Zanzibar Travel Guide 1

Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................... 4
Zanzibar (Unguja) Maps........................................ 7
Arriving and Leaving Zanzibar............................... 9
Tanzania (Zanzibar) Visa..................................... 11
Warnings & Safety Precautions........................... 12
Taking Photos and Videos................................... 14
Cost of Traveling in Zanzibar............................... 16
Zanzibar Food - 10 Dishes To Try......................... 19
10 Experiences You Can Have in Zanzibar............ 30
Stone Town........................................................ 41
Why go to Stone Town?............................................................42
Top Things To Do in Stone Town................................................43
Where to Stay in Stone Town....................................................47
Great Restaurants in Stone Town..............................................50
Best Beaches in Zanzibar.................................... 59
Nungwi Travel Guide.......................................... 61
Why Go to Nungwi?.................................................................62
Getting to Nungwi....................................................................63
Where to Stay in Nungwi..........................................................64
Top Things To do In Nungwi......................................................67
Food in Nungwi........................................................................69
Kendwa Travel Guide.......................................... 71
Matemwe Travel Guide...................................... 74
Why Go to Matemwe?..............................................................75
How to Get to Matemwe..........................................................76
www.migrationology.com | Google Map | Go to Table of Contents 2

Where to Stay in Matemwe......................................................77
Top Things To Do In Matemwe..................................................79
Food in Matemwe....................................................................81
Uroa & Pongwe.................................................. 82
Michamvi Peninsula Travel Guide....................... 83
Why Go to Michamvi Peninsula?..............................................84
Where to Stay in Michamvi.......................................................84
The Rock Restaurant.................................................................85
Bwejuu Travel Guide........................................... 87
Why Go to Bwejuu?..................................................................88
How to Get to Bwejuu..............................................................89
Where to Stay in Bwejuu..........................................................90
Top Things to Do in Bwejuu......................................................92
Food in Bwejuu........................................................................94
Paje Travel Guide................................................ 96
Why Go to Paje?.......................................................................96
How to get to Paje....................................................................97
Where to stay in Paje................................................................98
Top Things To do In Paje.........................................................100
Food in Paje............................................................................102
Jambiani Travel Guide....................................... 104
Why should you go to Jambiani?............................................104
How to get to Jambiani...........................................................105
Where to stay in Jambiani......................................................106
Top Things To do In Jambiani..................................................109
Food in Jambiani....................................................................111
Conclusion........................................................ 112

Introduction
When I was a kid, I spent the majority of my growing up years in East Af-
rica.
I dreamt about visiting Zanzibar, being able to experience the mix of cul-
tures, explore the narrow lanes of Stone Town, and sample the delicious
coastal cuisine.
Pictures of pristine turquoise waters and white sand kept me inspired, and
I knew I had to visit eventually.
It wasn’t until becoming an adult, during university, when I had my first

opportunity to visit the island.
My first trip to Zanzibar was with my family, and we really only spent time
in Stone Town before returning to Dar Es Salaam.
Stone Town was fascinating, but I didn’t get to see much by way of the
beaches. And on top of that, I didn’t have a clue which beach to go to -
Zanzibar (Unguja) is a decent sized island.
Back to Zanzibar…
On my latest trip to Tanzania, this
time with my wife, I decided we
needed to go back to Zanzibar, and
see as much of the island as we
could.
We caught a quick flight to Stone

Town from Dar Es Salaam, stayed
there for a few days, and then
made our way, using local trans-
portation to the northern beach
town of Nungwi.
From Nungwi, we slowly made our

way down the East Coast of the
island, stopping for a few days in a
few of the main beach town desti-
nations and checking them out.
In this Zanzibar travel guide, I’ll be covering information about where to

stay and what to do, but since I have such a huge passion for food, I’ll be
expanding the food side of travel a little more in depth.
I hope this guide will help you decide where to go, what to see, and what
to eat when you visit Zanzibar.
The Challenge…
One of the challenges of visiting Zanzibar is that it can be hard to decide
which town or beach you want to go to.
The goal of researching and writing this Zanzibar travel guide for food lov-
ers was not only just to eat (my favorite activity in the world), but to figure
out the pros and cons of each of the major town destinations on the island

– in an attempt to help visitors to Zanzibar decide which destination is
right for them.
Though it’s an island, it’s still big enough to the point where you have to
decide where to go, and which destination will best suit your interests
when you’re there – are you going for a honeymoon? a family vacation? a
diving holiday? a beach-bum backpacking trip? or to explore the food and
culture?
Keep reading this guide to discover Zanzibar.

Thank you for your support
I just want to say a huge thank
you for getting a copy of the eB-
ook version of the “Zanzibar travel
guide for food lovers.”
I appreciate you supporting my

work and effort as an independent
travel guide author (and all around
food and culture lover).
I hope you have an amazing time in Zanzibar and I know you’ll have en-
riching travel and food memories throughout your visit.
Let’s keep in touch so we can share more delicious food from around the
world:
YouTube food videos
Instagram
Twitter
Facebook
Also, please let me know if you have any questions, concerns, or sugges-
tions. E-mail: migrationology@gmail.com.
Thanks again,
- Mark Wiens
Disclaimer:
Some of the hotels I mentioned in this guide, I stayed at for free, but I
only received complimentary accommodation because I contacted them
and wanted to include them in my guide. That being said, all opinions and
thoughts written in this guide are my own. Additionally, within this guide,
there are some affiliate links. As an example, for a few of the hotels, if
you make a booking through the link provided, I’ll get a small commission.
Thank you very much for your continued support. – Mark Wiens

Zanzibar (Unguja) Maps
Zanzibar is composed of two main islands: Unguja and Pemba.
Unguja is the main island (and the island this guide is all about) and it’s
the island that’s often referred to when someone just mentions “Zanzibar.”
Pemba Island is north of Unguja, and is much less developed – however

tourism is beginning to pick up on Pemba for its quiet beaches and espe-
cially for its incredible diving.
Though technically Zanzibar includes both Unguja and Pemba Islands,

I’m going to refer to Zanzibar just as Unguja for the sake of ease through-
out this guide.

Durig my travels in Zanzibar, we started in Stone Town first, then headed
north to Nungwi and Kendwa, before making our way down the east coast
of the island.

Arriving and Leaving Zanzibar
Arriving by Plane
There are quite a number of flights from Europe that fly straight to Zanzi-
bar, sometimes stopping in Kilimanjaro along the way (but skipping Dar
Es Salaam altogether). If you take an international flight straight to Zanzi-
bar, you’ll have to get your Tanzania visa on arrival (info below).
Plane from Dar Es Salaam

A quick 15 minute flight from Dar Es Salaam is convenient and easy to
arrange. There are two main airlines that fly back and forth, Precision Air
and Coastal Aviation.
On my latest visit to Zanzibar I took a flight with Precision Air and a round
trip ticket cost just $80.

Normal prices on Coastal cost around $50 each way. But if you are in Dar
Es Salaam, do check both airlines to see who has a better deal for the
dates you want to visit.
Zanzibar Exit Fees: Keep in mind that upon leaving Zanzibar by air you’ll
need to have US Dollars readily available to pay the airport tax.

Domestic flights: $11 per person
International flights: $48 per person
They are pretty strict, so make sure you have the money to pay or you
may not be able to leave.
Ferry from Dar Es Salaam

If you’re a tourist visiting Tanzania, the ferry is not really much cheaper than
taking a flight, and it takes a lot longer and isn’t always the most comfortable.
That being said, taking the ferry is a good experience and it can be fun.
In Dar Es Salaam, it’s best to purchase your ferry ticket a day ahead of time,
especially in the peak travel season or around local holidays. The Dar Es Sa-
laam passenger ferry terminal is located on the waterfront in downtown, right
off Sokoine Dr.
Azam Marine is one of the best companies that offers ferry service to Zanzibar.
They have a relatively new fleet, and the Kilimanjaro series of ferries are pretty
decent and modern.
From Dar, ferries depart at 7 am, 9:30 am, 12:30 pm, and 3:45 pm. Rates for
non-residents are from $35 – $40 one way. Check out their website for more
information and you may also be able to book online: http://www.azammarine.
com/
If you choose to take the ferry in one direction and fly the other direction, you
should take the ferry from Dar Es Salaam to Zanzibar instead of vice-versa.
The return journey to the mainland can sometimes be very rough. That being
said, if you are prone to seasickness, you may want to avoid the ferry alto-
gether and take the flight, not to mention it’s almost the same price and much
quicker, and less of a hassle.

Tanzania (Zanzibar) Visa
Zanzibar is governed under The United Republic of Tanzania, so there-
fore a Tanzania visa is required to stay on the island.
If you come by ferry from Dar Es Salaam, you will already have a Tanza-
nia visa, in which case you don’t need anything extra when you arrive in
Zanzibar. You do need a valid passport, which you have anyways, and
occasionally you’ll have to fill out an entry card (sometimes not), but you
don’t need anything extra (this is just to monitor tourism).
Same goes for domestic flights from other parts of Tanzania. You just ar-
rive to the airport and can head straight out without any extras. The last
time I flew into Zanzibar from Dar Es Salaam, I didn’t even need to fill out
an entry card (so it just depends on how immigration is feeling that day).
If you fly directly into Zanzibar on an international flight, depending on

which country you’re from, you can apply for a Tanzania visa on arrival,
and some countries don’t need a visa at all. If you are eligible for a visa
on arrival, here’s what you need to do:
• Fill out tourist visa application form (you’ll need an address in Zanzibar
like the hotel you’ll be staying at, so have all that information available).
Applications are either available online or at the airport once you arrive.
• Fill out your arrival card available at the airport (they might give it to
you on the plane)
• Passport that’s still valid for at least the next 6 months
• $100 (this is for US citizens, may be less or the same for your country).
Make sure the dollars are crisp and dated 2006 or newer.
Note: Also make sure you are up to date on your vaccines, especially
Yellow Fever.

