5 – Spice Tour
Zanzibar is not known as the “Spice Islands” for nothing. The spice trade has played a significant part in Zanzibar’s economy with clove being its most famous historical export. While you will see the spices packets everywhere, there is no alternative to taking one of Zanzibar’s top 5 tours through a local spice farm where, immersed in the fresh smells from turmeric to tamarind, the farmers will tell you all there is to know about Zanzibar spices, offering you tastings and even cooking lessons. Pongwe Beach Hotel can hook you up with a local and trusted spice tour guide who charge modestly.
4 – Stone Town Tour
Before exploring Stone Town for yourself, take one of the top 5 tours in Zanzibar where your guide will give you a detailed history of the major landmarks from the House of Wonders to the Darajani market. This is a great way to get to know the streets and history of Stone Town before getting lost for yourself. Tour guides wait for business outside the House of Wonders, carrying badges, or you can contact Kawa Training Centre on [email protected] in advance who will hook you up with one of their trained graduates.
3 – Prison Island
From the beach at Livingstone’s in Stone Town you can take a local 20-30 minute boat trip for about $40 to visit Prison Island for a small entrance fee. While the Island tour offers you a uniquely interesting history of a building set up to hold rebellious slaves and then to quarantine traders for Yellow Fever, the real experience on Prison Island is the colony of Aldabra giant tortoises. The amazing creatures were a gift from the British governor in the Seychelles but are now a protected colony that welcomes you to pat their century old shells and feed them local leaves.
2 – Chumbe Island
Chumbe Island Coral Park is an award-winning private nature reserve that conserves the uninhabited Chumbe Island off Zanzibar’s West coast, one of the last pristine coral islands in the region. To keep the park functioning, the conservationists allow a limited number of guests each day to visit what is one of Zanzibar’s top 5 tours. The reserve includes a fully protected Coral Reef Sanctuary and Forest Reserve that harbours rare wildlife, a Visitor and Education centre, a small eco-lodge, nature walks, and historical monuments. Chumbe Island costs $90 for a day visit and offers the best snorkelling in Zanzibar. For more, visit http://www.chumbeisland.com/
1 – Safari Blue
One of the top 5 tours in Zanzibar, and probably the best, Safari Blue brings you together with other guests on a traditional Dhow sailing boat to explore the Menai Bay Conservation Area. Your highly professional and experienced local crew will ensure you experience some of the best snorkeling Zanzibar has to offer, sailing into renowned reef locations where the abundance of sea life is simply stunning. And that’s not all – the Safari Blue fleet takes a break on the sun kissed Kwali Island – a sand bar where you will eat an unforgettable meal consisting of a full mouthwatering slipper lobster, accompanied by an arrangement of other seafood and countless fruit tastings. The amazing day finishes with a soothing sail into the sunset. Safari Blue is an unforgettable experience that manages to capture all Zanzibar has to offer and for a very good $115 per person or $65 per person for larger groups. For more see http://safariblue.net/