FLIGHTS TO ZANZIBAR
How do you get to Zanzibar?
Kenya Airways (
www.kenya-airways.com) have flights every day of the week from Heathrow, overnight on the way out to Nairobi (8.5 hours) then connecting on to Zanzibar (1.5 hours). Return flight times depend on the day of the week, some days it is a day time flight with a short transit in Nairobi. There is also an afternoon flight from Zanzibar with quite a long transit in Nairobi connecting with an overnight flight to Heathrow.
Ethiopian Airlines (
www.ethiopianairlines.com) also flies direct into Zanzibar via Addis Adabba. Please check their website to find out further information on flight schedules to Zanzibar.
British Airways (
www.british-airways.com) has direct flights from Heathrow to Dar es Salaam overnight (just less than 10 hours) three times each week (Monday, Thursday & Saturday nights), the return flight is a day time flight (Tuesday, Friday and Sunday). We book the internal flights DAR - ZNZ - DAR (20 minutes each way) and internal flights are especially scheduled for the incoming/outgoing BA flights. Emirates (
www.emirates.com) fly to Dar es Salaam via Dubai, but this involves quite a lot of flying time. We tend not book people on the ferry from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar as it is much more convenient to fly.
There are no charter flights from the UK so getting there and back is relatively expensive, hence holidays to Zanzibar tend to be more expensive than those locations like Goa, India, Sri Lanka, etc which are served by charter flights. There are some charter flights from Continental countries, especially Italy and Germany.
1 Time airlines (
www.1time.co.za) also operates from Johannesburg in South Africa to Zanzibar direct and as well as Air Tanzania and South African Airways.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Is a visa required?
Yes, for the majority of countries including UK & EU countries. We recommend getting a visa before you leave your country, but they can be obtained at airports on arrival and at border crossings on the mainland from Kenya. See the web site for the Tanzania High Commission for up-to-date details.
When is the best time to visit?
The best time to visit Zanzibar is during the dry season, which is from December to February and June to October, however Zanzibar is an oceanic island the weather patterns are unpredictable at anytime of the year.
It is also possible to visit Zanzibar during the rainy season which is between mid-March to the end of May; at this time there will be fewer visitors and you are more likely to get a better bargain on hotels, car and bike hire, boat trips and much more. The rain is heavy but not constant, and during this time the sunsets are superb on the west coast
.
SAFETY
Will I be safe?
Guest safety is of paramount importance and even though Zanzibar is a safe destination, it is wise to take certain standard security precautions. Please carry a record of your passport number, airline tickets and travellers cheques, and ensure that these items are kept in a safe place. Make use of your hotel safety deposit box for expensive items and never leave baggage or personal items unattended, especially at airports.
MONEY
What is the currency in Tanzania / Zanzibar?
Tanzania Shillings (TSH) is the currency which can not be obtained until arrival in Tanzania / Zanzibar. There are plenty of Bureau of Change and banks to change money in the main towns and at airports. Transactions at shops, restaurants, etc are also in TSH. However, arrangements vary for paying for extras at hotels. Some hotels express extras such as drinks, meals, etc in TSH and it is best to pay in TSH otherwise, if they convert to US Dollars, conversion is at a relatively poor rate. Other hotels express extras in US Dollars and payment is best in US Dollars.
Can I use my credit card?
Visa and MasterCard are accepted by most top hotels and lodges. In addition to credit cards, we advise that you also have US dollars and traveller’s cheques available.
ELECTRICITY
What is the electricity supply?
The standard electricity supply is 220 - 240 volt AC. The power supply on the mainland and Zanzibar can sometimes be unreliable. Most hotels have back-up generators. In the parks most lodges and camps do not have mains electricity but have generators. Some have very limited power relying on solar power and kerosene lamps at night, which is quite romantic. Plugs at hotels vary, and even within different parts of the same hotel they can vary. In the main they are the 3 square pin plugs similar to the UK, but it is advisable to take a multi-adaptor.
TELEPHONES AND INTERNET
What is mobile phone coverage like?
You are going on holiday. Leave your mobile at home!! For those who do need a mobile, coverage is almost 100 percent across the whole of the mainland and Zanzibar.
Can we access the internet?
Internet connections are becoming quite common across Tanzania / Zanzibar with internet cafes in all major towns. In the more developed hotels, you will also find internet and wireless services.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Tanzania / Zanzibar have a combination of religious beliefs means that Tanzania do well for holidays. Muslim festivals are dated according to local sightings of the phases of the moon, so their dates vary.
HEALTH AND INSURANCE
Do I need travel insurance?
We strongly advise travel insurance, as with anywhere, accidents, robberies do happen and having insurance helps prevent a bad situation becoming worse.
