DISCOVER ZANZIBAR
CULTURAL FRIENDLY
ECO & Culture Tours
Here is a brief overview of of the expeditions at ECO+CULTURE TOURS a local alternative tour operator, with strong ecological and cultural-friendly orientation and principles.
One thing in advance: If you seek buzzing places with shops and nightclubs – better stay away from Jambiani! Here you get the unique opportunity to get a DEEP INSIGHT INTO THE CULTURE and daily living of Zanzibarian people and their beautiful and untouched nature.
If you want to take a look beyond the borders of your room, if you like to GET IN TOUCH WITH LOCAL PEOPLE and even learn from them, or if you maybe just want to have some quiet and peaceful days under the sun Jambiani is the place for you to be for sure!
The local CULTURAL VILLAGE TOUR through Jambiani is exclusively offered by Eco+Culture Tours and can be booked directly at Villa Bahati.
DHOW SAILING
Dhows are traditional sailing vessels with one to three one-piece masts with large trapezoidal sails. Come aboard one of these traditional boats and sail towards the sunset with the skilled local fishermen crew. Once the dhow is powered about 1 km offshore by engine, the engine is switched off. In a brief, suspenseful moment, the skilled crew raise the sail. As the sail catches the wind, guests can sit back, relax, and enjoy the tranquility of the ocean—listening to the gentle ripple of water along the hull as the dhow glides smoothly through clear, turquoise waters.
Jozani and Chwaka Bay National Park is the only national park on the island of Zanzibar. It is home to the RED COLOBUS MONKEY, which is found only on this island and of which there is an estimated population of 1,000 animals. The park was declared a nature reserve in 1960. The area, which covers about 50 km2, is home to a groundwater mangrove forest and vegetation types that are rarely found on other parts of the island. Four different habitat types can be distinguished in the park: the groundwater mangrove forest, the coastal evergreen thicket, the salt marshes and the seagrass beds.
JOZANI FOREST
STONE TOWN
Stone Town is the capital of Zanzibar. It is a fascinating old town, with narrow meandering streets in which you can easily loose your sense of direction but they will lead you to landmarks like the House of Wonders, the Old Post Office, the Sultan’s Palace and a variety of exotic shops. The architecture shows Arabic and Indian influences. Stone Town is a vibrant cultural hub, hosting many festivals set against an unforgettable backdrop, including Jahazi – the JAZZ AND LITERATURE FESTIVAL (October), The INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL July) or SAUTI ZA BUZARA, African World Music Festival (February).
Zanzibar is a dream destination for all diving and snorkelling fans. Only rarely can the diverse underwater world of the Indian Ocean be explored and discovered as uniquely as on the reef off the coast of Zanzibar. Whether on a diving trip with an experienced and licensed guide or taking your first steps in a PADI COURSE, with a little luck you might see sea turtles, dolphins and even sharks in their natural environment. Even without an oxygen tank you can marvel at the colourful diversity of the reef as local fishermen take you out to SNORKEL ON THE REEF where you can stand on a pristine sandbank and feel the soft white sand beneath your feet.
SCUBA DIVING
Travel Tips
Zanzibar is located off the east coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean, just south of the equator. The archipelago consists of the main island Unguja (often called Zanzibar), Pemba and several smaller islands. Unguja is about 1500 km2 in size, while Pemba measures only about 870 km2. About 1,9 million people live on the islands.
Attention, this information is only non-binding tips based on our personal experiences and estimations. Please inform yourself comprehensively before you do anything.
1. LANGUAGE
The official language in Zanzibar is Kiswahili, but – especially in tourist areas – people speak English as well. Nevertheless it will always help to know some Kiswahili words and phrases.