Warnings & Safety Precautions
One of the biggest concerns traveling to any destination (no matter where you
choose to go in the world), is safety and security.
The first step is to check with your embassy and also the current news about
what’s going on. An example would be to check the current travel advisory on
http://travel.state.gov/.
There have been a few reports of criminal activity such as rape and a small
acid attack in Zanzibar. But all in all, Zanzibar at the moment is a relatively
safe and stable place in Africa.
On a reality level, let’s go over a few things to keep in mind when you’re actu-
ally in Zanzibar.
First thing to remember is that theft in Zanzibar is quite common.
Most of the time theft in Zanzibar is non-violent, meaning more along the lines
of pickpocketing.
But at the same time, it’s best to use discretion when carrying valuables
around on the street. If you carry around a DSLR camera, it’s normally fine,
just know your risks, be attentive, and be prepared.
Some stretches of beach, particularly in the Nungwi area, when you get away
from hotels, are known for theft.
Lonely tourists walking down the beach carrying big cameras and cash can be
attacked by thugs that jump out from hiding in the rocks.
So the main thing to learn here is that you should not really walk down the
beach carrying anything you’re too attached too.
And number two, when you’re walking along the beach, try to walk with a
group, walk a little ways away from the shore and rocks, and pay attention to
your surroundings.
Most hotel rooms, at least starting from the mid-range options, normally have a
safe deposit box.
Be sure to lock your valuables, even your laptop, in the safe before heading
out. In more budget guest houses, they occasionally have safe boxes at the
front desk where you can store your belongings before you head out.
For the most part in Zanzibar, utilize common sense, like DON’T leave your
bag on the beach unattended and go for a quick dip in the ocean (even if it’s
just for one minute), and you should be fine.
Also, I would recommend just taking it easy, and not trying to dress or look
over the top luxury.
As a final personal note, my wife and I traveled to Zanzibar for two weeks and
we trekked all around the island taking local transportation and walking a lot.
She and I both felt quite comfortable without many safety concerns.
Note: As a tip, when I do need to carry a lot of money or valuables (like after
going to the ATM or transferring hotels) I carry most of my cash and credit
cards in an “in the pants wallet” (click here to see what I mean). I also carry
a normal wallet in my front pocket where I keep about $10 worth of money at
any given time.

Taking Photos and Videos
Zanzibar, with its huge tourism industry, is not new to the camera, and
just about everyone knows and has seen many people taking photos.
So overall, it’s easier to take photos in Zanzibar than in mainland cities

and villages in Tanzania where people are often less accustomed to see-
ing cameras.
Overall, throughout Stone Town and the beach villages, you are free to
take photos of just about everything (but read the people section below) –
like buildings, beaches, landmarks, etc.
However, like in all of Africa, taking photos of government buildings and

government people is pretty much off limits and you’ll get a stern word
from an official (if he sees you) to not take photos (this includes airports
and soldiers).

When it comes to people, markets and villages, Zanzibar is still very tradi-
tional.
So while it’s normally alright to take general photos of the surrounding

area or village, if you specifically aim your camera at someones face, they
probably won’t be too happy (or they might want money).
In order to be courteous, just ask, or motion to a person if it’s OK to take

a photo (with a big smile on your face). Some will say yes, others no, but
it’s the right thing to do.
In the beach villages kids will often come up to you asking for a photo,
then occasionally after you take the photo, they will then extend their
hands for money.
I don’t think it’s a good idea to give them money. We don’t want to encourage
them to keep doing this. Instead you can tell them “no money,” from the start
– before you ever take a photo. Once you say that, many of the kids are just
happy to have a photo and then see themselves on the LCD screen.

Cost of Traveling in Zanzibar
Zanzibar, in my opinion, is a little overpriced on a whole.
Accommodation and food, plus activities like diving, are usually the main
expenses on any trip to the island. The most budget places to stay, are
really not great quality, and for mid-range accommodation the costs really
add up.
Overall, Zanzibar is not a budget travelers destination, and many people

often come on holiday looking to spend money and have a luxury stay.
That being said, there are some cheaper options, and there are ways to
get by on a budget, which I will share with you throughout this guide.
Here’s a rough guide of how much you’ll be spending on a variety of ne-

cessities in Zanzibar.

Accommodation:
Budget: $15 – $60 per night for a double
Mid-range: $60 – $150 per night for a double
Luxury: $150 – $500 per night or more for a double
Food and Drinks:

Food at local restaurants in Stone Town is quite affordable (around $2 –
$3 for a good meal) but when you get to the smaller beach villages, and
have to eat at hotel restaurants, you pay more like $10 – $15 per meal.
Local restaurant meal: 3,000 – 5,000 TZS ($1.75 - $2.92)

Normal hotel restaurant meal: 15,000 – 20,000 TZS ($8.77 - $11.70)
1.5 liter bottle of water at shop: 1,000 TZS ($0.58)
Overall Budget:
Low Budget: About $50 – $75 per person per day
Mid-range: $75 – $150 per person per day
Luxury: $150 and up, per person per day

Tips on how to save money
Like I normally mention in all my travel writings, don’t try to do everything.
Focus on the things you really want to do, and spend your money on
those. If you’re a lover of history, spend your money on going to the mu-
seum and seeing the ruins in Stone Town, but if not, you may be able to
skip them.
Breakfast is sometimes served complimentary at hotels, so chow down

for breakfast, have a late big lunch, and for dinner stay in your room and
eat oatmeal and fruit (this is what I did quite often to save money).
Seasons of Zanzibar (Low, High, and Peak)

The price of accommodation in Zanzibar changes drastically between the
three tourist seasons: low, high, and peak.
Visit Zanzibar during peak season and you could easily pay twice as
much on accommodation as you would during low season.
Also, during low season you have more flexibility to bargain, as rooms are
empty. So at a hotel for instance, you could either show up, or contact
them ahead of time and ask for a discount.
However, there are tradeoffs. Low season is normally rainy season, so

conditions are not always that great.
Low season: April – Mid-June, Nov

High season: Mid-June – Mid-Dec,
Peak season: Mid-Dec – Mid-Feb, Mid-July – Mid-Aug
These are just estimates, some hotels have their own schedule of low
and high season, and pricing system.

10
Zanzibar Food-
10 Dishes To Try
Zanzibar, with its strategic location just off the coast of East Africa, has
long been a melting pot.
Arab traders from the Middle East, Portuguese invasions, immigrants

from India – the list goes on. The result is a truly unique Zanzibar culture
and a mixture of marvelous cuisines.
The spices from Middle Eastern and Indian cooking, paired with the won-
derful natural ingredients and seafood from Zanzibar, makes Zanzibar
food so delicious.
Here are 10 different foods and snacks that you should eat in Zanzibar.

1
Biryani
Biryani, with origins in the Middle East and parts of India, is also one of
the most famous dishes to eat in Zanzibar.
The rice is cooked in a variety of spices, and then paired together with a
meat or fish curry, that always accompanies the rice.
As opposed to pilau (like below), biryani is the style where the rice and
curry dishes are cooked separately and then combined together to make
the dish complete.
Popular versions include fish, beef, and goat.

2
Pilau Rice
Unlike biryani, where the rice and dish are cooked separately, pilau
normally intends that the rice and meat and spices are all combined
and cooked together. So it’s a bit drier than biryani (as there’s no curry
sauce), but it also tends to be a little more spice flavored than biryani.
This is what the technical difference is, however the rules are stretched in
Zanzibar, and you can often get pilau with a piece of deep fried fish (obvi-
ously not cooked with the rice).
Both biryani and pilau are excellent, and you should definitely try them
both to see which one you prefer. I like them both equally, and can’t pick
a favorite, so I normally just order 2 plates!
You can get pilau with beef, goat, or fish.

3
Octopus Curry (mchuzi wa pweza)

Octopus is a favorite seafood in Zanzibar and it’s widely eaten at both
street food stalls and fancy hotels throughout the island.
On the eastern beaches of Zanzibar, you’ll often find people searching for
octopus trapped in coral rock pools when the tide goes down. They then
will often beat the octopus on a rock to tenderize it.
Slices of octopus are normally cooked in a blend of rich spices like tur-
meric, coriander, and then simmered in a think coconut cream gravy. The
result is nothing short of marvelous. Octopus curry is easily one of my
favorite things to eat in Zanzibar.

4
Urojo (mix)
In mainland Tanzania, they call it Zanzibar Mix, but on the island they call
it urojo – and to my understanding, they are basically the same dish.
It’s a mishmash of a dish, a unique creation, that begins with bhajias and
other crispy fritters, all mingled in a curry gravy and topped with more
crispy fritters.
It’s sort of like the ultimate Tanzanian Zanzibari junk food in a bowl, and
you should definitely give it a try.

5
Mandazi (& Other Cakes)

A mandazi is basically the Swahili version of a doughnut, a deep fried
lump of dough that’s lightly sweetened and occasionally seasoned with a
hint of cardamom.
The dough is usually cut into a triangular shape, then deep fried until it
turns dark golden brown, and usually enjoyed with a hot and sweet cup of
chai.
You’ll find mandazis everywhere from sit down restaurants to street food
stalls where they often sit in glass cabinets waiting to be purchased.
There are all sorts of other random deep fried treats to snack on in Zanzi-
bar such as: samosas (a triangle of fried dough usually filled with meat or
vegetables), vitumbua (rice flour coconut cake), among others.

6
Zanzibar Pizza
I have no idea what the origins of this rather bizarre and tasty concoction
of ingredients is, but it is famous throughout the island, especially at the
Forodhani night market in Stone Town.
They basically take a small ball of dough, thin it out and start frying it on
a hot pan surface. Then goes in whatever ingredients you asked for – like
chicken or beef or fish – and then a mixture of peppers and onions, and
egg then gets poured into the middle of the dough.
The final step is to add some mayonnaise and processed happy cow
cheese to the mix, and fold up the Zanzibar pizza (video) into a rectangle.

7
Mishkaki
For a delicious meat snack, usually either chicken or beef, grab a few
skewers of mishkaki.
To me, mishkaki is somewhere in between Indian style and Middle East-

ern style kebab skewers, the meat marinated in a nice blend of spices
and sauce, then grilled to charred perfection on the outside.
The sticks of mishkaki are great to eat for a meal, and in Zanzibar, espe-
cially around the streets of Stone Town, you’ll find them grilling them up in
the late afternoon.
In Dar Es Salaam, you’ll find huge skewers of meat, while in Zanzibar

they are normally a little smaller.

8
Octopus and Casava

Along with mishkaki, another popular street food snack in Zanzibar is the
combination of octopus pieces with fried cassava.
The octopus is usually fried as well, diced into bite sized pieces, and
served on a piece of yesterdays newspaper along with some chunks of
fried cassava (like a starchy potato).
Once you get your street food snack, you can either sprinkle on some
salt, or get a squirt of the chili tomato sauce that’s often provided.

9
Chips Mayai
Comfort food at its finest would describe this popular east African style
French fries (chips) omelet.
The French fries are first deep fried, then tossed into a skillet with a cou-
ple of eggs, and fried into a circular omelet. The result is far from anything
remotely healthy, but I would have to say that it’s quite tasty.
I like to eat my chips mayai with some extra chilies, kachumbari (toma-
toes and onions), and a douse of tomato sauce to make things tangy.