What are the vaccination requirements?
You need to get advice from your general practitioner on your vaccination requirements at least six weeks before your departure. They may recommend a whole cocktail of things which will cost quite a lot: ask what is absolutely essential.
Many organisations have out of date information about Yellow Fever. A Yellow Fever Certificate is required by all people visiting Tanzania/Zanzibar who may have recently visited a Yellow Fever endemic zone, or may have visited such a zone on their way to Tanzania / Zanzibar. We do advise people doing a safari in Kenya on their way to Tanzania/Zanzibar to have a Yellow Fever vaccination. The Tanzania health authorities are advising people that they should have a Yellow Fever vaccination for their own protection - however, please seek advice from your GP practice. People having a Yellow Fever vaccination need to have it at least 10 days prior to travel.
Our understanding is that it is advisable to have protection for Hepatitis A, Typhoid & Polio. It is also advisable to take protection against Malaria, please consult your GP practice about this.
GETTING AROUND
How do we get around Zanzibar?
We strongly suggest we pre-book your transfers which will save a lot of time and hassle, and probably money. There are many tales of people arranging their own transfer to a beach hotel, agreeing with the driver to return on a certain day/time. The driver may not arrive, or, when he does, the price for the return trip has quadrupled. Stone Town is small enough to walk to most destinations.
What is the main language?
Swahili is the local language. English is widely spoken and staff at all hotels, shops and restaurants can speak English.
CLOTHING
What should I wear?
You will require comfortable, casual and semi-casual clothes for your beach holiday to Zanzibar. It is best to have some warm clothing for early mornings and evenings, especially in winter.
What should I pack?
Packing Suggestions:
 |
Light cotton trousers |
|
Cotton shorts |
|
Light cotton shirts(long and short sleeved) |
|
Comfortable walking shoes |
|
Sandals |
|
Shower-proof rain jacket/windbreaker |
|
Sunhat |
|
Fleece |
|
Insect repellent |
|
Small torch |
|
Bathing suit |
|
Suntan lotion |
|
Sunglasses |
|
Camera (telephoto lens recommended) |
|
Binoculars |
Is Zanzibar over-developed for tourism?
In our opinion it is not, yet, overdeveloped and most of the island is about local people going about their daily business. A couple of streets in Stone Town are predominantly for tourists selling local artifacts, paintings, wood carvings, cotton-wear, etc. There is no high density, high-rise hotels with the majority of hotels blending well with the local environment. There are some largish hotels catering predominantly for “package” holidays from Continental countries.
ZANZIBAR ACTIVITIES
What sorts of things are there for visitors to do on Zanzibar?
Many people visit Zanzibar and spend the majority of their time at one or two beach locations. For those who want some activity, some hotels have water-sport centres mainly offering scuba diving and snorkeling, a few offer dingy sailing, wind surfing, kayaks, etc. Zanzibar is surrounded by a reef, especially the north and east coast where the nicest beaches are located. At low tide the ocean recedes a long way which means that at these times swimming from the beach, and water activities, are limited. This is the time to go for long walks; on the north-east and south-east coast you can walk for about 10 miles along the beach calling in at fishing villages, watching village ladies harvesting seaweed for export, the fishermen preparing their nets/boats, children catching fish in the pools of water. Some hotels offer excursions including village visits where you are informed about life in the village, visit a school and meet local people. Part of the cost of the excursions goes towards funding projects in the village. Beware of the “swimming with dolphin” tours at Kizimkazi; we feel that the people who drive the boats do not respect the dolphins, driving their boats at them and chasing them, then encouraging people to jump in beside the dolphins - which should not be done.
To really appreciate what Zanzibar is all about you should plan, at the very least, a couple of days in or near Stone Town. This really is the essence of Zanzibar with its maze of narrow streets bustling with local people on foot, cycles and motor-cycles; appreciate the different forms of architecture and the magnificent Zanzibar doors with their brass spikes; visit the markets, though the meat and the fish markets are not for the feint hearted! There are a couple moderate, but interesting, museums and learn much about the history of Zanzibar at the exhibition in the House of Wonders (the former ceremonial palace of the Sultans and later the headquarters of the British Administration), so named as it was the first establishment in East Africa to have electric lights and lift. An organised Town Tour will take you to the former slave market, the dungeons where slaves were held before being sold, as well other interesting parts of Stone Town. No visit to Zanzibar is complete without a spice tour, best organised from Stone Town rather than coming from a beach location. We can give you information about how best to arrange a dhow safari to the islands off Stone Town; unfortunately much of Prison Island has been handed over to a hotel development, leaving only a small part of the island to casual visitors.
