Activities in Zanzibar
Activities in Zanzibar : Zanzibar is an island on the Indian ocean. The different activities which can be organized during safaris around Zanzibar include the following;
Stone town tour
A stone town tour during a safari in Zanzibar is an experience which gives insight about the town and the history of the town and the island.
This activity involves moving through the winding alleys of Stone town, touring the grand Arab houses, the mosques on foot around Zanzibar. The stone town tour also involves visiting the Darajani market which is the main bazaar of Zanzibar famed for being hive of activity with a variety of items sold in the market.
Darajani market is also a major attraction in stone town which has busy stalls which sell items such as fruits, electronics, spices, kangas among others. Many traders come to the market to sell their goods in the market which is filled with color and scents.
The stone town tour also involves visits to the Anglican church which is built on the site where the old slave market was found. Other locations which are visited on the stone town tor include the Arab fort, Forodhani gardens, palace museum, house of wonders in the seafront area of stone town.
During the stone town tour, another experience to enjoy is learning about slavery which took place in Zanzibar, the royal families of Zanzibar, getting to know more about trade in the area and also about the local crafts in Zanzibar.
A tour around stone town can take about 3 hours of exploring the town in the company of a guide.
Spice tours
Zanzibar which is a leading producer of spices like cloves, nutmeg, pepper, cinnamon among others also offers safari experiences of visiting the spice plantations.
The Zanzibar spice plantations are found just outside stone town and these tours are a popular tourist attraction. During the visits to the spice plantations, the experience involves getting a detailed description of the spices and their uses such as for cooking and the spices can also be used as cosmetics.
These spices also hold a lot of value and during the spice tours around Zanzibar, tourists also enjoy seeing the coconut trees which are climbed by the locals and the harvested coconuts are then shared during the tour.
The guides also accompany tourists during their spice tours around the plantations and after this experience, lunch is also shared with the locals and tourists can also interact with them and get to know more about their life and this experience can take about 3 to 5 hours.
Visit Jozani forest
A tour around Zanzibar also involves an experience of touring the Jozani forest reserve which is located in the central region of Zanzibar south east of stone town.
Jozani forest is home to wildlife species including the rare red colobus monkeys which are an endemic species to Zanzibar. Other wildlife species which can be seen during a tour around Jozani forest reserve include the sykes monkey, bushpigs, duikers, antelopes among others.
There are also over 40 bird species which can be seen around Jozani forest reserve which also has a board walk where walks into the forest can be carried out during a tour.
This experience around Jozani forest reserve can take about 5 to 6 hours of exploring the swamps while moving along the boardwalk through evergreen thicket vegetation.
Dolphin tour
Engaging in a dolphin tour is another experience which is carried out around the southern point of Zanzibar tour.
Some of the places where the dolphin tour can be carried out include Kizimkazi fishing village on the southern coast of Zanzibar where bottle nosed dolphins and humpback dolphins can be seen.
The dolphin tour is carried out on a local dhow as the tourists enjoy looking out for the dolphins in the water. The activity also involves swimming close to the dolphins which is an exciting experience.
There is no guarantee however of seeing the dolphins during a boat tour. The recommended time of the year for this dolphin tour experience is during the months between October and February.
During a visit to Kizimkazi village, tourists can also visit the Kizimkazi mosque which is also located on Zanzibar Island and is one of the oldest Islamic buildings in the East African coast. This experience can take about 2 hours or more and can also be combined with a tour around the stone town.
Visit Prison Island
The prison island is another destination which is visited during tours in Zanzibar and it is a historical island which was used for confining slaves. The island was initially built to arrest violent criminals on the mainland who were taken to Prison Island.
Giant tortoises can also be seen during a tour around the Prison Island which is owned by the government of Zanzibar. During walks along the island, these tortoises can be seen.
There are also a variety of activities which are carried out on Prison Island and they include swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing. There are also coral reefs on the island which is also made up of a white sand beach.
Half day tours can be carried out on the Prison Island while exploring the beach and also the ocean.
Boat tours
Exciting boat tours are also carried out during safaris on Zanzibar Island in the local dhows around the southern coastline.
The boat tours are carried out along the Indian ocean to destinations such as the Fumba fishing village to the Menay bay conservation area. Along this route during the boat tour, humpback dolphins and bottle nose dolphins can be seen.
The activity can be carried out in the morning and can also involve snorkeling, swimming and sunbathing. Drinks and snacks are also shared by the tourists as they enjoy the various activities during the tour.
Other meals also served include a variety of food and tropical fruits and Zanzibar coffee before returning to the mainland.
There are also a number of resorts and accommodation facilities which are found along the beaches and on the Coast of Zanzibar Island where tourists can stay during their experiences on the island.
Visit Zanzibar island and enjoy engaging in a variety of activities while relaxing along the white sand beaches and the coastline of the Indian ocean.