10
Durian
One of the world’s most unique and amazing fruits is available, during
season, in Zanzibar.
Living in Thailand, I have become quite obsessed with the king of fruits,
and there’s nothing more enjoyable for myself than being able to taste a
durian in every country possible.
Durian is normally only available in season, so unfortunately if you visit

Zanzibar on off durian season it might be impossible to find. But if you’re
there during season, make sure you sample this delicacy.
You’ll find plenty of other good tropical fruit in Zanzibar too.

10 Experiences You Can Have in
Zanzibar
Since there are so many different adventures and experiences you can
have in Zanzibar, depending on what you enjoy doing, should be what
you focus on when you’re there.
In this section of the guide, I’ve highlighted ten of the most common ac-
tivities throughout the island of Zanzibar, but this is by no means an ex-
hausted list.
Some of these activities are best arranged from either Stone Town or the
East Coast beaches like Jambiani.

1
Relax on a Beach
Overall, one of the top reasons people
visit Zanzibar is to do nothing more
than relax on a beach.
The island offers a choice of sparkling

turquoise waters, fine white sand, tall
swaying palm trees, and a warm at-
mosphere to bring it all together.

2
Explore Stone Town

Stone Town, the “old town,” the larg-
est town in Zanzibar, the cultural and
historical capital, and a UNESCO
World Heritage site, is definitely worth
a visit.
Getting lost in the narrow alleys of the

old city, exploring the crowded mar-
kets, and sampling local Zanzibari
food is all part of the joy.

3
Eat Local Zanzibari Food

With a long history of both the Middle
East and with India, Zanzibar’s cuisine
has evolved into a spectacular melt-
ing pot of delicious flavors. Pilau, or
spiced rice, is one of the staples.
Seafood is beautiful, and prepared

local style in rich coconut milk with
spices, and it’s truly marvelous.

4
Jozani Forest
It’s not the most impressive nature
reserve in the world, but if you like
nature, and if you want to see the rare
red colobus monkeys up close and
personal, Jozani forest is worth a visit.
12,000 TZS ($7.02) entrance fee with

guide, but you often go as part of a
tour from Stone Town.

5
Mnemba Island SCUBA Dive and Snorkel

Zanzibar is a world class destination for snorkeling and diving, and just off
the coast of Matemwe is the famous Mnemba atoll.
There’s an abundance of marine life including green turtles, dolphins,

whale sharks, and countless reef fish.

6
Swim with Dolphins

Located off the coast of the southern part of the island, near the village of
Kizimkazi, is a tour where you have the opportunity to see dolphins and
even swim with them (sort of).
They do swim fast and it’s not a guarantee that you will see them (though
it’s pretty likely), but if you’re interested in dolphins, this is a must.
Tours from Stone Town normally cost $30 – $45 per person.

7
Spice Farm Tour

Zanzibar, sometimes known as the
spice island, was introduced to dif-
ferent spices by the Portuguese in
the 16th century. Later, Arab traders,
began to cultivate spices and grew
the business. Zanzibar still produces
some spices, and there are many
farms that you can visit to see spices
in their true form and even taste them
right off the tree. Every single tour
company in Stone Town offers spice
farm tours for about $15 per person.
Alternatively, if you get your own
transportation with a taxi or dalla dalla,
you can go to a farm yourself and ne-
gotiate for a private tour. I went with a
taxi to Kimanduni Spice Farm.
8
Prison Island
Also known as Changuu Island, this
small island is just over 5 kilometers
off the coast of Stone Town. The is-
land was formerly used as a prison
for slaves who misbehaved, and later
it became a quarantine island for the
sick. Today, you can take a tour of the
island, see the ruins from the prison,
and also check out the colony of giant
tortoises, a gift originally from the Sey-
chelles.
A private boat round trip costs $30 –

$40, and then there’s a $4 entrance
fee per person. If you go with a group
tour, it’s probably about $15 per per-
son.
9
Water Sports (especially kitesurfing)

Water sports, mainly kitesurfing, parasailing, jet skiing, and fishing, are all
easily available around the island and arranged at various tour agencies.
The East Coast, with its steady wind and nice beaches, is one of the
world’s premiere kitesurfing destinations.

10
Dhow Sailboat Ride

No trip to Zanzibar would be complete
without a cruise on a traditional dhow
sailboat. The original design of a dhow
likely originated in Yemen, but it’s
been a part of the East African coastal
lifestyle for centuries.
Peacefully sailing in a handmade

wooden boat with a canvas sail is sure
to make lasting memories. Nungwi is
one of the best places for a dhow sail.

Why go to Stone Town?
Stone Town is the major city, the cultural and historical capital, and a fas-
cinating melting pot.
The town is a great place to visit in order to learn about the history of the
island, visit museums, explore the narrow lanes of the ancient town, and
find local Zanzibar restaurants.
If you like to eat, Stone Town provides by far the best local style Zanzibari
food on the island, in my opinion.
Everyone that travels to Zanzibar should either stay for a few days, or if
staying at a different beach, should at least come to explore Stone Town
for a day trip away from the beach.

Top Things To Do in Stone Town
1. The Old Fort
The Old Fort, located across the
street from the Fordhani Gardens
in central Stone Town, was built
by Omanis in 1699. There’s not so
much to do or see here, but you
can walk around the ruins, visit the
souvenir shops within and outside
the fort, and go to the art gallery.
The official Zanzibar Tourism of-
fice is located at the entrance of
the Old Fort. They are quite helpful
and willing to give you information
about Stone Town.
Hours: daytime | Price: Free
2. House of Wonders
The House of Wonders, dominat-
ing the central oceanfront near
the Forodhani gardens, is one of
the most recognizable structures
in Stone Town. It was formerly a
palace, built in 1883 by the second
Sultan of Zanzibar, Barghash bin
Said. Now the House of Wonders
is a museum showcasing the his-
tory and culture of the island. Over-
all, I prefer the Palace Museum,
but if you want to learn all you can
about the history of Zanzibar, go
for it.
Hours: 9 am – 6 pm daily | Price:
5,000 TZS ($2.92)

3. Palace Museum
Also known as the Sultan’s Palace
or Beit el-Sahel, this central Stone
Town museum is a three story
mansion built for the Omani Sultan
and his family in the 19th century.
The entire home is now a museum
that’s filled with artwork, paintings
of the various Sultans, original fur-
niture and decorations, and lots of
interesting historical artifacts. You
can get a great view of the harbor
and ferry terminal from the third
floor balcony.
Hours: 8:30 am – 6 pm daily |

Price: 5,000 TZS ($2.92)
4. Hamamni Persian Baths

There’s not much to see or do at
the Hamamni Baths, but if you hap-
pen to be strolling past, you might
take a peek inside. You enter the
small dungeon style doorway and
there’s a small entrance fee where
you pay the lady and get a ticket.
Men sitting around the attraction
may approach you, saying the en-
trance fee is something like 5000
TZS. Avoid them and just walk
inside and there’s a lady who you
buy your ticket from for $1 (1,500
TZS).
Hours: 9 am – 6 pm daily | Price:
1,500 TZS (it’s barely worth paying
anything for though)

5. Anglican Cathedral and
Former Slave Market
Zanzibar has a long history, and
was once the center of the Middle
Eastern slave trade. At the site
of the current Anglican Cathedral
is where many of the slaves that
left the island were traded. The
cathedral was built after the slave
trade ended. The site is more of
a memorial, where you can see
the chamber used to hold former
slaves.
Hours: 8 am – 6 pm daily, but on
Sunday you can only enter after
the service around noon | Price: $4
or 6,000 TZS
6. St. Josephs Cathedral

The Roman Catholic cathedral in
the heart of the winding lanes of
Stone Town can be accessed from
the backside entrance. It’s an icon-
ic landmark in Stone Town, and
if you happen to walk past it, you
can enter the compound and take
a look inside. Alternatively, from
the rooftops of many of the hotels
in Stone Town, you’ll see the stee-
ples rising high above the Stone
Town skyline.
Price: Free

7. Explore the Lanes
Easily the top attraction of visit-
ing Stone Town is to just get lost
exploring the ancient narrow
lanes. On both sides of the lanes
you’ll discover souvenir shops,
hotels, restaurants, cafes, places
of worship, street food stalls, and
produce vendors. Kids going to
school, Vespas thundering past,
and carts full of oranges, are just a
few of the things you’ll encounter
on any stroll through Stone Town.
If you feel like you’re walking in
circles, you probably are. But don’t
worry, locals are happy to point
you in the right direction.
8. Darajani Market
Just outside the narrow lanes of
Stone Town is the lively Darajani
Market. This is the place where
nearly all types of food supplies
and ingredients from around the
island are traded and sold. Giant
stalks of plantains, stacks of cas-
sava, and spices like cardamom,
cinnamon, turmeric, and cloves are
all represented. There’s a large
section of the market dedicated to
fresh meat and also a fish market
where you can check out the auc-
tion and occasionally spot huge
sailfish and tuna.
Hours: all day | Price: free

Where to Stay in Stone Town
Kisiwa House
Kisiwa House is a luxurious boutique
hotel that’s incredibly well designed
and extremely comfortable. We had
the privilege of staying for a night, and
it was a truly memorable stay; Care is
put into every detail of the hotel. The
rooms include a comfortable Zanzibari
bed, fridge, tv, safe deposit box, and
many other amenities to make your stay
extremely pleasant. The wi-fi was also
excellent, and the staff were friendly
and helpful. We loved our stay at Kisiwa
House.
Prices: $150 – $200 for a double

Website: http://www.kisiwahouse.com/
Contact: info@kisiwahouse.com, +255
(0)24 2235654, +255 (0)24 2236786

Zenji Hotel
Just a stones throw from the ferry ter-
minal, Zenji House is a boutique mid-
ranged friendly guest house.The rooms
are outfitted with Zanzibari style beds
and local decoration, air condition, and
a safe box for your valuables. Addition-
ally, the Zenji Zanzibar Foundation is a
locally owned and organized project that
aims to support local communities on
the island. Staff at Zenji Hotel are ex-
tremely helpful and willing to help orga-
nize anything or just offer advice. The
only downside is that it’s located near
the ferry terminal, which is not the best
area of town.

Website: http://www.zenjizanzibar.
com/
Contact: info@zenjizanzibar.com,
+255 777 247 243
Africa House Hotel

One of the classic colonial hotels in
Zanzibar is the famous Africa House.
The luxury hotel has a history of being
built by a slave trader from Oman, later
becoming an English club of East Africa,
and now a boutique luxury hotel. The
hotel has lots of character and antique
elegance, plus a great communal social
area on the second floor, which is an
amazing place for a drink or meal with a
wonderful view of the Indian Ocean.

