- Mbezi Beach - P.O. Box 63129 Dar es Salaam - Tanzania
- +255 (0)787 273 814 / +255 (0)715 416 161
- info@shokishoki.co.tz
Zanzibar Island nick name “Spice Island”. It is composed the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean 25-50 kilometres off the coast of the mainland and consists of many small Islands and two large one. Unjuja and Pemba Island. The main Island is Unjuja that form the capital of Zanzibar city. The word Zanzibar came from Arabic “Zanjibar” mean “land of the blacks” or the dark skin.
The main Island (Unguja) is about 85 kilometres (53 miles) long and 39 Kilometres (24 miles) wide. Unguja has beautifully sandy beaches and the reefs are rich in marine biodiversity. Zanzibar (all islands) have total population of 1,303,569 according to the 2012 census; the languages spoken by Zanzibaris are Swahili a Bantu language spoken in East-Africa and Central Africa and many local residents speak also Arabic, French / or Italian. Through religion, Zanzibar’s population most of them are Muslim 95% and 5% are Indus and Christian.
Stone town, Historical site protected by UNSECO, Nice Beaches, Nice villages, and Hotels
Zanzibar climate is warm all year round, during the heat of summer (corresponding to the North Hemisphere winter) is usually cooled by solid sea breezes connected with the northeast monsoon (known as kaskazi in Kiswahili), particularly on the north and east coasts. The rainfall season is divided into two seasons, a primary maximum in March, April, and May in association with the southwest monsoon (known locally as kusi in Kiswahili) and secondary maximum in November and December
Zanzibar Island is known historically since the 11 century and know for the spice trade and slave trade.
The Historical Stone town tour (During 3hrs).This is a brilliant introduction to Zanzibar and give you the really story, knowledge of the rich cultural heritage. In Stone town you will see magnificent architecture, narrow street, stone ancient built house where some of them are over 200 years old and Arab/Indian carved doors.
The once you will be pick up from the hotel in Stone town, you will be dropped at the main City market which was opened in 1904, where you will see tropical fruits, vegetables, spices and fresh fish from the island are sold, after the main City market the next stop is the Anglican Church of Christ which was built by Bishop Steers in 1873 on the site where slaves used to be auctioned.
Other tourist attractions on the historical stone town tour are visits to:
Zanzibar is also called “Spice Island” because of the spice that have been grown up in the Island since the 17 centuries. Our tour starts with a drive through the spice plantation in the countryside, upon arrival on the plantation area, you will smell and taste a variety of spices and mouth-watering tropical seasonal fruits such as banana, green coconut juice, dourian, love apple, litche, jack fruit, soursop etc.. Spice such as cloves, cardamom, black pepper, turmeric, nutmeg.
The spice tour involves much more than the spices and you will also have a chance to see heena bush, the lipstick tree, cocoa and coffee beans tree.
The tour also includes a visit to:
Prison Island or Changuu Island it can be seen from Stone Town.
It takes approximately 30 minutes to reach there by boat. The Island was uninhabited until the 1860s when the first Sultan of Zanzibar, Majid bin Said, gave it to two Arabs who used it as a prison for rebellious slaves prior to shipping them abroad or selling them at the Zanzibar market auction, but later was used as Quarantine Hospital.
Apart from the prison ruins, there are other attraction such as the giant tortoise brought from Seychelles by Sultan Said Majid in the 1820s.
The area has beautifully beach, good for snorkelling and the small Island offer lovely tranquillity.
This tour starts from seaboard of Stone Town two hours before sunset. You will step on board the engine boat, the skilled crew on board will take the dhow away from coastline, then the engine of the boat will be shut off and during a tense moment the skilful crew put the sail, once the sail is in goodwill of the wind, the clients can enjoy the trip back to the coastline.
During the excursion you will offer a glass of chilled wine, cocktail, beer or juice a you watch the magnificent Stone Town view. After the sunset you will be taken back to Stone town.
Jozani Forest lies 35kms South-East of Zanzibar town with an area of about 1,000 hectares. It is only remaining natural forest on Unguja Island. It seems while ago you could find leopards and antelopes. At moment it is the home for Red Colobus monkey is one of the most endangered and rarest species on the planet earth
The Red Colobus monkey are only found in this forest are very friendly and love to be photographed. Other attraction in this forest include the coastal evergreen bushland, mangrove forest, saline grassland and ground water forest.
You will be driven from town to a small village at the Southern part of the Island it takes approx one hour by car. Once you reach the village of Kizimkazi you will be taken by boat powered by an outboard engine into the sea for dolphins viewing and if lucky will be able to swim quite close to them as they are very friendly and playful.
During the dolphin tour, snorkelling will also be part of this tour, but snorkelling equipment can be hire at the site. Kizimkazi is also known of a 12th century mosque in East Africa and inside that mosque wall have scripts call Kufic, no body has discovered the meaning of those scriptures.
Nungwi is village located in the north tip of Zanzibar Island, 1 hours 15 minutes’ drive from Stone Town. Nungwi has good high tide, crystal clear water, an excellent place for diving, snorkelling, swimming and sunbathing.
Before to reach Nungwi you will stop to the Mangapwani cave which is 30 minutes driven from Zanzibar town. You will see cave (Up to 1911) that was used to keep secret hide slave illegally then transported by dhow, after official closure of the Slave Market in June 1873.
Other tourist attractions of this tour are:
Mnemba Atoll is a marine conservation Area located in the North-Eastern tip of Zanzibar Island. Mnemba Island is offering a unique opportunity for best diving and snorkelling. The visitors will interact with impressive marine mammals in a natural environment.
You will be pick up in morning at your hotel and transferred to Nungwi where you will take a private boat to explorer this coral atoll. After snorkelling you will head to the beach in Nungwi for lunch.
After breakfast you will drive to Fumba Village to the South-West of Zanzibar ( 25 minutes from Stone town) where you will board a dhow with other guests to a small sandbank, once you arrive you will get snorkelling equipment then you will start snorkelling for one hour the excursion will done through the beautiful Minai Bay conservation Area. Once you are done with the snorkelling you will visit other islets and you will have change to see Dolphin.
The Safari Blue trip includes the use of snorkelling equipment with guides and instructions, ice cold sodas, minerals water and beer. You will also enjoy sea food barbeque with includes fish, calamari & slipper lobster served hot from grill. You will get seasonal fresh fruits, halua &coffee will also be served.
Pemba Island is an Island forming part of the Zanzibar Archipelago located within the Swahili Coast in the Indian Ocean.
The Island with a land area of 988 square kilometres (381 sq. mi) and it is situated about 50 Kilometres to the north of Unguja. Pemba has a tropical climate and it known of best clove in world. The Island is not crowded of tours, but it has nice beaches, good coral reef and few of nice hotels
Accommodation
Mafia Island is an island in Tanzania. The island is one of the six districts of the Pwani Region. Mafia Island is part of Tanzania main land, not from the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar.
The Island has a population of 40,801 according to the census of 2002. The Economy of the Island is based on fishing and subsistence agriculture. The Island attracts some tourists because of mainly adventures scuba divers, game fishermen and nice hotels for relaxion.Best way to reach Mafia is by charter flight
Accommodations
+255 (0)787 273 814 (Office) +255 (0)715 416 161 (Direct)
info@shokishoki.co.tz
Mbezi Beach - P.O. Box 63129Dar es Salaam - Tanzania
Shoki Shoki Safaris and Travel are specialized in holiday adventures in Tanzania. We are based in Dar es Salaam, Mbezi Beach, Africana (HQ) and Zanzibar Island.
