EXPERIENCE UNGUJA!

Ringed by some of Africa’s best coral beaches and blessed with one of the most mellifluous names in the world, Zanzibar is the archipelago’s main island. Sitting at its centre is Stone Town with its quasi-medieval medina, balconied merchants houses and grand House of Wonders.

Drive out of town through the avenue of mango trees – said to be planted over the bodies of past lovers of a 19th-century sultan’s daughter – and there’s plenty else to explore. To the south, the road cuts through the primeval Jozani forest, home to the rare, red colobus monkey and tiny aders’ duiker. Off Kizimkazi pods of dolphin play, and shoals of luminous fish graze over Chumbe Island’s pristine coral garden, while to the east rural villages snake up the coastline from community-minded Jambiani through the surf-and-party hub of Paje to traditional Matemwe, where locals harvest seaweed (most abundant from December to February) and dhows set sail with divers for the lambent coral reef of Mnemba.

At the northern tip of Unguja, Nungwi and Kendwa are the epicenter of tourist activity. Flanked by long, sandy beaches they are well supplied with burgeoning budget and luxury accommodation, restaurants, bars and dance-til-dawn full-moon parties. While there’s no denying their buzz or picturesque beauty you’ll want to choose your spot carefully here as increasing development threatens to mar the area’s ineluctable magic and overwhelm fragile community resources.

Below is a proposed day to day itinerary for the same.

Day 1: Arrival at Zanzibar Airport where Zama Tours welcomes you with a cold drink and a fresh face towel. Short briefing and transfer to Stone Town hotel. Take your time to rest or enjoy a walk through the narrow winding streets. Overnight, Bed & Breakfast is the hotel.

Day 2: After breakfast your guide will meet you for a historical walking tour through Stone Town.Afterwards guide and driver take you to a spice plantation, to discover the richness of Zanzibar’s spices and fruits, many of them used for medical purposes. A selection of what you see during the tour, you will taste during a home-made local lunch. In the afternoon your will drive to your beach hotel for total relax. Dinner and overnight are included.

Day 3: Full day of leisure in the beach resort. Take a swim in the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, a snorkeling trip from the hotel or just be lazy and do absolutely nothing on your sun bed. Dinner and overnight.

Day 4: An early start brings you to the southern point of the island, Kizimkazi fishing village, to view the amazing bottle-nosed and Humpback dolphins, which are sighted during a short boat trip from the village. Kizimkazi is also the site with the oldest mosque of East Africa, dating of the 12th century. After a local Swahili lunch the tour proceeds to Jozani Forest, with the unique Red Colobus monkeys and mysterious mangroves. Mid-afternoon you return to your resort for relaxing, dinner and overnight.

Day 5: After check-out in the hotel you can opt whether you still want to hang out at the beach and have an optional lunch there, or you leave already for Stone Town for your last shopping’s. Later in the afternoon board a traditional wooden dhow to enjoy en-route following the coastline from Stone Town a romantic sunset cruise. End the day and your stay with a special local dinner served in the tiny private restaurant Two Tables (the home owner serves you a delicious meal on indeed only 2 tables)

Day 6: Depending on the departure of your flight, you will be transferred to the airport for your journey home.