Zanzibar spice tour
Zanzibar spice tour : Zanzibar is an archipelago which is found on the Indian ocean and is also referred to as a Spice island. A spice tour on Zanzibar Island is among the activities which tourists engage in during their tours on the island. The activity is among the popular activities on Zanzibar and it involves getting to know more about the spices and also exotic fruits found on the island.
Some of the spices which are found on Zanzibar Island include cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, turmeric, chili, black pepper, vanilla, garlic as well as fruits like coconuts, papaya, jackfruit, oranges, pineapples, bananas among others.
The Zanzibar spice tour also involves walking around the spice plantations and getting to learn about how the spices, herbs and fruits are grown. You will also be able to learn more about the uses of the different spices.
There are also stalls where the tourists after their spice tour can be able to purchase the spices. The spice farms are located outside stone town in villages such as Kizimbani and Kindichi where tourists can enjoy walking tours in the spice plantations.
During the spice tour in the plantations, the tourists enjoy the smell of the spices and can also taste them and guess which spices those are. This tour can take about 3 hours and is an exciting activity which can be carried out in the company of a local guide or a private guide.
The Spice tour in Zanzibar also involves getting to know about the process of making the spices and also learning about how the fruits on the island are grown. After the spice tour, the tourists get to taste the spices.
The spices as well as fruits are grown all over the Zanzibar island which has fertile soils that favor the growing of the spices and fruits. These spices apart from contributing to tourism on the island can also be exported.
Zanzibar island has many spice farms which are found close to each other and different tour operators take the tourists to different spice farms on the island. These farms grow the spices and fruits in a similar manner.
The spice farms are also part of the rich history of Zanzibar dating to up to the 15th century when the Arabs participated in the spice trade that was booming at that time and this made the island popular for different spices.
The spices were brought to the Island from different parts of the world such as Madagascar, Sri Lanka, and Asia among other countries and grown on Zanzibar island which has fertile soils that contributed to the growth of these spices and fruits. During the spice tour, the tourists enjoy learning where each of the spices comes from since the spices are not indigenous to the island.
Some of the uses of the spices include acting as food curry, for medicinal purposes, for perfumes among other uses.
History of spices in Zanzibar
Zanzibar was known around the world for its spices and these spices were brought by sea merchants during their journeys across the Indian ocean.
The Portuguese established their base on Zanzibar island with a plan to conquer the rest of East Africa and they imported items such as spices among others from other countries. After the Portuguese, the Oman Arabs took over Zanzibar under the leadership of Sultan Seyyid Said who took over the spice trade on the island.
Seyyid Said encouraged the growing of these spices in Zanzibar such as cloves and also coconuts and soon the island was known for production of spices. The spice trade replaced slave trade in Zanzibar and became a major source of income.
Slaves used to work on the spice plantations before the slave trade was brought to an end on Zanzibar island.
Apart from the Spice tour on Zanzibar, tourists can engage in many other activities during their tours on the island and these include;
- Swimming
Zanzibar Island is known for being found on the Indian ocean and during tours on the island, tourists enjoy swimming in the turquoise waters of the ocean which is home to numerous marine life and also has white sand beaches.
Swimming with dolphins is another experience which can be enjoyed during a tour on Zanzibar Island. Some of the best places for swimming on the island include Kendwa beach, Pongwe beach, Jambiani beach, Paje beach, Mnemba beach, Kiwengwa beach among others.
Tourists can also enjoy relaxing on the white sand beaches of the island as they enjoy the breeze and relax under the shade of the palm trees along the beaches.
- Snorkeling
Another activity apart from spice tours on the island which is carried out on Zanzibar Island is snorkeling.
Snorkeling spots around Zanzibar include Mnemba Island, Menai bay conservation area, and also Chumbe Island. The island is surrounded by coral reefs, diverse habitats and some of the best coral gardens in the Indian ocean. The different spots for snorkeling on Mnemba island include Kichwani, Aquarium, Wattabomi, Small Wall, Kokota and also Sand banks.
Mafia, Unguja (Zanzibar island) and Pemba are among the best spots for snorkeling with spectacular sea beds, dolphins, turtles, clownfish, blue surgeon fish, humpback whales, octopus, moray eels among others.
- Scuba diving
Tourists on vacation in Zanzibar can also engage in scuba diving during which the tourist can explore the underwater beauty of the island.
Diving can be done all year round during a tour on Zanzibar island in places such as Mnemba atoll and also in the northern parts of the island. On Mnemba atoll dolphins can also be encountered while scuba diving.
- Boat rides
Zanzibar tours also involve enjoying a relaxing boat ride in a traditional dhow on the Indian ocean.
These boats are made by the locals in the fishing villages and these boats are made by hand out of mahogany. During the boat ride on the Indian ocean, the tourists can also enjoy swimming and snorkeling.
The best time for visiting Zanzibar is during the dry season in the months of June to October and also in December to February.
