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Package holidays can be made
to suit you and your time frame on the island.
Please
contact us to arrange a Holiday to your Specifications.
Zanzibar history
The
history of Zanzibar goes back hundreds of years as it has been a trade centre
for Portuguese, Arabs, Egyptians and Phoenixes. In the 17th century, the Arabs
of Oman took power, and exported spices from Zanzibar and its neighbouring
island Pemba, making these islands the world’s greatest exporters of spices.
The slave trade was important to Zanzibar and by the 1830's was one of the main
exporters of slavery. The island is now a tropical paradise for holiday makers
and the home to many locals that make a living out of tourism, farming, fishing
and many other trades.
Stone Town
and island attractions
The main attraction here is the old Arabic area. Stroll around the narrow
streets with old architecture, which is characteristic for the Swahili towns on
the East African coast. It’s an interesting place but not worth more than a few
days to discover. You may enjoy the fresh food market every night along the
water front with a wide verity of see foods, meets and chips. It’s an experience
worth while. Leaving the town up or down the coast, there is a wide choice of
beach resorts for all price ranges, where you can enjoy white sand, gentle
waves, fishing villages, swimming with dolphins and coral reefs. Most
accommodation organise snorkelling, diving, boat trips, spice tours and rare
monkey tours, among others.
You will
spend most of your time walking the stunning white beaches and enjoying the many
bars lining the beaches, watching the sun go down through the coconut trees.
Getting there is easy with flights from Arusa and Dar es Salaam. There is also a
choice of ferries leaving from Dar es Salaam to the Island.
Zanzibar Tours
(arranged by most hotels or lodges)
Deep sea fishing
Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia are excellent islands for sports fishing. Catch
sailfish, mackerel, kingfish and marlin among others.
Diving
The island has some very good spots for diving, with coral reefs and exotic see
life. There are also many dive tour operators if you fancy doing your paddy open
water course, or go out to the better dive spots.
Jozani Forest
The only remaining natural forest on Zanzibar, where the rare red guerexa
monkeys habituate. The best time to go to Jozani is in the early morning hours,
when the monkeys are most active.
Persian baths
The highest point of the island, Kidichi. The sultan Sayyind Said built Persian
baths in 1850, one for him and one for his wife with splendid Persian
architecture.
Prison Island
In the middle of this island, you will find the remains of an old prison built
in 1893. Half an hour by boat and a fee to enter the island, which is ideal for
snorkelling and watching giant turtles.
Spice tours
Muscat,
vanilla, cinnamon, pepper, and ginger and other spices and fruits will be found
on this worth while tour.
The slave chambers
The underground slave chambers in Mangapwani was the centre of the illegal slave
trade up until 1909.
Swimming with dolphins
Taking place in the southern part of the island, the boat ride can be long and
you are not guaranteed to find dolphins. If you do you may get a chance to swim
with them in the warm waters. A worth while experience. |
