STONETOWN TOUR
Follow the trail of the Sultans, slaves and explorers in the winding streets of Stone Town. Your guide will captivate you, retelling the events that shaped Zanzibar, leading you through the buildings where it all happened, like the former Slave Market and Anglican Cathedral, the House of Wonders and the Sultans’ Palace Museum, the Freddie Mercury House, the Old Arab Fort and Dispensary and many more. While tracing the steps of the past, the walking tour provides you with a window into modern life in Stone Town. Explore the spice markets, seafood and fish piled in the fish market, fresh loaves of bread in wicker baskets and the neat stacks of fruit and vegetables as traders sell their wares from their stalls. Children play while men enjoy board games. An optional stop at the Zanzibar Coffee House provides a rest from the heat and hustle and bustle. A selection of cold drinks, coffee, tea and local sweets & seasonal fruits act as the perfect ‘pick me up’. You can also try the street BBQ with an incredible selection of meat and seafood kebabs in the evening.
SPICE TOUR
Zanzibar is known as a spice island, exporting cloves, vanilla, nutmeg and cardamom across the world. The spices were originally brought over from Asia and South America and flourished in the tropical climate. Nowadays, the plantations are a tribute to the island’s past and although not a main industry anymore, they are a fascinating tourist attraction and a wonder for the senses. Touch, smell and taste different spices and tropical fruits; guessing which is which, from the crushed leaves, the fruit, shoots and vines and creepers crawling up to the trees. Learn about their properties, their origins and their uses as medicines and in food and drinks. A visit to a spice farm village gives you an insight into local life and gives you the opportunity to try some authentic Swahili dishes, taste the fruits in season and try some spiced tea. Depending on the season, you can find anything from vanilla, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, turmeric, lemongrass, cloves, cumin, garlic, ginger, coriander, pepper, allspice, tamarind, jackfruit, custard fruit, orange, star fruit, banana, pineapple, tangerine, passion fruit, mango, avocado pear, papaya, grapefruit and many others
PRISON ISLAND TOUR
Prison Island gets its name from the prison built to condemn Zanzibari citizens to the isolation of the island. Previously owned by an Arab to house his rebellious slaves, the prison was never actually used, and the island is now home to a tortoise sanctuary and a hotel. Prison Island is 20 minutes away from Stone Town by boat, and has spectacular coral reefs for you to enjoy. Giant tortoises shuffle through the trees, with the infinite patience that old age brings. Originally thought to be from the Comoros Islands and Seychelles, some of these tortoises are thought to be over 100 years old. If you´re feeling active, you can follow one of the hiking trails, snorkel in the crystal clear waters in search of colorful tropical fish darting through the reef or soak up some sun on the powder white beach.
SAFARI BLUE TOUR
An unforgettable day aboard a traditional Arab dhow. Sailing across cobalt blue waters and stopping on a sand bank to have a rest, you are served tropical fruits and you can go snorkeling around the sandbank. After an hour or so, we sail to the Island of Kwale. This is a beautiful romantic small island. Here, we serve a seafood lobster lunch and later, we walk to a big BaoBao tree, hundreds of years old, and you need at least 10 people hand in hand to go around. After this spectacular visit we sail by dhow to the blue lagoon. You will see why they call it “blue lagoon”. The return is by sailboat, weather permitting.
MNEMBA SNORKELLING
Bill Gates and Naomi Campbell would adore this excursion around the famous Mnemba Island, where they have already spent some of their holidays. We are not able to enter the island because it’s a private property, but we can still be enjoying its spectacular turquoise waters. Discover the underwater world of this marine sanctuary and its magnificent coral reef. You can see stingrays, barracudas, powder blue surgeon fish, clown tiger fish, long horned cowfish and many more. It’s as if you were snorkeling in an aquarium. The waters are very shallow and we will take you to different areas around the island. Depending on the tide, we can get close to Mnemba, and a short boat trip will bring us to this fascinating place. It’s in the top 10 ranking of the best snorkeling places in the world!
SWIM WITH DOLPHINS TOUR
Zanzibar´s south coast area known as Kizimkazi, is home to large numbers of bottle-nosed and spinner dolphins. Board a traditional ocean going dhow and spend a pleasant two hours scouting for dolphins. Sleek and grey, the dolphins jack-knife through the water, sometimes showing off with jumps and twists. In the past, some tourists were lucky enough to swim and snorkel with these magical animals. However, the dolphins are wild, and can be shy and elusive. Although visitors see dolphins on the majority of outings, there are no guarantees. Whether you´re fortunate enough to see dolphins or not, this trip is a great day out. It’s an early morning boat trip.
JOZANI FOREST
In the south of the island, Jozani Forest is a wonder and a delight, with tales of Zanzibar leopards, medicinal cures and stunning scenery. Currently under consideration to become Zanzibar´s second World Heritage Site, the Jozani-Chwaka bay area is a hotspot of biodiversity. The forest is home to a number of endemic species, including the Zanzibar Red Colobus Monkey. Your park ranger will take you on a nature trail, lined with eucalyptus and mahogany trees and explain the medicinal properties of various plants, and tell you about the animals, birds and reptiles that make their home in the various habitats of this tropical rainforest. Troops of Zanzibar Red Colobus monkeys can be found scrambling from branch to branch, in search of food. The monkeys have become accustomed to people and allow you to get close to them to take photographs as they eat, play and jump from the treetops. The mangrove boardwalk takes you above the swamp where, depending on the tide, you can see crabs scuttling across the mud. Mangroves play an important role in environmental conservation and as a resource for villagers and community life. Your ranger will explain the different species found in the swamp and their uses.
