Exotic Zanzibar

Transfer to the airport in Arusha for your flight to Zanzibar Island. Clear local customs in Zanzibar and meet your transfer just outside of the luggage claim area, look for a sign with your name on it. It will probably be hotter here than where you have come from. Transfer to Zanzibar lodge for your overnight.

Depending on the lodge that you stay at, enjoy a guided tour of Stone Town. Walk through the market to see and taste some of the fruits available in Zanzibar such as Mabungo and Baobab fruits. Visit “kuku,” the chicken market, and the fish market where many exotic fish are sold. This is a good first day orientation to Stone Town, which you can follow with your own exploration. The Palace Museum holds fascinating artifacts of the long colonial imperial past. It helps to have a guide to provide interpretation of what you are seeing and the same is true of the many historic buildings. You will learn about the slaving and mercantile history of the island as well. After your city tour, you will return to your hotel for the afternoon free.

Spend two full days exploring the beautiful coast, relaxing on the beach and enjoying the numerous activities available. Overnights at the coastal resort.

Coastal Resort Descriptions:

Z Hotel: an impressive boutique resort, situated along a stretch of untouched beach, on the Northeast Coast of Zanzibar. All rooms are spacious, air–conditioned with en-suite bathrooms, tastefully decorated with local handicrafts, Zanzibarian furniture and huge four-poster beds. There is a wide range of activities arranged by the resort including a PADI Diving center, sailing and fishing facilities. There is also a swimming pool, 2 restaurants, fitness center and gift shop and miles and miles of bleached coral sands.

Chumbe Island Lodge’s “eco-bungalows” were designed to provide both privacy and a sense of living in the open. All bungalows overlook the sea and it takes just 30 seconds to stroll from the comforts of your bungalow hammock to feeling the warm tropical ocean lapping at your feet. The whole of Chumbe Island is a nature reserve and you may explore its beauties either under the guidance of a park ranger or at your leisure. A network of nature trails crisscross the southern part of the coral rag forest that covers about 90% of Chumbe. There are a number of activities to keep you busy. Snorkel through the unique shallow water Reef Sanctuary or explore the Forest Reserve and historical monuments. Go SCUBA diving around the nearby reefs, or perhaps just allow yourself a lazy day watching dhows and outrigger boats go by. Since there are only seven bungalows, the island never gets crowded, even when the hotel is fully booked. (Lunch is also included while at Chumbe Island Lodge)

Matemwe Bungalows: offer a more isolated coastal nature experience on a low cliff overlooking the blue sea. Situated on the northeast coast of the island, these environmentally-sensitive accommodations offer doorstep attractions including wonderful views over tropical waters, swimming, snorkeling, coastal village visits and tropical gardens. The owners have tried to maintain very good relations with local villages while keeping a strict policy of environmental preservation. They maintain a sea turtle nesting sanctuary and are trying to educate local people in practices which will conserve the reef and other natural features. This is the closest thing to a bona fide eco-lodge in Zanzibar and you will be pleased to see what your visitor payments support. (Lunch is also included while at Matemwe Bungalows)

Enjoy your final day in Zanzibar. In the afternoon, transfer back to the Stone Town airport for your flight to Dar Es Salaam, on the mainland. On arrival, transfer to the Dar Es Salaam International Airport for your connecting flight home.