Zanzibar Island Travel Guide

 
by DAO
 
  •   Zanzibar Island
    by DAO
  • First View of Stonetown
      First View of Stonetown
    by travelpug
  • Beautiful Zanzibar
      Beautiful Zanzibar
    by PierreZA
  • The Rock Restaurant
      The Rock Restaurant
    by PierreZA
  • The Residence of the Sultan
      The Residence of the Sultan
    by Cristian_Uluru
 

Pro

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 Excellent beaches, great diving, delectable cuisine and super friendly people!! 


Con

laughingsun69 profile photo

 can be dodgy at night if you get lost drunk down an alley way 


In a nutshell

DAO profile photo

 A MUST SEE DESTINATION. IT JUST SOUNDS GREAT 

 

Explore Zanzibar Island

Things to Do  

SCUBA DIVING ON THE EAST COAST

SCUBA DIVING ON THE EAST COAST, Zanzibar Island

 DAO Says:  Want a closer look at the reef on the east coast? Or maybe you would like to see some dolphins up close. Sau Inn Divers in Jambiani. They are located in the grounds of the Sau Inn and are fully equipped. They offer full PADI accredited courses. You can choose from... 

not to travel with Baboo Travel company from Zanz

not to travel with Baboo Travel company from Zanz, Zanzibar Island

 slasha187 Says:  Hi,I have seen recommendation for Baboo travel owned by a guy named Nooran Baboo from Stone town from Zanzibar.I travelled with him and my family in February 2011 and I was very dissapointed.OK, we did safari, we saw migration,we stayed in Zanzibar . The organization was... 

JOZANI FOREST (Overview)

JOZANI FOREST (Overview), Zanzibar Island

 DAO Says:  No visit to Zanzibar Island can be complete without a tour of the Jozani Forest. Any tour of Jozani will show you: The Rainforest, Red Colobus Monkeys (endangered species) and the Mangrove Swamp. The Forest is the last uncultivated/inhabited area on Zanzibar. Land crabs and... 

MORE WOODEN DOORS !

MORE WOODEN DOORS !, Zanzibar Island

 DAO Says:  If you are wondering why a lot of the pictures of doors are kind of sideways, its because the ‘streets’ are very narrow paths. Zanzibar doors can not be found anywhere else in the world. Traditionally when a house was built in , the door was traditionally the first part to... 

JAMBIANI

JAMBIANI, Zanzibar Island

 DAO Says:  The Best Beaches on Zanzibar Island are on the East Coast. If you want to see the beaches, yet stay in a real village, then a visit to Jambiani is a must. Jambiani was named after the curved Omani dagger when locals found one of these ancient relics washed up on the beach.... 

USE THE ATM MACHINES

USE THE ATM MACHINES, Zanzibar Island

 DAO Says:  Life changes, guidebooks are out of date and some VT tips need to be removed. There are ATM’s on Zanzibar! 4 in fact and all in Stone Town. They are linked to the outside world and an American friend with a Plus card easily got cash. Travellers Cheques can be cashed as well... 

Restaurants  

THE OLD FORT RESTAURANT (STONE TOWN): HISTORIC ENTERTAINMENT

THE OLD FORT RESTAURANT (STONE TOWN): HISTORIC ENTERTAINMENT, Zanzibar Island

 DAO Says:  This restaurant and entertainment venue is located inside the Old Arab Fort. Open everyday between 8am and 10pm, they have a large menu serving local and international food. They have a special 'Night At The Fort' every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday between 7-10pm. The... 

Chavda Hotel: Rooftop dining

Chavda Hotel: Rooftop dining, Zanzibar Island

 toonsarah Says:  We had a couple of dinners in the rooftop restaurant of this old hotel, centrally located in the middle of Stone Town. Prices were reasonable, the seafood curries spicy and the views over the roofs of the old quarter picturesque. Unlike some other Stone Town hotels, the... 

Kizidi Restaurant: Marvellous seaview with nice seafood

Kizidi Restaurant: Marvellous seaview with nice seafood, Zanzibar Island

 sachara Says:  After our dolphintour we had our lunch in Kidizi Restaurant, a nice roofed open air restaurant. Because of the sea-breeze the temperature was bearable. The view at the ocean and the bay were marvellous. We took all the time for our lunch and our drinks, before going back in... 

