ZANZIBAR ISLAND
WANDER THROUGH PARADISE
After tackling your Kilimanjaro challenge, hop on a short flight to the island of Zanzibar and chill out on an idyllic beach in paradise. Ignite your spirit and discover the rich cultural history of this magical Indian Ocean island. Just off the Tanzania coast, Zanzibar has been a base for ocean traders for the past 4,500 years. As you arrive at the island you feel transported back in time, to when the ancient mariners plied their trade between Africa’s Great Lakes, the Arabian Peninsula and the Indian Subcontinent.
GETTING THERE
In the early days of Tusker Trail’s expeditions, Eddie Frank would head down at midnight to the docks in Dar es Salaam and negotiate passage on a traditional dhow (sailing boat). The group would climb on board and get comfortable on sacks of potatoes for an 8-hour overnight sail from Tanzania’s mainland to Zanzibar. Things have changed a lot since then. Nowadays there are regular flights to the island. The day after you come down from summiting Kilimanjaro, you’re sipping an ice cold one on the terrace of your hotel on the island of dreams.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Once you arrive in Zanzibar you can hole up at your hotel and chill on a beach. You can also seize the moment and take a fascinating guided walk around Stone Town. Zanzibar is an intriguing island that’s extremely safe to explore on your own. The locals are friendly and are happy to point you in the right direction if you choose to venture out on your own.
People have been living on Zanzibar for millennia, and it has earned its name as The Spice Island for good reason. The early settlers learned that the island was perfect for growing spices. Spice farms are prevalent, and you can take an eye-opening tour to learn about spice cultivation. While dining out at superb restaurants or outdoors at the Forodhani Gardens, the spiced flavors scream out at you from the delicious food.
WALKABOUT STONETOWN
The Stone Town of Zanzibar is located on the west coast of the island. Established for at least a thousand years, it is a bustling and vibrant town to this day. The Swahili people are a mixture of cultures from India, Persia, Africa, Arabia and Europe.
Be sure to check out the Old Fort, which is now a gallery and curio market. Then take a stroll along Stone Town’s seafront promenade with mouth-watering aromas wafting from the food stalls brewing spiced tea and grilling delicious seafood in the Forodhani Gardens.
FORODHANI GARDENS
Every evening the local Zanzibaris set up their food stalls in the gardens outside the House of Wonder. They lay out delectable feasts of seafood, Zanzibar pizza, kebabs, curries, sugarcane juice, ginger tea, and a host of local vegetables and fruits, all prepared in the traditional culinary Zanzibari style.
You negotiate your price, and the cook prepares your food under the starry Zanzibari skies. It’s a culinary extravaganza fit for royalty.
SNORKLE THE CORAL REEF
Wherever you stay in Zanzibar you are surrounded by the spectacular turquoise-colored Indian Ocean.
For an other-worldly experience go snorkeling on a guided underwater tour at the Mnemba Atoll, a protected oceanic area with excellent underwater visibility. It includes a beautiful coral reef, two by four miles in size. This breathtaking marine ecosystem is known for the incredible ocean life, where you marvel at red starfish, lionfish, moray eels, stingrays, turtles and much more.
TOUR A SPICE FARM
Now that you’ve tasted all the great food, you should see where all the great flavors come from. It’s fun to take a tour of one of the many spice plantations, where you discover how the spices, fruits and herbs are grown and harvested.
As you meander through the plantations, you are inundated with the amazing aromas while sampling exotic fruits and spices like jackfruit, cassava, cardamom, nutmeg, and lots more. You will want to get some fresh packaged spices to take back home with you.
ROMANTIC DINNER AT THE ROCK
One of the most original restaurants in Zanzibar is The Rock Restaurant. It is built offshore on a rocky outcrop with stunning 360 views for idyllic seafood dining.
At high tide it becomes a solitary island, accessible only by a boat that takes you from the shore to the restaurant steps. During low tide you simply walk across the sand to the staircase, ready to enjoy a cocktail while surrounded by the Indian Ocean.
CHECKLIST - ZANZIBAR TO DO
Depending on the length of your say here’s long list of fascinating activities to delight you as you explore Zanzibar.
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- Forodhani Gardens Evening Food Stalls
- Stone Town Walkabout
- Giant Tortoises on Prison Island
- Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park
- Spice Tour of Aromatic Discovery
- Chumbe Island Coral Park
- Cheetah’s Rock Animal Sanctuary
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- Sunset Wooden Dhow Cruise
- Mnemba Atoll Coral Reef Snorkeling
- The Rock Restaurant
- Blue Jetty Restaurant
- The Palace Museum
- Tea House Restaurant
- Sunset Lounge - Africa House Hotel, for Sundowners
ZANZIBAR DATES & PRICES
BOOKING YOUR ZANZIBAR TRIP
ZANZIBAR
When you land in Zanzibar you’ll have some tough choices.
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- Which exotic cuisine should I try?
- Should I snorkel the coral reef or visit a spice plantation?
- Where should I go to see the mind-blowing sunset?
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Our trek coordinator will help you create your ideal trip on the magical Indian Ocean island
BOOK YOUR ADVENTURE
We've been coordinating Zanzibar trips for over four decades. Our trek coordinators will help you celebrate your success on Kilimanjaro with the most amazing experience you can imagine.
GIVE US A CALL TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITIES: +1.775.833.9700 • 1.800.231.1919
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