Travel Featured
THE BEAUTIFUL ISLAND OF ZANZIBAR
BY LEISA GRACE WILSON
Jambo Spice Farm
Slave Chambers Stone Town
I
f you are in search of paradise on earth
and are based in the Middle East, for
example The United Arab Emirates
(UAE), then Zanzibar is just the place
for you. Zanzibar is an Island off the coast
of Tanzania in the Indian Ocean. It is a
semi-autonomous archipelago region
of Tanzania, known for its beautiful
powdery white sand beaches and crystal
clear waters, but as I have come to
discover, there is so much more to this
beautiful piece of paradise on earth. In
this article, I will give you a snapshot of
my recent trip to the beautiful island of
Zanzibar with my family.
TRAVEL
If you are based in the UAE, you have
a few flight options to choose from.
Fly Dubai, a low cost carrier run by
Emirates Airlines, flies daily, nonstop,
to Zanzibar. Being a low cost carrier,
you will not get the level of luxury you
may be used to, from Emirates, but I
found the service quite efficient and
for a five and a half hour flight, it is not
bad at all. If you don’t mind a stopover,
you can also fly with Oman Air from
Dubai or Abu Dhabi via Muscat. Oman
Air also has daily flights to Zanzibar.
TOP TIPS
The currency in Zanzibar is the Tanzanian Shilling but it is a good idea
to bring along US dollars as it is also widely accepted.
Do your research before arriving and make a list of all the things you
would like to do. Do not pre-book your tours as you will more than
likely be able to find the tours cheaper when you arrive and you will be
able to haggle in person.
Never accept the first price given, haggle and haggle some more.
There will be someone trying to sell you something every time you
leave your accommodation, especially on the beaches. They are simply
trying to make a living and so a firm ‘no’ will suffice if you are not
interested in what they are offering.
Try the local restaurants instead of eating in the hotel for the duration
of your trip, the food is fresh, cheaper and really flavourful.
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May - Jun 2019
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After The Bell
Dolphin Watching at Kizimkazi
ACCOMMODATION
There is a wide array of accommodation
to choose from on the island of
Zanzibar. If you are looking for all-
inclusive resorts or hotels which are a
part of an international chain, Zanzibar
has it all, however what makes Zanzibar
special is the abundance of smaller
villas and hotels dotted along the
pristine beaches. If you are looking
for a more rustic or traditional beach
bungalow, there is plenty to choose
from. We chose a two bedroom Villa on
Jambiani Beach in the southern section
of the island. Jambiani Beach Villas is a
boutique style hotel made up of a mix
of villas and apartments spread across
three plots all along Jambiani Beach.
Our beautiful two bedroom, two
bathroom private Villa, was located
right on the beach, offering spacious,
well thought out self-catering facilities
and breath-taking views, as well as an
outdoor pool which is shared with the
other three villas located on that plot.
Our package included breakfast, but
you can have full or half-board if you
desire.