MONSOON RESTAURANT: NICE AND HOT

MONSOON RESTAURANT: NICE AND HOT, Zanzibar Island

 DAO Says:  The outside looks like a French-style veranda from New Orleans with cushioned seat and lush mini-gardens keeping the tables cool. From this little oasis of tranquillity you can oversee the harbour and nearby islands. This is an excellent, but not cheap, place to enjoy a cold... 

Nightlife  

FORODHANI GARDENS: THE MEETING PLACE

FORODHANI GARDENS: THE MEETING PLACE, Zanzibar Island

 DAO Says:  Forodhani Gardens are the focal point of Stone Town. They are set on the edge of the port and right in front of the Old Arab Fort. During the day this is where you meet friend or find a guide to help you negotiate the confusing maze of Old Town streets nearby. Or a guide may... 

Transportation  

DAR ES SALAAM FERRY

DAR ES SALAAM FERRY, Zanzibar Island

 DAO Says:  The ferry to and from Dar Es Salaam is not that expensive and the website below has the timetables. The night ferry is cheaper, but you run the risk of thieves on board waiting for you to go to sleep.Please remember:There are different prices because you will find middlemen.... 

Shopping  

Eco Echo: Fair Tade

Eco Echo: Fair Tade, Zanzibar Island

 conorsito Says:  I have been to Stone Town quite a few times and to be honest never really felt the calling for souvenir shopping. But on my last 2 trips there I came across a curio shop at the top of Kenyata road, so when you come out of Livingstones Restaurant you turn right up toward the... 

Several: At the Airport

Several: At the Airport, Zanzibar Island

 PierreZA Says:  I was surprised finding shops at the airport (including a duty-free) with a very good variety and excellent prices. They sell anything from kangas to vanilla pods.The duty-free shop has a very good selection of books, they also accept credit cards. Most local... 

Local Customs  

ZANZIBARIAN BEDS

ZANZIBARIAN BEDS, Zanzibar Island

 DAO Says:  Traditional Zanzibarian Beds are essentially very large 4 poster/canopy beds. The canopy holds your mosquito net (essential), where is can be pulled back during the day. The head board and foot board are very high and have decorative panels. Most of the panels have paintings... 

GROWING SEAWEED

GROWING SEAWEED, Zanzibar Island

 DAO Says:  I had no idea that you could grow seaweed until I visited the east coast of Zanzibar. In fact I did not realise that it was eaten in many countries in the Far East. Seaweed is tied to poles out in the ocean. Because the east coast of the island is protected by a close... 

Warnings and Dangers  

MALARIA KILLS

MALARIA KILLS, Zanzibar Island

 DAO Says:  PLEASE PREPARE! Malaria can sometimes be fatal and at best may make you regret that you survived. Medicines must be taken weeks BEFORE you come here. There are 4 different species of Malaria and humans can get them all from the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito.... 

THE RAINY SEASON

THE RAINY SEASON, Zanzibar Island

 DAO Says:  During the rainy season the large lakes that appear in the road take up exactly the entire width of the road. Also they are only located where the vegetation is so dense, that you cannot actually walk along the sides or avoid walking in the water. Take good boots that dry... 

What to Pack  

A GOOD PAIR OF BOOTS

A GOOD PAIR OF BOOTS, Zanzibar Island

 DAO Says:   A GOOD PAIR OF BOOTS!Walking around Zanzibar is a fantastic way to see everything, but you get plenty of hazards. Natural ones are the usual rocks, vines, animal droppings, etc. Manmade items like glass and other rubbish make an appearance from time to time. And if that... 

Favorites  

Bwejuu - Page - Safety

Bwejuu - Page - Safety, Zanzibar Island

 AllendeAla Says:  Hi Sandra, Just to let you know the outcome regarding Crystal Hotel (which is NOT a cheap bunch of bungalows on the beach but a mid sized hotel BTW). The thieves approached this resort during Ramadan, they approached as the sun went down and knew most people (including the... 

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