3. RELIGION
Islam is widely practiced by over 97% of the population in Zanzibar. Women wear headscarfs in public and even men often wear the kofia – the traditional head covering for Muslim men. Five times a day you will hear the muezzin calling for prayers. Mosques are sacred places. There is generally no entry to mosques for non- Muslims, and photographing the interior from the door- way is not allowed during prayers. In general Zanzibar is well-known for its liberal religious climate. In Stonetown you will also find temples and churches where Hindu or Christian people practice their religion in peace and har- mony. We suggest to meet Zanzibarian people with all the respect that is advisable for travelling in foreign cul- tures. (see Dress Code). If you are visiting Zanzibar during Ramadhan, the holy month in the Islamic tradition, Mus- lims will be fasting from sunrise to sunset. We would strongly recommend not to eat, drink or smoke in public during daylight hours.
5. ENTRY/VISA
For your entry from Europe to Zanzibar a valid passport and a visa are obligatory. You can obtain the visa at the Tanzanian embassy in your home country or directly on site at airport or seaport. The usual cost for a tourist visa is USD 50.
7. HEALTH
Please consult your doctor, an institute of tropical medicine or a pharmacy in your home country for infor- mation about required and recommended vaccinations, malaria prevention and which drugs to carry. Vaccinations and prophylactic malaria drugs are very personal deci- sions. Concerning malaria prevention it is a good advice to use additional measures for mosquito-bite prevention, like long-sleeved and light-coloured clothing in the evenings and insect repellents. Do not drink water from the tap! Sun protection (sunhat, sun-cremes, sun glasses) is strongly recommended!
9. CLIMATE
The climate on Zanzibar is tropical with warm weather almost year round. Temperatures range between 25 C° in August and 35 C° in February. Most of the time there is a convenient breeze from the sea. There are two periods of rains heaviest in March through June and the lesser rains during October-November season.
2. MONEY
The unit of currency is the Tanzanian Shilling (TSh). US Dollars and Euros are the most convenient for- eign currencies. Travellers cheques are widely accepted in Zanzibar Town. For safaris in Tanzania you often need US$ in cash. Some (few) restaurants, hotels and shops ac- cept credit cards. You can obtain cash with your Maestro card, and any bank card at ATMs in Stown Town. You should not count on being able to obtain cash on your credit card, the very few places where it’s possible charge a commission up to 15%.
4. ARRIVAL
We strongly recommend to book your flight several months before your intended stay in Zanzibar! A few airlines (e.g. KLM) offer direct flights to Zanzibar, sev- eral serve the destination Dar es Salaam where you can take the ferry boat or a flight with one of the local air com- panies (Zanair, Coastal Air, Precision Air u.v.a.). In addition to that you can choose a flight route via Mombasa, Johan- nesburgh, Dubai, Nairobi etc. The ferry boat from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar is only recommendable if you arrive in Dar not later than early afternoon. The last boat to Zanz- ibar departs about 4 p.m. The time schedule of the ferry boat is not very reliable and changes occur very often – please check when you arrive in Dar. Due to business competition and special offers of several local airlines a flight from Dar to Zanzibar is getting more and more a smart alternative to the ferry boat!
6. DEPARTURE
At your departure from Zanzibar 10 USD airport tax or 5 USD seaport tax per person are payable. Some tour operators already include this tax in their arrangements.
8. DRESS CODE
In general we recommend loose fitting, light-coloured and casual cotton wear for your holiday in Zanzibar. Sunhats and rain jackets are a useful addition. For walks on the beach (especially during low tide) you should wear shoes to avoid injuries by sea urchins or shells. Due to the traditions of Zanzibarian Muslim society you should bear in mind some additional advices. Always wear loose fitting, non-transparent clothing. Shirts should cover the upper arms and shorts should reach to the knees. Do not wear bathing costumes, running shorts, tank tops or other revealing clothing in the villages or Stonetown. Beachwear is for the beach only!
10. SECURITY
In general the island is considered to be safe. Compared to other African countries crime rate is low. Nevertheless we recommend the usual security mea- sures for travelling in foreign countries, like carrying your money, passport and tickets in an inside pocket or pouch. In Stonetown it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your bags when strolling around.