Tourism in Zanzibar : Zanzibar island is a holiday destination which is also referred to as Unguja island and it is located off the East African coast. The island is found in the Indian ocean and Zanzibar island is famous for its white sand beaches. Different parts of the island have resorts and you can also experience the diverse culture of the people of the island and also visit destinations around the island.
Tourism in Zanzibar keeps growing and people from different parts of the world visit the island every year. The success of tourism on the island is visible and this industry contributes about 80% of the annual foreign exchange earnings of Zanzibar and tourism had led to the development of the island.
The different businesses set up around the island such as restaurants, banks, and transport service providers among others in a way benefit from tourism directly and indirectly. Many of the locals on the island have also benefited from tourism though employment in Tanzania tour companies, in hotels and resorts, as tour guides and even those selling souvenirs around the island have benefited from tourism around Zanzibar.
Different organizations have also been formed over the years to improve and grow tourism around Zanzibar island and these organizations include Zanzibar tourist cooperation, Zanzibar association of tourism investors among others.
Infrastructure such as roads, airports and hospitals have been also been developed because of tourism in Zanzibar. Many investments have also been set up around the island while maintaining local infrastructure.
Some of the tour experiences which can be enjoyed when visiting Zanzibar island include going to Stone town. Stone town is found on the western coast of the island and it is at the heart of the island. This town is known for its rich architecture which can be seen in the buildings around the town. Stone town can be toured on foot with the help of a local guide and some of the places visited around the town include the Old Fort, the palace museum, the House of wonders, Darajani market, the Old slave market among others. You can also see the Zanzibari doors when visiting the town. When visiting Stone town during a tour around Zanzibar, you can also take part in shopping or visiting the local markets.
Another activity to do when visiting Zanzibar island for a holiday is going to the spice farms. During this activity, you can visit the spice plantations and see how spices like cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla among others are grown. You can also see and taste fruits grown on the island during this tour during which local food is also prepared using the spices and you can taste the food and also purchase some spices which are on sale.
Snorkeling is another activity which is carried out during a tour of Zanzibar and it can be done in places around the island such as Mnemba atoll, Nungwi beach, Kendwa beach among others. All year round snorkeling can be done around the island which has diverse and beautiful marine life and the best time for snorkeling on the island is around February and March and also around July to September.
Diving can also be done around Zanzibar island during a tour and the best time for this activity is from February and March and also in the dry season around July to August. A number of marine species can be seen during this activity such as humpback whales, hawksbill turtles among others.
You can also enjoy swimming around the beaches during a holiday in Zanzibar and you can also swim with dolphins while on the island. The different beaches of Zanzibar include Kendwa beach, Nungwi beach, Paje beach, Jambiani beach, Matemwe beach, Pongwe beach, Kiwengwa beach, Bwejuu beach among others.
Kite surfing is another activity which is carried out around Zanzibar during a holiday on the island and some of the places where the activity is done include Paje beach. The best time for the kite surfing is around December to March and also around June to September and it can be done by beginners and also experts.
You can also interact with the locals and get to know more about their culture and way of life when visiting Zanzibar island which is known for its cultural diversity. During the cultural tours, you get to experience the culture, taste local food, and buy local arts and crafts among other experiences.
Dhow cruises can also be done when visiting Zanzibar island and this activity is done on the Indian ocean. Cruises can be done in the morning and also in the afternoon and the experience involves taking a traditional dhow and enjoying views of the ocean and breeze. Dhows are also used to move to different destinations around the island such as Changuu island which can be accessed by taking a boat from Stone town which takes about 3o to 45 minutes.
When visiting Zanzibar island, you can also visit the Jozani Chwaka bay national park which is home to the rare red colobus monkeys. During a visit to the Jozani forest, tourists can also engage in nature walks or mangrove walks.
Best time to visit Zanzibar for a holiday
Zanzibar holidays can be done at any time of the year however the best time to visit the island is during the dry season from June to October when the weather is good and favorable for activities around the island.
There is also a rainy season which is experienced in Zanzibar and it takes place around March to May and also around November.
How to get to Zanzibar island during tours
There are different ways to access Zanzibar island during a Tanzania Safaris and one of the ways is by booking domestic flights or international flights to Abeid Amani Karume international airport which is the only airport on the island.
Another way to get to Zanzibar island for a tour is by taking a ferry from Dar es Salaam to the island.