Zanzibar also has a spectacular turquoise ocean full of marvellous marine life and exquisite coral formations. Other places of interest include the Jozani Forest Reserve which is home to the rare red Colobus monkey.
I would like to combine a safari with an island experience, is this possible?
Absolutely, it’s a fantastic package that most visitors opt for. You can come for a week or 10-day safari and end if off with a couple of days on Zanzibar, which offers lovely island experiences. Zanzibar is a tropical island of white, sandy beaches with palm trees and the warm Indian Ocean lapping on its shores. Equally lovely islands are Pemba and Mafia Islands off the Tanzanian mainland, which are easily combined in a safari package.
ACCOMMODATION
What sort of accommodation is available?
There is a wide range of accommodation, from back-packer places to the US$800.00 plus per person per night establishments. Hotel sizes range from the small “boutique” style hotels to the larger “resort” hotels with a wide range of facilities. We do not book at the lower range budget hotels as we know what they are like, and we believe people who book their holiday with us expect a certain standard of accommodation which budget hotels do not provide. Many people want smaller hotels with a local flavor, and there are plenty of these. Others will want a range of facilities such as spa, tennis court, fitness room, water-sports centre, choice of restaurants, and there are hotels which provide these. There are also hotels which are well set-up for families with inter-connecting rooms, family rooms and recreational facilities for children. There are just a few hotels which have rooms in individual bungalows; smaller hotels have 2 rooms in each cottage. We only book people in hotels which have en-suite facilities. The board basis at most beach hotels is half board (breakfast & dinner) as alternatives for eating at night are not close by. However, at hotels in the villages of Nungwi (at the north), Paje & Jambiani in the south east, we book on bed & breakfast as there are places to eat in the villages. In Stone Town we book accommodation on a bed & breakfast basis as there are many restaurants.
PEOPLE
Will I be hassled by local people?
Tanzania /Zanzibar are not as bad as some destinations like parts of Egypt, Gambia, parts of India and Goa. There are, of course, some local lads who will approach people asking if they want tours or transport organised, etc or offering visitors goods, sometimes of dubious legality!! A reasonably assertive, but not aggressive, “No, thank you” will usually be sufficient.
What is the main religion?
On Zanzibar the majority of the people are Muslim. The Islamic tradition means Zanzibaris have a moderate and hospitable manner. Their beliefs are liberal, and not fundamental. Please respect their tradition by behaving and dressing modestly in public. During Ramadan (dates vary) we do ask visitors to respect local people who fast during the day by not eating/drinking in public places. Just a few restaurants do close during the day in Ramadan. On the mainland Christianity is the main religion.
Given the religion, is there a strict restriction on alcohol?
No, alcohol is served in the vast majority of hotels and restaurants. There are just a limited number of hotels/restaurants in Stone Town which do not serve alcohol. Lager is both brewed in Tanzania or Kenya (and very acceptable) or Castle Lager is imported from South Africa. Most wine is from South Africa. There are a couple of retail stores which sell alcohol in Stone Town.
Is Zanzibar a good family destination?
Zanzibar offers wonderful value for families, although some establishments cater more for children’s enjoyment than others. Some properties do not take children under 12 years – we will advise you of the best family travel options.
FOOD AND WATER
What sort of food can we expect?
Stone Town has many restaurants and quality, understandably, is related to the price paid. Most of the restaurants will serve international food, but why go to Zanzibar/Tanzania to have chicken and chips? However, as a fall-back for people who would like this, it is there. Nearly all restaurants will serve good curries. Fish is readily available and cooked in a variety of ways. I tend to eat fish all the time as I know it is fresh. There are some restaurants which serve local dishes; cooked, spiced green bananas; dishes made from maize and meat & fish cooked in coconut milk. Why go to Zanzibar to eat Chinese food? Because in Stone Town there is one of the best Chinese restaurants you are likely to eat at with fresh, locally grown ingredients. Meals at beach locations tend to be taken at the hotel you are staying at, especially the evening meal. For lunch you can go to other hotels or restaurants along the stretch of beach where you are staying. Larger beach hotels tend to have buffet meals and usually good quality. Smaller hotels will have a limited menu which will always include a fish dish. Lobster is normally available at hotels and restaurants, but at a price, yet much less than you will pay for lobster in the UK.
Is tap water safe to drink?
We urge people to drink only bottled water, also use bottled water to clean teeth. Many shops and stalls sell bottled water, as do hotels and restaurants, though it is cheaper to stock-up with bottles bought at shops / stalls. Make sure seals on water bottles are unbroken.
What should I tip?
We recommend that you tender small amounts to your lodge/hotel staff and lodge managers will provide you with guidelines for tipping if required. Where restaurant meals are involved, the tipping standard is usually 10% of the bill. Bargaining for local handicrafts is commonplace.
