Zanzibar Beach Holidays

Consisting of 2 main islands Unguja and Pemba, Zanzibar Island has a rich cultural and historical heritage. Most of the habitats of the Island are permanent inhabitants and mostly follow the Islamic religion. However, an ethnic blend can be found on the island which includes many diversified backgrounds like Persian, Arab and African. There are also Christian sects, Hindu and other smaller religions can be spotted on the island. The Island’s distinct colors and cultures capture the interest of many tourists. The cultural confluence can be seen in the diversity of food, polyglot nature of the Swahili language, and the distinct architectural styles in Stone Town that makes it the World Heritage Centre.

Zanzibar archaeology is conducted by two main islands, Unguja and Pemba, as well as is a combination of a few small islands. It is a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania and the climate is tropical, hot all year round. The region like all regions of Tanzania experience 2 seasons, one is the dry/hot season and another is the wet/ rainy season, however, the coastal area is more hot and humid form the rest of Tanzania. The rainy season is of 2 types one is the long rainy season and the other one is the short rainy season. The long rain continues from March to May, with a peak in April when the island faces heavy downpour. The short rainy season continues from mid-October and December when the island experiences less rain. The warmest period of the region is from October to March. The hot season experience 31/33 degrees Celsius.

The Zanzibar currency is the same as Tanzania currency; it’s the Tanzanian shilling (TZS). So visiting Zanzibar also require you the same currency as Tanzania so if you have planned a combined trip to national parks of Tanzania and beaches of Zanzibar then make sure to exchange your money for Zanzibar trip too. There are few established lodges and restaurants in Zanzibar who accepts the US dollar too.

Zanzibar the Arabic word which means the coast of black people is an archaeology that is a series of islands on the Indian Ocean. Below are a few interesting facts about the island;

• The island is a mixture of few stunning small beaches
• The island is a homeland to the rarest Red Columbus Monkey
• The land is the oldest place where humans are residing since 20,000 there are humans residing in the island
• The stone town of Zanzibar is a world heritage site declared by UNESCO and showcases a great history and culture
• Due to the proximity to the equator, the island stays hot throughout the year
• Apart from tourism, the economics of the country depends a lot on spice growing

Zanzibar cuisine reflects a mixture of various culinary traditions, including Bantu, Arab, Portuguese, Indian, British as well as Chinese cuisine. There are many street foods you can spot which on the street or on the beaches. Mostly the dishes of Zanzibar are filled with spice. Zanzibar dishes are mostly rice or meat cooked with an extravaganza touch of spice. The island offers fresh seafood including Tuna, Marlin, prawns, calamari, octopus, kingfish, lobster, tuna, snapper, and barracuda are some of the exotic seafood available on the island.

Zanzibar Island is the Indian Ocean Island that is situated on Swahili Coast just beside Tanganyika. The northern tip of the island is Unguja Island that is located 5.72 degrees south, 39.30 degrees east. The southernmost point of the Island is at 6.48 degrees south, 39.51 degrees east. A narrow channel is separating the mainland of Tanzania and Zanzibar having the narrowest point of 36.5 kilometers. The length of the island is about 85 kilometers and the width is 39 kilometers. The total area covered by the island is 1,464 km2.

Zanzibar is one of the ancient pieces of earth that holds human since last 20,000 years. The island came into focus when it became a base for traders voyaging between the African Great Lakes, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Indian subcontinent. The Portuguese Empire was the first European power to rule Zanzibar, and ruled over nearly 200 years. In 1698 the island was controlled by Sultanate of Oman. The period developed an economy of trade and cash crops, with a ruling Arab elite and a Bantu general population. Another major trade of the island was ivory, the elephants were used to kill on the Tanganyika mainland and it still can be spotted on some region. Zanzibar came into the hands of the British Empire in 1890. The island got its complete freedom December 1963 and led to the Republic of Zanzibar and Pemba.

By air is the only suitable option available to reach Zanzibar. There are direct flights that are operating from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar and are quite easy to book these short hop flights. Travelers can book chartered flights to Zanzibar or Pemba. Another option is available to reach the island from Dar es Salaam is taking a ferry. However, it is not considered as the best option as the ferries are quite slow and can be a hectic journey to reach the island. If you are flying from overseas, there is an option to book a direct flight from your country to Zanzibar International Airport or else you can book a flight to Dar es Salaam and from there you can easily fly to Zanzibar.

The mesmerizing Island Zanzibar is hard to describe and has to offer a lot which can capture the attention of travelers despite age and interest. If you are planning a family vacation to Zanzibar and wondering if to take your kids to the Island or not, then we would recommend there can’t be a better holiday gateway in the world to take your kids. The small island enables a lot of activities to enjoy with your kids. Here are a few of them: Most of the resorts of Zanzibar are designed to make family vacations interesting hence you can find Kids Club that enables a lot of activities for kids. The Tortoise: Changuu Island or Prison Island is just about 3 miles away from Stone Town and is home to approximately 100 Aldabra tortoises. Take your kids to explore the island and let them enjoy and learn about the oldest tortoises. Water Sports: Water sports are undoubtedly the best place to take your kids where they can enjoy to the fullest. The Zanzibar beaches offer warm and calm water to explore water activities. The Amusement Park: The stone town’s Kariakoo Amusement park is a great place to take your kids. Forodhani garden & Mnazi mmoja Garden has gardens and kids playground to enjoy.

The name of Zanzibar fills our mind with the images of soft-sand, white beaches, and shimmering azure waters. These romantic blissful coastlines have many reasons to visit and we have enlisted a few below: Blissful beach destination: The tropical weather, white powdery sand on the beach, and balmy weather make this island paradise for the beach lovers. The destination combines up nature, culture, and adventure all at once. Enlightening cultural experience: The stone town of Zanzibar has declared as the UNESCO world heritage site and offers a stunning mixture of art, culture, and history. Exotic spices: Spices are the identity of Zanzibar as the island used to be one of the centers for spice trading. Even till date, there are many regions where you can explore spice plantation. A paradise for couples: The spice land is not only aromatic but also romantic and an ideal place to spice things up. With some of the stunning lodges, the place is perfect for the honeymooners. Diverse Island: Zanzibar offers a range of magnificent island beaches that enables various activities like spice farm, diving, snorkeling and fishing excursions.

As Zanzibar is a part of the United Republic of Tanzania you can use a Tanzanian tourist visa for entering to Zanzibar too. While you won’t need a different visa, you need to bring your passport to be checked upon arrival. There are few countries that don’t need to obtain a Tanzanian visa to enter the country as well as there are few nationalities who can obtain a visa upon their arrival to any of the international airports of Tanzania. For most of the nationalities including the UK and Australia, the single entry visa costs around $50 where citizens of the US need to pay $100 for the visa. It’s recommended to obtain a Tanzanian visa prior to entering the country.