Website: http://www.africahousehotel.
com/
Contact: frontdesk@africahousehotel.
com, +255 (0)774 43 23 40, +255 (0)777
212621

Karibu Inn
Karibu Inn is a decent option if you’re
looking for a real budget place to stay in
the heart of Stone Town. The rooms are
basic, clean, and functioning, but don’t
expect too much extra.
A great thing about Karibu Inn is its

location, just before Shangani Road and
across the lane from NBC Bank. When
you check in, make sure you ask for
towels and a top sheet.
Prices: $40 for a double, $15 bed in

dorm room
Contact: karibuinnhotel@yahoo.com,
+255 24 223 3058
Kiponda Bed and

Breakfast
Located within the Stone Town lanes
behind the Palace Museum, Kiponda is
a family style run bed and breakfast in a
local area.
It’s an original building, designed in

Arab and Swahili styles. The rooms are
of decent size, clean and cozy, and a
good deal. Get a room with AC if you can.
Prices: $40 – $60 for a double with

breakfast
Website: www.kiponda.com
Contact: info@kiponda.com, +255 24
2233052

Great Restaurants in Stone Town
When it comes to local Zanzibari food, there’s no better place on the is-
land to experience it than right in Stone Town, the largest city.
While there are plenty of Western and international restaurants, I’ve cho-
sen to focus my suggestions (and use my calories) on places that serve
local cuisine – after-all, I’m a firm believer that the best food to eat when
you travel to any destination, is local food.
Stone Town, is in my opinion, the best place on the island when it comes
to food.

1. Lukmaan Restaurant
Lukmaan restaurant is one of the most
well known local standards for tasty
Zanzibari food. You’ll find delicious
dishes like biryani, pilau rice, fried fish, a
variety of pre-made curries, and a se-
lection of deep fried snacks like samo-
sas and mandazis. Lukmaan is a great
restaurant to experience the authentic
flavors of Zanzibar. There’s no menu,
but you just point and choose, or tell the servers what you want, and then pay at the
counter before grabbing a seat.
What to eat: Their pilau rice is particularly excellent, one of the best I’ve had in Zan-
zibar, and also try their octopus curry which is fantastic. Expect to pay about 5,000
TZS ($2.92) per person for a stunning feast.
How to get there: It’s located on New Mkunazini Rd., just a short distance from the
Anglican Church and former slave market
Open hours: 7 am – 9 pm daily

2. Passing Show Hotel
Just like Lukmaan, Passing Show Hotel
is another extremely famous Zanzibar
food institution and serves just about
the same menu, equally delicious. The
restaurant serves a steady stream of
hungry customers through the day,
dishing out favorites like goat and fish
biryani, rice pilau, beans, stewed veg-
etables, and a full assortment of deep
fried snacks. They also make a marvelous fresh tamarind juice if you need some-
thing sweet to drink.
What to eat: The curries are good, the biryani and pilau are both decent, and the
stewed green vegetables are wonderful. For a great meal you’ll spend about 5,000
TZS ($2.92) per person.
How to get there: From the Stone Town ferry terminal, head away from ocean on
Malawi road. Walk for a couple hundred meters, and just after Zenji Hotel, you’ll see
Passing Show on your right hand side.

3. Al-Jabry Restaurant
Another local favorite for Zanzibari food
in Stone Town is a restaurant known as
Al-Jabry.
I was actually searching for a local Zan-

zibari dish known as boko-boko, a meat
porridge soup, when many people in the
area pointed me to Al-Jabry, and that’s
how I first heard about the restaurant.
They have all the local dishes available, including biryani and pilau, but I haven’t had
a chance to try them all myself yet, but I’m sure they are pretty good. The boko-boko
was interesting and good.
What to eat: biryani, pilau, curry, beef soup

How to get there: Al-Jabry is located near the old slave chamber
Address: Tharia St., Mkunazini Rd, Stone Town, Zanzibar
Open hours: 7:30 am – 10 pm daily

4. Forodhani Gardens
Every evening, beginning at about 5 pm, street food vendors wheel out their tables
to the Forodhani Gardens to prepare for the evening street food fest. All sorts
of seafood like lobster, fish, shrimp and octopus are displayed on skewers, pre-
cooked, and when you order it, they will be quickly heated over charcoal. I’m go-
ing to tell you right now, the seafood is not the freshest, and although it does look
tempting, you may want to avoid it.The good news is, there are other things to eat
like Zanzibar pizza, a roti filled with meat, veggies, an egg and cheese and then
wrapped up and fried, a chicken shawarma stall, a number of vendors that sell urojo,
a Zanzibar snack soup mix (popular with locals), and fresh sugar cane juice to wash
everything down. Some of the seafood vendors can be a bit aggressive to try and
get you to buy from them, but most of the time it’s in a nice way. Just kindly say no
thank you and keep moving.
How to get there: Show up at the Fordhani Gardens anywhere from around 5 pm –
9 pm each evening
Prices: Zanzibar pizza (2,000 - 4000 TZS depending on what you get inside ($1.17
- $2.34), Chicken shawarma (3,000 TZS ($1.76), plate of seafood (10,000 TZS
($5.85), uroja mix (2,000 TZS ($1.17), sugar cane juice (1,000 TZS ($0.58)
Open hours: 6 pm - 9 pm daily

5. Mzuri Sana
Mzuri Sana is a small local restaurant
that serves delicious Tanzanian and
Zanzibari food, and it happens to be
owned by a Chinese lady.
The informal restaurant has indoor seat-

ing and a few tables in the front. You
walk inside, choose whatever you’d like,
and then the dishes will be served to
you. Eggplant, collard greens, fish soup, fried beef, chapatis, bread, mandazis, and
rice are a few of the dishes available. The food is simple but good.
What to eat: All the dishes are simple and tasty. I had beef mixed with carrots and
onions, green vegetable, a fish tail soup, a crispy chapati, and 2 cups of chai all for
6,000 TZS ($3.51).
How to get there: The restaurant is across the street from Zenji Hotel, on Malawi
Road

6. Mukhy’s Cafe
Mukhy’s is a little restaurant street food
stall that mainly serves grilled tandoori
chicken, an assortment of deep fried
snacks, and cold sodas.
The chicken in particular is absolutely

wonderful, and the crew of staff are all
very friendly.
The food is tasty and cheap.
What to eat: Chicken and chips (6,000 TZS ($3.51) or mishkaki and chips
How to get there: From the Stone Town ferry terminal, walk away from the ocean
on Malawi road. Around 30 meters, on the right hand side, just before you get to
Zenji Hotel, you’ll see Mukhy’s.
Open hours: 7 am – midnight, but very informal hours, they are open most of the
time is what the owner told me.

7. Jaws Corner – Coffee
A legendary local cafe, and a place I make
a point to visit every time I’m in Stone
Town, Jaws Corner is where men come
to drink a few cups of coffee, talk about
politics, and play board games. The cof-
fee is always served hot and occasionally
the coffee master will have a bucket full of
kashata (like a peanut brittle) available to
nibble on with your black coffee.The cups
are just rinsed in normal water, so if you’re
concerned, you may want to bring your own cup (however, I’ve enjoyed many cups and
never had a problem).
What to eat: Zanzibar style coffee is 100 TZS ($0.06) per cup, and you can easily have 2 –
3 cups or more and it won’t break your bank.
How to get there: It’s tricky, but the coffee shop is located at the intersection of Cathedral
St., Baghani St., and Soko Muhogo St. Ask any local and they will point you in the right
direction, just keep going until you get there.
Open hours: Early in the morning until late in the afternoon

Best Beaches in Zanzibar
Choosing and enjoying a beach or a destination in Zanzibar is all about
expectations.
Through this Zanzibar travel guide, I hope to uncover some of your ex-
pectations and advise you on a destination that will cater specifically to
your interests, so that you have the time of your life visiting Zanzibar.
Here are the beaches that I will cover in this part of the Zanzibar travel
guide (I’ve tried to include the pros and cons of each town, so you can get
a better idea if it will suit your interests).
• Nungwi & Kendwa – Beautiful swimming beaches, parties, water

sports, resort, family, backpacker
• Matemwe (and Uroa and Pongwe) – Peace and quiet, diving, local
culture, family
• Michamvi Peninsula – Resorts, beautiful beach, luxury, family
• Bwejuu – Great local Zanzibar culture, friendly village, backpacker
• Paje – Beautiful beach, water sports like kitesurfing, budget, backpack-
er, family
• Jambiani – Beautiful beach, water sports, backpacker, family, local vil-
lage life
For each of these towns in Zanzibar, I’ll do my best to give you a picture
of what it’s like, so you can better decide where you want to go. I’ll also
share what there is to do there, where to stay, what to eat, and any other
tips I figured out when I was there.

Nungwi Travel Guide
Nungwi is located at the very northern tip of Zanzibar. After Stone Town,
it’s one of the most popular areas of the island, and it’s the seconds big-
gest village in Zanzibar.
Nungwi is known for being a major fishing village, and they are also lo-
cally known for their traditional dhow sailboat making – best on the island.

Why Go to Nungwi?
Nungwi and Kendwa (located just a 5 minute drive from Nungwi), in my opinion,
have the best swimming beaches on the island. The water is both deep, turquoise
blue and clear, and when you’re on the very northern tip of the island, the water is
not affected very much by high and low tide (like the East coast is – more about this
later).
Along with one of the best swimming beaches in all of Zanzibar, Nungwi is a good
option if you’re looking for nightlife, action, parties, and social interaction – it’s one of
the most popular beaches – so you have more of a chance of meeting other travel-
ers.
Nungwi village itself is quite large and a good place to explore the culture of Zanzi-
bar – though they are very accustomed to tourists – maybe too much so – and there
are many touts.
Pros: beautiful beach, parties and clubs, lots of activities, diving, sailing, snorkeling
Cons: louder than other beach towns, more touts, more muggings, huge all inclu-
sive resorts, expensive

Getting to Nungwi
If you book a higher end resort or hotel, they may arrange to pick you up
from either Stone Town or the airport (either for a fee or included).
However, to get to Nungwi village on your own, there are a number of

choices.
• Private Taxi - It’s easy to get a taxi directly to Nungwi, and you can
arrange either through a hotel or get one yourself. Many taxis hang out
along the side of the streets in central Stone Town, especially in the
Shangani district. Should cost around $30 - $40, though you will likely
be quoted higher at first, so do some talking. Takes about 45 minutes.
• Shared Tourist Van - Ask at any of the guest houses in Stone Town,
and you can reserve a seat on a shared tourist van direct to Nungwi.
Usually 10,000 TZS ($5.85) per person, depart in the morning each
day at about 8 am (may have an afternoon van as well depending on
demand). Takes about 1 hour.
• Public Dalla Dalla - The local form of dalla dalla transportation, also
known as the chicken bus, is another fantastic way to get to Nungwi.
Dalla dallas leave from Darajani Market. Just show up at anytime (best
in the morning), load yourself into #116, wait until the dalla dalla is full,
and then over-full, and then you’ll depart. It’s a good local Zanzibar ex-
perience, but don’t expect a comfortable ride… you might have a stock
of bananas on your lap, some fish at your feet, and other passengers
in every hole in the back of the truck. But if you enjoy this type of expe-
rience, go for it. Costs 2,000 TZS ($1.17) per person, and the ride can
take 1.5 - 2 hours, with many people in and out at lots of stops. Dalla
dalla will drop you off in the center of the Nungwi.

