Zanzibar

One of the best plans to do in Tanzania is to enjoy the Zanzibar archipelago. In this place, in addition to idyllic beach postcards, you can also find history and culture.

Because of the competition from the African interior with the Kilimanjaro National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Zone or the Serengeti National Park, sometimes Zanzibar is left in the background but those who have the opportunity to know the archipelago assure that it is paradise in the earth. Do you want to know it?

Where is Zanzibar?

It is located in the Indian Ocean 36 kilometers off the coast of Tanzania and just over 40 minutes by plane from Dar Es Salaam, the country's capital.

When to travel?

The best time to go to mainland Tanzania is the months that go from May to October, during the dry season. Zanzibar has a tropical climate with an average temperature of around 26ºC all year round, so any time is appropriate to travel to Zanzibar. However, the rains are more frequent from March to May and in November, months with fewer tourists. The peak season in Zanzibar coincides with our summer.

What to see?

Stone Town

It is also known as the "City of Stone" because many of its buildings are made of stone following a beautiful colonial style. After all, the presence of the Portuguese, Arabic and English footprint is evident. In addition, the doors of each of the houses are almost works of art since they are carved with a design that describes the history of the family that inhabits it.

Strolling through its historic center is quite an experience. This was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco and for years this organization nurtured funds to the island for its preservation. However, lately it has been somewhat neglected after cutting off this funding as it was discovered that the money for this purpose was being misused by the local authorities.

The best thing to do in Stone Town is to enter its maze of streets, discover its bazaars and try to immerse yourself in the daily reality of the residents. Stone Town is also famous for its music and for being the birthplace of artists such as Freddy Mercury, lead singer of the mythical music group Queen.

Darajani Market

Stown Town's Darajani Market, where fruits, vegetables, meat, fish and spices are sold daily, has been in operation for more than a century. It is truly amazing how many people move through this market regularly.

The most striking part of the market is the fish market where you can find great fish such as barracudas or tuna, but you have to be prepared because the smell that the stalls give off can be very annoying for some people.

The slave market

This former enclave in Zanzibar was infamous in the second half of the 1830th century for becoming the main slave market in East Africa pushed by Arab, European, local and Indian traders. An estimated 1873 people were auctioned off in the Zanzibar slave market between 600.000 and XNUMX.

Where once the main slave market in Zanzibar was located, today there is a museum that can be visited to learn about the history of these people who lived and died without freedom.

Old Fort

It is a construction erected by the Omanis in 1689 to defend themselves against the Portuguese. Today its walls house a local craft market, an open-air theater and the offices of the Zanzibar International Film Festival.

Anglican cathedral

This cathedral was built on the old slave market. At present, the entrance to the temple allows the visit to the opposite building in whose basement were the cells of the slaves. Although there were up to fifteen cells, today only two can be visited.

The beaches of Zanzibar

Zanzibar's stunning beaches are the main reason many tourists head to Tanzania. In them they can not only lie down and relax, but can also do many water activities. 

Much of Zanzibar is surrounded by coral reefs, Mnemba or Pemba being the most important islands in the area to see them up close. Thanks to the clarity of its waters it is also possible to run into dolphins and turtles. An unforgettable experience!

Zanzibar travel insurance?

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises to take out travel insurance to visit Tanzania and Zanzibar with the highest possible coverage in terms of repatriation, medical expenses and medical transport. This is very important since in most of the country quality medical services are scarce, except for some private hospitals in cities like Dar es Salaam.

Local customs

Christianity and Islam are present in Tanzania. However, Zanzibar is a mainly Muslim area so local customs should be respected, especially with regard to clothing and taking into account the month of Ramadan.

Local currency

The Tanzanian currency is the shilling although in safaris, national parks and hotels it is usually paid in dollars. Since there is no good ATM coverage in Tanzania, it is advisable to travel with enough cash, changing at offices or hotels, as only large hotels accept cards and include commissions.

Documentation to travel to Zanzibar

The visa to Tanzania and Zanzibar can be obtained on arrival in the country, both at the airport and at the land border, so it is not necessary to issue a visa before the trip. However, its obtaining is subject to compliance with the following requirements:

• Valid passport with at least six months of validity from the date of entry into the country and at least three blank pages.
• Payment of tourist visa fees for Tanzania and Zanzibar valid for up to 90 days: 50 US dollars or 50 euros.
• Documentation that justifies the stay in the country: hotel reservations, excursions, etc.
• Reservation of the return ticket to the country of origin.
• If you are going to leave Tanzania from the Zanzibar airport, the tourist must pay an additional tax of US $ 5 in cash.