world’s oldest functioning Swahili city, many of the landmarks in Stone Town have been restored to their original glory. Some of the historic buildings are now museums which can be visited. The town also has a couple of interesting old churches of historical significance. A walk along Creek Road takes visitors to the original Stone Town area and the location of the Central Darajani Market, Beit el-Amani, City Hall, and the Anglican Cathedral. Some of the other key highlights include the Forodhani Gardens, the Old Dispensary with its carved wooden balconies, the former home of the sultans known as Beit el-Sahel or the People’s Palace, the Hamamni Persian Baths built in 1888, and the oldest structure in Stone Town, the Old Fort.
PEMBA ISLAND Pemba Island is the northernmost island in the Zanzibar archipelago. Around Pemba are many desert islands and some of the best scuba diving in the Indian Ocean, with visibility that is unparalleled. Lush coral gardens, colorful sponges and sea fans are all found in the underwater haven. The city of Chake Chake, the main population center on Pemba, is a popular base for scuba divers.
Pemba is less visited than Zanzibar and as a result has a more laidback atmosphere. From December to February visitors can watch traditional bullfighting; a sign from the days of Portuguese dominance in the 16th and 17th C. The island is hilly with deep valleys so it has become popular with mountain bikers who are drawn to the 1,000-meter peaks.
Pemba is a major world clove producer and is also well known for the juju traditions of medicine and magic. People come from throughout East Africa to learn from the voodoo and traditional healers or seek a cure.
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