Where to Stay in Nungwi
Nungwi is well known as a beach resort town in Zanzibar, having many
high-end, all-inclusive resorts.
Many of the resorts such as the Zanzibari, Essque Zalu Zanzibar, or the Z
Hotel, cater specifically to Italian tourists who often fly straight from Italy,
drive directly to their Nungwi resort, and spend their entire Zanzibar holi-
day at their resort without leaving.
But even with the many resorts, there are still a few smaller hotel style
residences as well as some bungalows available in Nungwi.

Ras Nungwi Beach Hotel
Described as laid-back luxury, Ras
Nungwi Beach Hotel is that, plus a lot
more.
This upscale hotel is located on an ex-

tremely quiet strip of private beach. It’s
the type of hotel you want to go to for
extreme relaxation and for an experi-
ence where you can have time to your-
self without any outside noise from others. The panoramic views of the Indian ocean
from Ras Nungwi are incredible.
Also the staff are always willing to accommodate your every desire, doing things like
setting up a romantic meal on the beach.
Pros: Peaceful and serene, private beach pretty much all to yourself, amazing views
and sunrises, the full range of resort activities and facilities, excellent service, beau-
tiful grounds, good for romance / couples
Cons: Located a few kilometers from Nungwi town (for activities, restaurants etc.),
since it’s on the East side of Nungwi there’s a huge difference in low and high tide,
swimming in the sea is not the best
Website: Ras Nungwi
Prices: About $100 – $200 per night

Langi Langi Beach Bunga-
lows
On the very northern tip of the island,
just a short distance from the center of
Nungwi village, is Langi Langi. Though
called bungalows, it’s more of a hotel
style in my opinion, but it’s still small
and friendlier than the giant resorts,
and the rooms are nicely furnished, and
clean. For beach lovers, it hardly gets
better than Langi Langi, because the
hotel is literally right above the crystal
clear water.
Pros: amazing swimming beach and

view directly from the hotel, good res-
taurant
Cons: It’s a loud area, and there’s not a
lot of space, hotels surrounding on both
sides
Website: Langi Langi Beach Bungalows
Prices: I was quoted $100 for a double per night, but prices do fluctuate quite a lot
by season
Paradise Beach Bungalows

One of the budget accommodation / backpacker options in Nungwi is Paradise
Beach Bungalows, located adjacent to Langi Langi.
Again, the beach here is magnificent at both high and low tides, you can easily swim
and enjoy the water. The rooms are basic, but clean enough and functional, and
they are all just a few steps from the sea. Also, this central area of Nungwi has plen-
ty to offer by way of tour agencies, diving, shopping, nightlife, and food.
Pros: awesome beachfront, good location, affordable price, meet backpacker travel-
ers
Cons: nothing fancy, bare bones
Prices: I was quoted $50 for a double, but do negotiate, and rates change according
to season

Top Things To do In Nungwi
Walk Nungwi Village
Nungwi is the largest village outside of
Stone Town – it’s not big, but it’s a pretty
good sized village – home to a few thousand
residents. The village is famous for its dhow
(a traditional East African) sailboat building.
You are free to walk to the local fish market,
the dhow construction yard, and also within
the village to see local living conditions and
life. Nearly all hotels, and a number of of-
ficial tour operators in Nungwi, offer Nungwi
village tours. It’s worth it to hire a guide, es-
pecially if you want to take photos, and also
because the guide knows how to get around
the village. Private guided tours usually start
around $15 per person, but you can usually
get down to $10, or even 10,000 TZS per
person. Always do some negotiating. We
hired a guide from the tour operator just out-
side the Mnarani Aquarium in central Nung-
wi town along the beach – recommended.
Mnarani Turtles Conserva-

tion
Located in the center of Nungwi village
along the coast and next to the village fish
market, is the Mnarani Turtles Conserva-
tion park (aquarium). The small conserva-
tion aims to preserve and habilitate sea
turtles which breed on Mnemba island (just
off the coast of Zanzibar). It’s really small,
and in my opinion, it’s not really worth the
entrance fee, unless you really like turtles
or want to support their cause (it is a good
cause).
Price – $5 per person, and with that you’ll
receive (without asking) a guide, who leads
you around for about 5 minutes and then
wants a tip (this is very common in Zanzi-
bar).

Dhow cruise
One of the best things you can do in Nung-
wi is take a sunset cruise on a local dhow
sailboat. Dhows, a wooden built boat with
a canvas sail, were originally introduced
likely from Yemen hundreds of years ago.
They are a truly important part of transpor-
tation and industry (still used for fishing) on
the island. There are both private (my high
recommendation) and group cruises (more
party style) available. In the late afternoon,
there’s just nothing quite like taking to the
beautiful turquoise Nungwi sea while grace-
fully sailing with the wind. I arranged my
private dhow cruise with the tour agency
adjacent to the Nungwi Aquarium. From
Nungwi, the dhow normally sails westward
along the coast well past Kendwa, before
turning around to catch the sunset.
Price for private dhow cruise will cost $40
– $50 for 2 – 3 hours.
Diving, Nungwi
Like much of the island of Zanzibar,
Nungwi is popular for diving. I’m not a
diver, so I don’t know much about it, but
here are some sites to check out: http://
www.divezanzibar.com/, http://www.
diving-zanzibar.com/en/index.html

Food in Nungwi
Like I’ve mentioned already, Stone Town is by far the best place in Zanzi-
bar to eat local food.
Nungwi, a much smaller beachside village, has very few local style res-
taurants (because many locals that live in Nungwi simply don’t have a
need to eat meals at restaurants when they can eat at home).
So when it comes to eating in Nungwi, there’s mostly a selection of hotels

and overpriced average food at touristy restaurants at hotels.
However, since Nungwi does have quite a few staff that work in the tour-
ism industry, you can find some small restaurants that dish out Zanzibari
food in the tourist area.

Mina Restaurant
Mina Restaurant is a little tiny shack-
style eatery located next to Jambo
Brothers Bungalows. They serve a plate
of pilau rice with a choice of beef or fish,
beans, and green vegetables – a typical
Zanzibari meal.
Mina restaurant offers a pretty decent

local meal at a budget price, yet still
within the touristy district of Nungwi.The
cooks and guys that run Mina Restau-
rant are all quite friendly as well, and
their food is a welcome relief to the tour-
ist catering restaurants that dominate
Nungwi.
Open hours: breakfast, lunch, and din-

ner (that’s exactly what they told me)
Price: 3,000 TZS ($1.76)
Langi Langi Restaurant

Built on stilts above a gorgeous section
of ocean, Langi Langi bungalows has a
pretty decent restaurant. I’ve got to say,
I was pleasantly surprised with the food,
though it being a tourist restaurant.
Prices are high, but the food and ambi-

ance make it worth it. Choose from a
variety of Zanzibari dishes like octopus
coconut curry with pilau, a full range
of grilled seafood and meats, and the
usual hotel food like pizzas, pastas, and
salads (you’ll find this at all hotel restau-
rants in Zanzibar).
Open hours: 12 noon – 3 pm for lunch

and 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm for dinner
(breakfast is only served to hotel guests)
Prices: Most meals run 15,000 - 20,000
TZS ($8.78 - $11.70) or so

Kendwa Travel Guide
Years ago, when I visited Zanzibar for the first time, I spent a couple of
days in Kendwa, and it was one of the most memorable beach experienc-
es I’ve had – swimming in beautiful warm water, beach volleyball in the
evening, hanging out with friends at night – things like that.
Kendwa has shifted a little to accommodating quite a few spread out all-
inclusive resorts now, and there are just a few bungalow types of places.
Kendwa is only a couple kilometers from Nungwi, but it’s much quieter
and has less of an actual village to explore. Though it’s mostly quiet, it’s
also home to the full moon party, at Kendwa Rocks.
Pros: amazing beach, quiet during the day but can be loud parties at
night (depending on what you’re looking for)
Cons: limited things to do, not a lot of hotels, very few dining options, no
village

Where to Stay in Kendwa
Sunset Beach Bungalows
This bungalow hotel is located on a huge property, and they have a range of differ-
ent rooms, some on the beach and others a little walk inland. The beach is wonder-
ful, and the grounds are peaceful and relaxing.
Pros: Amazing beach, lots of sand, lots of space so you can choose to separate and
isolate yourself and relax or mingle and meet others
Cons: The actual grounds of the hotel is not that well designed
Website: http://www.sunsetkendwa.com/
Prices: $60 without AC, $100 with AC
Le Toits De Palme
This small hotel in Kendwa, has a few bungalows and banda rooms, some of which
have good sea views.
Website: http://www.lestoitsdepalme.com/
Pros: Good seaviews, awesome beach
Cons: Can be loud due to surrounding parties.
Prices: About $70 for a double
Kendwa Rocks
Kendwa Rocks is one of the most famous places to stay in Kendwa. You can
choose from a selection of coral rock bungalows to forest bungalows, each with their
own unique style.
The beach is really nice, and it’s a great place to hang out with friends, play beach
volleyball in the evenings, and also the full moon party is hosted here. Kendwa
Rocks is not the best place for a honeymoon, but more for beach parties.
Pros: Great beach, decent accommodation but could use some improvement
Cons: Perhaps a bit overpriced, loud sometimes at night
Website: Kendwa Rocks
Prices: Bandas are the most basic and cheapest rooms at about $50 – $60 per
night, and other better rooms can run from $100 – $130 per night

Matemwe Travel Guide
Matemwe, located south of Nungwi on the northeastern side of Zanzibar,
is a pleasant cultural village with a beautiful sandy beach, nearby dive
sites, and good relaxing accommodation options.
Ocean swimming is possible, but not the best on the island (that would be
Kendwa probably), but the overall scenery and ability to take long peace-
ful walks along the expansive sandy beach is a highlight.
Also, for diving and snorkeling, Matemwe is the closest village to Mnemba
Island, one of the most highly acclaimed underwater sites in Zanzibar with
a possibility of around 10 different dives.
Matemwe is the type of village where, as soon as you pull up, you’ll want
to ditch your shoes, and walk around barefoot, enjoying the sand and ad-
miring the natural coastline.

