Travel tips Zanzibar

Zanzibar is an archipelago off the east coast of Africa, belonging to Tanzania. The archipelago consists of several islands, of which the main island of Unguja is best known as Zanzibar. The islands are located in the Indian Ocean and about 20 kilometers off the coast of Tanzania.

There are several ways to get to Zanzibar, it depends on where you are coming from:

• By plane: The most common way to reach Zanzibar, especially if you are traveling internationally, is by flying to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) on the island of Unguja. There are direct flights from the Netherlands, but you can also fly via Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.

• By ferry: if you are already in Tanzania, you can also take a ferry from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar. There are several ferry companies that offer this route. The crossing takes about 1 to 2 hours.

There are several islands, of which Unguja and Pemba are the best known. Unguja is the Zanzibar as we know it in the Netherlands and Pemba is the second largest island of the archipelago. The atmosphere there is quieter and there is also less tourism, but the island is just as beautiful as Unguja.

In addition, there are smaller islands that are also part of the Zanzibar archipelago, these are:

• Mafia Island: known for its quiet and pristine beaches, as well as great diving spots!
• Latham Island: a small island near Mafia Island, known for its remote nature and beautiful diving spots.

Travel between the islands is quite easy. Ferries depart daily from the ports. The crossing between the islands varies from about 2 to 3 hours. You can also fly between Unguja and Pemba; the flight takes a maximum of 30 minutes.

A popular time to vacation to Zanzibar is during the dry season, which is from June to October. The temperature then is pleasant (between 24 - 29 degrees Celsius) and there is little rainfall. Ideal for beach vacations!

The rainy season is from November through December. Usually there are short rain showers in the afternoon or evening. This is still a pleasant time to visit the island, and it is a lot less crowded.

A vacation to Zanzibar is often mostly about relaxing on one of the beautiful beaches, but did you know that you can also find great sights on and around the island?

• Stone Town: the historic old town and also the capital of Zanzibar is worth exploring. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for a reason. Discover the beautiful architecture, wander the narrow streets and learn about its fascinating history;
• Jozani Forest: this national park is home to the rare red colobus monkeys found only in Zanzibar;
• Prison Island (Changuu Island): originally a prison island for slaves, this island now houses a turtle sanctuary for giant tortoises;
• Spice Tours: Zanzibar is known as the spice island, and one of the popular activities is the spice tour where you learn more about the production and history of spices;
• Sailing trip on a dhow: a boat trip on a traditional dhow, wooden sailing ship, is an incredibly fun outing;
• Diving and snorkeling: Zanzibar has a beautiful underwater world with colorful coral reefs and diverse marine life.

Yes, a tour of mainland Tanzania can be very well combined with a visit to Zanzibar. If you our itinerary through Tanzania follows then start your journey in Arusha. From here you can travel on to insane game reserves before arriving in Dar es Salaam via the Usambara Mountains. Here you can hop on a plane or ferry to Zanzibar.

Of course, you can plan a trip through Tanzania all by yourself, but you also have a number of travel agencies where you can book cool tours:

• From afar - individual tours and options for tailoring your trip with building blocks;
• Rickshaw - individual tours, group tours, building blocks and family tours;
• 333travel - beach vacations, individual tours and construction trips;
• King Monkey - international group travel;
• Djoser - Organized group tours, option to choose lodge or camping trips.