Why Go to Matemwe?
Go for diving and snorkeling, peace and quiet without loud parties or row-
dy vacationers, and to see the local Zanzibar village and cultural life.
Matemwe makes a great place for both couples and families that want to
spend quality time with each other, in a super quiet place.
Pros: Diving (easy access to Mnemba Island), peace and relaxing, ex-
tremely laid back, nice friendly village, walks on the beach
Cons: Not many dining options, not a great swimming beach

How to Get to Matemwe
Depending on your travel itinerary in Zanzibar, you can either get there
from the airport, or from Stone Town.
You might ask around for a shared tourist van, but chances are, there
aren’t enough people to fill up a van going directly to Matemwe, so you
really have two choices: private taxi or public dalla dalla.
• Private taxi – Taxi costs about $30 – $40, do negotiate for the best
deal.
• Public dalla dalla – Dalla dallas leaves from the Darajani Market,
#118 Matemwe, and should cost about 2,000 TZS ($1.17) per person
all the way to the village.

Where to Stay in Matemwe
Matemwe Beach Village
Matemwe Beach Village is the ultimate
relaxing, no shoes, type of place to stay
in Matemwe.
It’s a nice place, but they have found

the perfect balance of nice to laid-back
living.
Just to throw it out there, Matemwe

Beach Village stood out to me as having
some of the best hotel food of all the ho-
tels I stayed at. Both the western dishes
and the Zanzibari food were both excel-
lent. Breakfast was wonderful too.
All around, for a relaxing peaceful place,

this is one of my top picks – and I just
love the scenery in Matemwe.
Pros: Beautiful scenery, local cultural

life, diving and snorkeling, relaxing
rooms, barefoot kind of place, great
food at the hotel, the hotel can arrange
any kind of Zanzibar tour for you
Cons: Not a great swimming beach
Website: http://www.matemwebeach.
net/
Prices: Around $90 – $130 per person
including bed and breakfast

Zanzibar Retreat Hotel
This place is small and has a family run
feeling to it. The rooms are quite nice,
close to the beach and with a nice cen-
tral pool.
Pros: Quiet, peaceful, beach view

Cons: Might be a little compact so if
you’re really looking for a place to be
alone it’s not the best option, here you
might be chatting with others more
Website: http://www.zanzibarretreat.
com/
Prices: $100 - $150
Green and Blue Zanzibar Ocean Lodge

For a luxury option in Matemwe, you might check out Green and Blue Zanzibar
Ocean Lodge. This is the type of place where you can indulge in some spa therapy,
enjoy extreme peace and quiet and seclusion.
Website: http://www.greenandblue-zanzibar.com/
Prices: $100 – $200 per person

Top Things To Do In Matemwe
Relax
I think Matemwe might be one of
the finest, most laid-back, places in
all of Zanzibar designed for relax-
ation.
Something about those palm trees,

the white powdery sand, the clear
waters of low-tide, and that breeze,
all add up to a place where you
can feel at ease.
SCUBA Diving and Snorkel-

ing
Along with relaxation, one of the
main draws to Matemwe is div-
ing and snorkeling. Just a short 30
minute boat ride from the village, is
Mnemba Island, a well known atoll
that teems with an abundance of
underwater scenery. Mnemba Is-
land is not only for SCUBA divers, but also for snorkelers. Nearly all ho-
tels have their own dive center, Matemwe Beach Lodge being a credible
option. A full day trip for diving costs about $135, while the same full day
trip snorkeling costs about $45, all-inclusive with gear, boat transporta-
tion, and lunch

Stroll beach and reef
Another excellent activity option in
Matemwe is to take a stroll along
the beach at low tide (at high tide
the water can come quite high
leaving little beach to walk on). The
atmosphere, with lanky swaying
palms, a continuous breeze, and
thick vegetation along the edge of
the beach, makes for great scen-
ery. At low tide, you’ll also have an
opportunity to wade through the
shallow and clear waters. Be sure
to stop and observe the local sea-
weed farming, and discover sea
creatures within the low tide rocks
and reef. Many of the guest houses
and hotels offer reef walk tours as
well as Matemwe village tours.

Food in Matemwe
Other than at hotels and guest houses, there are few restaurant options in
Matemwe. In the center of the small village, there are a couple local stalls
where you can occasionally get greasy fried foods like samosas and man-
dazis (Tanzanian donuts), and possibly some tiny street food mishkaki
kebabs. Other than that, it’s hotel eating.
I stayed at Matemwe Beach Village, and I’m happy to report that the food
at the restaurant was excellent.
Their philosophy is to keep a small rotating menu aligned with what’s lo-
cally available and fresh. Octopus and fish are common, and there’s also
usually meat and vegetarian options. For breakfast I chose eggs benedict
over a warm biscuit, and it was one of the best I had in Zanzibar.

Uroa & Pongwe
To be honest, I personally wasn’t all that impressed with Uroa.
The beach isn’t great, and the town is not that nice to walk around. Un-
less you’re just looking for a place that’s super quiet, without anything to
do, and without great accommodation options, I wouldn’t really recom-
mend Uroa.
Pongwe on the other hand, is quite nice, and while there aren’t very many
options for too many things to do or see, Pongwe Beach Hotel is beauti-
ful. It’s a wonderful relaxing place, good for families and couples, and nice
and secluded.

Michamvi Peninsula Travel Guide
Just north of Bwejuu a few kilometers, you’ll get to the Michamvi Penin-
sula.
The peninsula is dominated by luxurious high-end resorts where many

people come to spend a leisure holiday while barely leaving their resi-
dence.
The beach water is amazing, with multi dimensions of dark blue, light
blue, and turquoise water that sparkles off the coral below.
The water is a painting worthy sight.

Why Go to Michamvi Peninsula?
If you’re looking for amazing beaches, luxurious and extremely expensive
resorts, and watersport possibilities, you might look into the Michamvi
Peninsula.
It’s a great all-around section of the island, but you won’t find much local
culture or village life to experience (such as in the neighboring Bwejuu vil-
lage).
Another downside of Michamvi Peninsula is that there’s not much to

choose from by way of budget hotels, so if you’re looking for those, it’s
best to head a bit south to Bwejuu or Paje.
Michamvi Peninsula would suit couples or families looking for a resort

style vacation.
Pros: nice beach, relaxing, not rowdy

Cons: expensive, resorts, not much local life
Where to Stay in Michamvi

Starting from the very northern tip, yet still facing east, which is the side
with the nicest beaches, you’ll find:
• Karafuu Beach Hotel

• Anna of Zanzibar
• Dongwe Club
• Breezes Beach Hotel
• Kichanga
I’m going to just be honest and say most of the hotels located on the Mi-
chamvi Peninsula are way out of my league and many can cost anywhere
from $100 – $500 per night – or even more at some of the really exclusive
places. So if this is what you’re looking for, it’s worth researching more.
Since I was doing research for this guide, I was able to get some tours
of these hotels, but for the most part they don’t even allow visitors to just
walk into these hotels – you have to have a booking.

The Rock Restaurant
One of the most famous restaurants in all of Zanzibar is the The Rock
Restaurant, a restaurant that occupies its own island chunk of coral.
During low tide you can often walk to the restaurant, but during high tide
you have to get there by boat, or swim.
The menu mostly includes seafood dishes. I’ve personally never eaten
here, but friends have told me that it’s very expensive, small portions, and
service is lacking.
So if you go, go for the view and the experience.

Bwejuu Travel Guide
Bwejuu, located just south of the Michamvi Peninsula is a gem of a desti-
nation in Zanzibar.
It’s truly a wonderful mixture of serenity and peace paired with a very
friendly village where you can actually experience the warm and friendly
Zanzibari culture, without being hustled by beach touts.
I think what I like most about Bwejuu, is that it’s still small and not over
populated with tourists, so local people are still very nice and the village is
very friendly.
The lanky and occasionally corkscrewed palm trees, that are so famous
around Bwejuu, also make for excellent scenery.
*Bwejuu is one of my favorite places on the entire island of Zanzibar, and

one of my top picks in this Zanzibar travel guide.

Why Go to Bwejuu?
Bwejuu is just plain beautiful. The village is small and friendly, the beach
is pretty decent (for looking at, not great for swimming), and the lanky
swaying palm trees set the scene for easy-going relaxation.
There are a number of budget style bungalows, some mid-ranged op-

tions, and a few higher end choices, but overall, Bwejuu would be more of
a mid-ranged budget beach destination to choose.
Bwejuu is not the beach to pick if you’re looking to party and stay up all
night; It’s more of a quiet, read a book, sleep early, wake early, kind of a
beach.
Pros: friendly local people, great cultural immersion village, extremely laid
back, some nice budget bungalows, quiet, peaceful
Cons: beach is not very good for swimming

How to Get to Bwejuu
• Private taxi – From Stone Town a private taxi will cost anywhere from
$40 – $50. If you take an official taxi from the airport, the rate is $60.
Also, if you pre-book a hotel in Bwejuu or along the East Coast, you
can communicate with them about transportation.
• Shared van – Occasionally from Stone Town you can catch a shared
van to the East Coast beaches, normally with drop offs at Bwejuu,
Paje, and Jambiani. Shared vans normally cost around $10 per person
and can be arranged from both tour agencies and the budget guest
houses (like Karibu Inn) in Stone Town.
• Public dalla dalla – If you want to get by on the cheap, dalla dallas will
be waiting for you at the Darajani Market.

Where to Stay in Bwejuu
Belllevue Guesthouse
Located on the northern side of Bwejuu, about a 10 minute walk from the center of
the village is Bellevue Guesthouse.
The small and warm guest house has a real easygoing feel to it, with lovely gardens,
a cool breeze, and a view of the ocean. Bellevue is quite secluded, on its own, so
it’s far from just about all noise and a fantastic place for ultimate peace and tranquil-
ity. For food, if you stay at Bellevue, you really only have the option to eat there, un-
less you go into Bwejuu village.
Pros: Small and friendly atmosphere, wonderful rooms that are artistically decorated
and spic and span, they financially support a local NGO and support the village of
Bwejuu
Cons: Not located directly on the ocean, about a 2 minute walk to the beach, but
there is a view of the ocean from the grounds, no real dining options other than at
the hotel
Prices: From around $50 - $100 per night
Website: http://www.bellevuezanzibar.com/
Contact: bellevuezanzibar@gmail.com +255 777209576

Pakacha Bungalows
If you want a bungalow where you can
wake up in the morning, never put on
shoes (or even a shirt), sit on makeshift
reclining beach benches while listening
to the sound of the palm trees all day,
Pakacha Bungalows has your name
written on it. The bungalows are noth-
ing fancy, but decent and rustic, and
there are a few different room options
to choose from, including a real beach-
bums honeymoon suite for the budget
honeymoon.The local owner, Ali, is a
very jolly friendly man.
Pros: Awesome setting, right on the

beach, unforgettable palm trees, right
inside Bwejuu village, budget prices
Cons: They don’t offer much by way of
extra activities, it’s mostly a place you
just go to relax and read
Prices: $40 – $60 per night depending on
room and season
Mustapha’s Place
Located in the southern part of Bwejuu village is Mustapha’s Place, sort of a Rasta-
farian hang-out.
You’ll find Bob Marley posters, green, red, and yellow flags, and reggae music
always in the background. Rooms are basic but nice and service is good. If you
choose to stay at Mustapha’s, make sure you’re ready for the rasta style experience.
Pros: Good place to stay for a chill out, coral walls with lots of natural construction –
eco friendly, friendly, budget, good location in Bwejuu village
Cons: Not located directly on the beach, if you’re not the reggae type it’s not the
place for you
Prices: Depends on number of people and season, but rates begin around $15 per
person
Website: http://www.mustaphasplace.com/
Contact: +255 (0)7720 99422, +255 (0)24 224 0069

Top Things to Do in Bwejuu
There aren’t so many activities available in Bwejuu, but that’s part of the
beauty of it.
Looking for diving, snorkeling, or other water sports? Bwejuu doesn’t

have much of an infrastructure for that.
Spending time in Bwejuu is more about lazying about, sitting under the
breezy shade, reading books, going on beach walks, and possibly taking
some day trips to other nearby beaches and villages.
Play football on Playstation (pictured above)

Believe it or not, just up from the beach, near where they mend the fishing
nets in Bwejuu village, there’s a little shelter where you’ll find a TV, a well
used Playstation, always a few boys, and even stadium seating (two rows
of wood planks set up for playing and watching). I stopped in for a few
games, costing me a total of 200 TZS, and it was a great experience.
Kiteboarding and waters-
ports
To be honest if you come to Zan-
zibar for kiteboarding or other wa-
tersports, you’re better off staying
in Paje or Jambiani (very close
to Bwejuu) – but if you want the
peace and quiet of Bwejuu you
could stay here and then go to
Paje for watersports when you want.
Walk around the village

and beach
By way of villages in Zanzibar,
Bwejuu is probably my favorite.
The village is long and skinny, par-
alleling the coastline.
The kids are nice, the adults are

happy to greet you, and it’s just a
nice environment.

Food in Bwejuu
• Pakacha Bungalows – Their restaurant serves a pretty delicious se-
lection of local Zanzibari favorites. We had Swahili seafood curry, a
combination of squid, octopus, and prawns all cooked in a rich spicy
tomato based curry sauce. It was served with a big portion of pilau rice,
greens, and some kachumbari (tomatoes and onions). The atmosphere
and local style of Pakacha makes for a great laid-back dining atmo-
sphere. Do be aware that food often takes about 1 hour or a bit longer
to prepare (that’s just the way it is). Prices are expensive in the 15,000
- 20,000 TZS ($8.77 - $11.70) per meal range. Not too many other op-
tions for dining in Bwejuu.
• Shopping for food – If you need to go shopping for food or other ne-
cessities, there are a few small stores in the center of the Bwejuu. You
won’t find much, but at Mombasa Store there are small snacks, bottles
of water, and a few other small odds and ends.

Paje Travel Guide
Paje has long been known as one of the best kitesurfing beaches in the
world, and along with being great for watersports, it’s one of the best
swimming beaches in Zanzibar as well (second only to Nungwi and Kend-
wa in my opinion).
The atmosphere is nice and laid back, not so cultural like Bwejuu, but a
great place to either meet new friends, or to keep to yourself and just en-
joy the beach.
Paje would be the second liveliest village after Nungwi, so there are more
restaurant and bar options than other surrounding villages. Accommoda-
tion ranges from budget to mid-range, with a few new higher end choices.
Why Go to Paje?
If you are either looking to kitesurf, take kitesurfing lessons, or to swim in
the ocean, Paje has your name written on it.
Overall, I like the beauty of the palm trees and village culture of Bwejuu,
but for beach swimming and water sports, Paje wins.
Paje especially attracts a younger, backpacker style of travelers. That

being said, there are some bars, but it’s not really a party destination
(though there are some hotels that do throw parties). Paje is a good mix-
ture of peace and quiet, nice beach, and activities if you like.
Pros: kitesurfing capital, water sports, swimming beach, more choices of

restaurants and budget bungalows
Cons: not much village culture, more beach touts

How to get to Paje
• Private taxi – From Stone Town you should be able to bargain for a
taxi ride to Paje for about $40 – $50. Directly from the airport, the offi-
cial rate is $60, but this is quite high as it’s official from the airport.
• Shared van – Occasionally from Stone Town you can catch a shared
van to the East Coast beaches, normally with drop offs at Bwejuu,
Paje, and Jambiani. Shared vans normally cost around $10 per person
and can be arranged from both tour agencies and budget guest houses
(like Karibu Inn) in Stone Town. Just tell the driver what hotel you’re
going to, and he’ll drop you off.
• Public dalla dalla – If you want to get by on the cheap, dalla dallas will
be waiting for you at the Darajani Market.

Where to stay in Paje
Ndame Beach Lodge

We had a fantastic stay at Ndame Beach Lodge. It’s local style, basic accommoda-
tion, but the rooms are very clean, self sufficient, and everything functioned well.
The beach directly in front of the lodge is quite stunning as well, beautiful sand and
pure turquoise waters. The hotel is located in the north of Paje, before much of the
bulk of Paje activity, so it remains very quiet and peaceful along the beach (when
you go swimming you almost have the entire beach to yourself).
This was one of my favorite places I stayed in Zanzibar.
Pros: Amazing beach, local run, clean basic and functional rooms, restaurant food
is quite good and relaxing at the restaurant is wonderful
Cons: I really liked it, but don’t expect anything fancy, service is adequate but not
5-star
Website: http://ndamezanzibar.com/
Contact: info@ndamezanzibar.com, +255 777 86 34 21
Prices: Prices for a double range from around $60 - $100, but this is a place you
need to bargain, and they are often willing to go down as long as they aren’t fully
booked. Breakfast is included, nothing spectacular, but all the basics and buffet
style. This is also a great place to come during low season.

Kilima Kidogo Guest House
Located at the southern end of Paje, on
the way towards Jambiani, is the friendly
Kilima Kidogo Guest House. The owner
is extremely nice and passionate about
taking care of her guests to the fullest.
The rooms are adequate and the setting

is friendly, relaxing, and beautiful.
Pros: Small friendly place, great envi-

ronment
Cons: Towards the end of Paje, so
there aren’t too many dining options
around
Website: http://www.kilimakidogo.com/
Contact: kilimakidogo@live.com
+255(0)777201088
Prices: $150 - $200
*Kilima Kidogo is under rennovation

now and won’t be open until 18 Aug 2014.
Dhow Inn
The Dhow Inn is one of the few luxury options on Paje beach. Enjoy the same gor-
geous views of the the sea, plus you can also take dips in the swimming pool and
enjoy the amenities of a nicer place to relax and sleep.
Pros: Luxury hotel but it’s still in the center of Paje village (not isolated like other
fancy hotels), nice beach, private terraces, modern design
Cons: Expensive, resort style
Contact: +255 (0) 777 525 828, info@dhowinn.com
Prices: From $130 upwards
Website: Dhow Inn

Top Things To do In Paje
Kitesurfing
With strong steady winds, warm
weather, sandy bottom beaches,
and meter deep clear turquoise
waters, kitesurfers consider Paje
to be one of the premiere places in
the world. If you’re already an ex-
pert or if you want to take lessons,
there are a few options for you.
Check out both Kite Centre Zanzibar
and Paje by Kite for reputable ser-
vices.
Diving
Along with being a kitesurfing para-
dise, Paje also has a number of
PADI certified diving and learning
course opportunities. If you’re inter-
ested in learning how to dive, Paje
has you covered. There are a num-
ber of good dive sites in the south
of Zanzibar, around the Kizimkazi
area that you can visit. However, if
your main intention in Zanzibar is to
dive, you’re probably best off basing
yourself in Matemwe or Nungwi.

Swim
Of all the beautiful beaches in Zan-
zibar, Paje has some of the most
attractive waters. However, just like
all of the East Coast of the island,
the high and low tides are drasti-
cally different. On top of that, there
is plenty of open space and open
water, so you always have plenty
of space to enjoy the beauty.
Reef Walk
When the tide is low, you can wade
through the water, but you can also
choose to participate in a reef walk,
either solo or accompanied by a
guide. A guide will be able to point
out things you’ll probably miss, but
you can still enjoy walking through
the shallow water and reefs by
yourself. Make sure you have a pair
of reef shoes so you don’t get cut
up.
Sail on a dhow
Either you can arrange through
whatever hotel you’re staying at,
or you can talk to one of the dhow
owners yourself for what you want
to do, but one of the best experi-
ences in Zanzibar is peacefully
sailing on a traditional sailboat.

Food in Paje
Ndame Beach Lodge
The restaurant along the beach at
Ndame Beach Lodge not only has an
amazing view, and you can eat with
your feet in the sand, but the food isn’t
bad either.
The grilled fish, fried chicken with ma-

sala curry sauce, and even the pizza is
pretty good. Meals are in the 15,000 –
20,000 TZS ($8.77 - $11.70) range.
Kinazi Upepo
Written on the sign as “Thai fusion su-
shi” you’ll find just that – some of the
Thai classics, and a menu of sushi as
well.
I didn’t have a chance to eat here my-

self, as I came too early for dinner and
it was closed, but I stopped in, checked
out the menu and facility, and it looked
worthy of a try. It will cost about $20 per
person (without drinks).

Jambiani Travel Guide
Jambiani is one of the most well rounded villages and beach centers in
Zanzibar.
For starters, the beach is spectacular, not quite as good for swimming as
Paje, but the views and color spectrum of the ocean is amazing.
Why should you go to Jambiani?

Jambiani is a very well rounded village and beach town in Zanzibar, from
swimming and watersports to local culture and village life.
If you’re interested in watersports or island adventures, Jambiani has

plenty to offer. It also caters to those who intend to spend a quiet and lei-
sure vacation without too much noise.
Strolling along the beach is quiet and safe and you can see women har-
vesting seaweed during low tide. I think families with kids, couples, and
individuals, will all enjoy Jambiani.
There’s also a good variety of accommodation from budget bungalows

to more expensive boutique hotels, and some places attract a younger
crowd, while others are perfect for families or couples.
Pros: amazing beach, watersports, laid-back, nice cultural village, friendly

people
Cons: Drastic low and high tide

How to get to Jambiani
• Private taxi: From Stone Town you should be able to bargain for a taxi
ride to Jambiani for about $40 - $50. Directly from the airport, the offi-
cial rate is $65, but this is quite high as it’s official from the airport.
• Shared van: Sometimes from Stone Town you can get a shared van to
the East Coast Zanzibar beaches. They normally take groups and drop
off at Bwejuu, Paje, and Jambiani. Price is $10 per person and can be
arranged from tour agencies and budget guest houses (like Karibu Inn)
in Stone Town. Tell the driver where you want to go, and he’ll drop you
off.
• Public dalla dalla: For the cheapest transportation option, the local,
back of the truck dalla dalla leaves from the Darajani Market to Jambi-
ani whenever it’s full. Take dalla dalla #109 directly to Jambiani.

Where to stay in Jambiani
Red Monkey Lodge

Towards the southern end of Jambiani village is Red Monkey Lodge, a super chilled
out lodge that’s perched on top of a small coral rock with a great view of the spar-
kling clear beach, and occasional monkeys that come to hang out.
The owners and staff are very aware of their surroundings and make great efforts to
do projects and help the local community.
Red Monkey Lodge has a laid back atmosphere, yet at the same time it really ca-
ters to adventure seekers who want to get out and explore both ocean activities and
island excursions like biking and hiking.
Pros: Great atmosphere and place to have a drink or just chill out - nice communal
areas, great views of the ocean, private little beach cove, integrated into the local vil-
lage of Jambiani, great service
Cons: A little expensive for what you get, strange mosquito netting (not a net around
the bed, but a net to section of the room)
Website: http://www.redmonkeylodge.com/
Contact: info@redmonkeylodge.com, +255 777 713366
Prices: $80 - $100 for a double per night

Jambiani White Sands Bun-
galows
Located on a great stretch of white
sand, and right along the beach is White
Sands.
Some of the rooms literally open straight

to the sandy beach and when it’s high
tide you can literally step out of the hotel
and into the water.
In the evenings you can watch ladies harvesting seaweed, men maintaining their
boats, and guys playing football in the sand. White Sands is a good all around hotel
in a wonderful location.
Pros: Location is superb, small and friendly, quiet, staff are nice, good deal for what
you get (when compared with other hotels), clean and newly renovated, they have
wi-fi that you can access from your room (rare)!
Cons: Food is not very good, a little cramped of a place
Prices: For a double you’ll pay around $50 - $70, beach facing bungalows are more
expensive
Website: White Sands
Palm View Bungalows

There are some other VERY cheap op-
tions in Jambiani, like Palm View Bun-
galows and Demla Bungalows if that’s
what you’re looking for. Just check it
out before you make a commitment and
don’t stay if security doesn’t look ade-
quate for you. These places aren’t really
very nice, but if you’re on a real budget
they could work.
Pros: Alright if you’re on a tight budget,

backpacker style, great beach locations
Cons: Security is not good, service is not
much, not very clean (you might want to
bring your own sheets)
Prices: Around $20 - $30 for a bungalow,
but do bargain down as they are often not
full and don’t have set prices

Casa del Mar
For a very relaxing, semi-upscale option, check out Casa del Mar. The beach direct-
ly outside is beautiful, the rooms are spacious and well designed, and the grounds
are neatly organized, and well maintained. Casa del Mar especially attracts couples,
families, and older travelers.
Pros: semi-upscale, small hotel with just 14 rooms so you never have to worry
about being surrounded by too many people, eco-friendly built from all local Zanzi-
bari materials, good management
Cons: I just toured the facility and it looks pretty good
Prices: $90 for double without ac, $110 for room with ac (prices vary according to
season)
Website: Casa Del Mar
Contact: info@casa-delmar-zanzibar.com, +255- 24 2240 400
Al Hapa Bungalows
A mid-ranged bungalow option that is especially good for a younger crowd that’s
looking to hang out and mingle is Al Hapa Bungalows. The dhow sailboat bar at the
center of the hotel makes a good meeting place where you can hang out beachside.
Rooms are clean and quite new.
Pros: Nice location, beautiful beach, good for meeting others, bar, nightlife
Cons: Maybe a little noisy at night
Prices: Doube is $65
Website: Al Hapa Bungalows
Contact: alhapa.bungalows@africamail.com, +255 773 048 894

Top Things To do In Jambiani
Kitesurfing
Not as developed as a kitesurfing
beach as Paje, yet Jambiani also
has some prime conditions for the
sport. One of the main centers is
Kite Worldwide, adjacent to Red
Monkey Lodge.
Deep sea fishing

Red Monkey Lodge offers special-
ized deep sea fishing trips. Contact
them to make a plan and for prices.
Blue Safari tour

For those that love sand, beach,
and sunbathing, a blue safari tour
is a must. You’re normally taken
in a boat to various sand banks
where you can swim in the pure
water, soak up the sunshine and
relax. Tours are normally a full day
and include a big seafood lunch in
the middle. Most hotels can arrange
it for you.

Tours around Zanzibar
Arranging Zanzibar tours such as
the Kizimkazi dolphin tour, a spice
farm tour, or a jozani forest tour are
all easily accessible from Jambiani.
If you’re not planning to spend time

in Stone Town, Jambiani is prob-
ably the next best place to arrange
tours around the island. Tours
can be arranged from any hotel or
guest house, or you can even per-
sonally talk to a taxi driver and do it
yourself.

Food in Jambiani
Overall, I wasn’t very impressed with the restaurant options in and around Jambiani.
Within the center of the village there are a few local Zanzibari restaurants where you
can eat pilau rice, beans, chapatis, and mandazis, and drink tea. But most of the lo-
cal food is heavy on the carbs and oil without much protein.
There are also a few Jambiani restaurants that serve local style food like Palm View
restaurant, run by a crew of rastas, and they serve mostly fresh catch fish. The food
is alright at best, but since they only cater to tourists, they tame flavors down and it
wasn’t really very good. Also, since they don’t always get much business in a day,
freshness is not always the best. I also tried a number of hotel restaurants, all of
whom served very average meals. Red Monkey Lodge does serve good quality and
fresh seafood dishes like grilled fish, but portions are tiny. That being said, if Red
Monkey Lodge hosts a Swahili buffet (occasionally), sign up immediately, it was the
best meal I had in Jambiani, really good.
Coral Rock hotel and White Sands both have restaurants with nice views of the
ocean, but the food is quite bad and prices are all around 15,000 – 20,000 TZS
($8.74 - $11.65) or a bit more for a meal – overpriced and not very satisfying.

Conclusion
I want to say a huge thank you for getting a copy of the eBook edition of
the Zanzibar travel guide for food lovers.
I hope this resource will give you ideas about the places you want to go,
help you focus on the things you want to experience, and discover deli-
cious food to eat, when you visit this incredible island just off the coast of
East Africa.
No matter if you’re looking to have an all inclusive relaxing resort vaca-

tion, or a beach-bum laid-back getaway, it’s the diverse melting pot of
cultures, the stunning beaches and beautiful natural scenery, and the
friendly charm of local Zanzibari people, that makes visiting Zanzibar
such a unique joy.
- Mark Wiens

Zanzibar Travel Guide 1

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Zanzibar Travel Guide 1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Table of Contents

www.migrationology.com | Google Map | Go to Table of Contents 2

www.migrationology.com | Google Map | Go to Table of Contents 3

It wasn’t until becoming an adult, during university, when I had my first

We caught a quick flight to Stone

From Nungwi, we slowly made our

In this Zanzibar travel guide, I’ll be covering information about where to

www.migrationology.com | Google Map | Go to Table of Contents 5

Keep reading this guide to discover Zanzibar.

www.migrationology.com | Google Map | Go to Table of Contents 6

I appreciate you supporting my

www.migrationology.com | Google Map | Go to Table of Contents 7

Pemba Island is north of Unguja, and is much less developed – however

Though technically Zanzibar includes both Unguja and Pemba Islands,

www.migrationology.com | Google Map | Go to Table of Contents 8

www.migrationology.com | Google Map | Go to Table of Contents 9

Plane from Dar Es Salaam

www.migrationology.com | Google Map | Go to Table of Contents 10

Ferry from Dar Es Salaam

www.migrationology.com | Google Map | Go to Table of Contents 11

If you fly directly into Zanzibar on an international flight, depending on

www.migrationology.com | Google Map | Go to Table of Contents 12

First thing to remember is that theft in Zanzibar is quite common.

www.migrationology.com | Google Map | Go to Table of Contents 14

So overall, it’s easier to take photos in Zanzibar than in mainland cities

However, like in all of Africa, taking photos of government buildings and

www.migrationology.com | Google Map | Go to Table of Contents 15

So while it’s normally alright to take general photos of the surrounding

In order to be courteous, just ask, or motion to a person if it’s OK to take

www.migrationology.com | Google Map | Go to Table of Contents 16

Overall, Zanzibar is not a budget travelers destination, and many people

Here’s a rough guide of how much you’ll be spending on a variety of ne-

www.migrationology.com | Google Map | Go to Table of Contents 17

Food and Drinks:

Local restaurant meal: 3,000 – 5,000 TZS ($1.75 - $2.92)

www.migrationology.com | Google Map | Go to Table of Contents 18

Breakfast is sometimes served complimentary at hotels, so chow down

Seasons of Zanzibar (Low, High, and Peak)

However, there are tradeoffs. Low season is normally rainy season, so

Low season: April – Mid-June, Nov

www.migrationology.com | Google Map | Go to Table of Contents 19

Arab traders from the Middle East, Portuguese invasions, immigrants

www.migrationology.com | Google Map | Go to Table of Contents 20

Popular versions include fish, beef, and goat.

www.migrationology.com | Google Map | Go to Table of Contents 21

You can get pilau with beef, goat, or fish.

www.migrationology.com | Google Map | Go to Table of Contents 22

Octopus Curry (mchuzi wa pweza)

www.migrationology.com | Google Map | Go to Table of Contents 23

www.migrationology.com | Google Map | Go to Table of Contents 24

Mandazi (& Other Cakes)

www.migrationology.com | Google Map | Go to Table of Contents 25

www.migrationology.com | Google Map | Go to Table of Contents 26

To me, mishkaki is somewhere in between Indian style and Middle East-

In Dar Es Salaam, you’ll find huge skewers of meat, while in Zanzibar

www.migrationology.com | Google Map | Go to Table of Contents 27

Octopus and Casava

www.migrationology.com | Google Map | Go to Table of Contents 28

www.migrationology.com | Google Map | Go to Table of Contents 29

Durian is normally only available in season, so unfortunately if you visit

You’ll find plenty of other good tropical fruit in Zanzibar too.

www.migrationology.com | Google Map | Go to Table of Contents 30

www.migrationology.com | Google Map | Go to Table of Contents 31