Zanzibar Spice Tour
In days past, Zanzibar was known as a spice island, exporting cloves, vanilla, nutmeg and
cardamom across the world. The spices were brought over from Asia and South America
and flourished in the tropical climes. Nowadays the plantations are a tribute to the island’s
past, swapping spices for tourism, combining both in a spice tour, one of the most popular
excursions on the island.
Walk through the spice farm with your guide. Touch, smell and taste different spices and
tropical fruits. Try to guess which is which, from the crushed leaves, the fruit, shoots and vines
and creepers crawling up the trees. Learn about their properties, their origins and their use as
medicines and in food and drink.
A visit to a spice farm village gives you an insight into local life and the opportunity to try
some Swahili dishes, taste the fruits in season and try some spiced tea. An optional lunch is
available at Hakuna Matata Beach Lodge, a special menu, prepared with the best of the
seasonal fruit and spices introduced to you during the tour.
Depending on the season you are visiting, you can find anything from vanilla, cardamom,
cinnamon, nutmeg, turmeric, lemon grass, cloves, ylang ylang, cumin, garlic, ginger, coriander,
pepper, allspice, tamarind, chilli, oregano and more!
Fruits can include banana, pineapple, jack fruit, custard fruit, oranges, star fruit, tangerine,
passion fruit, mango, avocado, pear, papaya, grape fruit and many others.
Advisable
• Comfortable closed walking or hiking shoes and pants.
• Sun hat and sun cream.Stone Town City Tour
Follow the trail of the sultans, slaves and explorers in the winding streets of Stone Town.
Your guide will tell you about the events that shaped Zanzibar, leading you through the
buildings where it all happened, such as the former Slave Market and Anglican Cathedral,
the House of Wonders and the Sultans’ Palace Museum, the Old Arab Fort and
Dispensary.
While tracing the steps of the past, the walking tour provides you with a window into modern
life in Stone Town. Explore the markets, seafood and fish piled in the fish market, fresh
loaves of bread in wicker baskets and the neat stacks of fruit and vegetables as traders sell
their wares from their stalls. Children play in the streets in the residential areas, mamas sit out
and gossip while the men play board games. An optional stop at The Zanzibar Coffee
House provides a rest from the heat and hustle and bustle. A selection of drinks, local sweets
& seasonal fruits act as the perfect pick me up, for you to continue your tour.
The City Tour is very flexible and can be adapted suit your interest and time frame, if you’re
a shopaholic, culture vulture or history buff. If you want to hunt for antiques and souvenir
shop, follow David Livingstone’s time in Zanzibar and walk the path of the slave trade, your
guide can recommend and develop routes and itineraries that will optimise your time and get
the most out of your trip.
Advisable
• Closed walking or hiking shoes.
• Please dress conservatively when walking through Stone Town.
• Women should cover their shoulders and wear long skirts or trousers.Jozani Forest Tour
In the south of the island, Jozani Forest is a wonder and delight, with tales of Zanzibar
leopards, medicinal cures and stunning scenery. Currently under consideration to become
Zanzibar’s second World Heritage Site, the Jozani-Chkwa Bay area is a hotspot of
biodiversity. The forest is home to a number of endemic species, including the Zanzibar Red
Colobus Monkey.
Your park ranger will take you on a nature trail, lined with eucalyptus and mahogany trees and
explain the medicinal properties of various plants and tell you about the animals, birds and
reptiles that make their home in the various habitats of this tropical rainforest.
Troops of Zanzibar Red Colobus monkeys can be found scrambling from branch to branch,
in search of food. The monkeys have become acclimatised to people and allow you to get
close to them to take photographs as they eat, play and jumping from the treetops.
The mangrove boardwalk takes you above the swamp, where, depending on the tide, you can
see tropical fish flitting between the mangrove roots and crabs scuttling across the mud.
Mangroves play an important role in environmental conservation and as a resource for
villagers and community life. Your ranger will explain the different species found in the swamp
and their uses.
Advisable
• Comfortable, closed walking or hiking shoes and pants.
• Please do not feed or touch the monkeys.Sultan Panorama Tour
The Sultan Panorama Tours is ideal for visitors with little time who want to experience a bit
of everything Zanzibar has to offer. It’s a full day excursion, starting in Stone Town, covering
the history of the sultans, slave trade and invasions that shaped Zanzibar’s history. Your
guide will give you a broad overview of the island’s history and current affairs and you’ll pass
by many historic sites and visit the Slave Market. A stop at the vibrant Darajani Market
helps you to experience city life, with all the hustle and bustle, smells and noise.
You’ll be driven to a spice farm, and given the opportunity to taste seasonal spices and fruits
as your guide describes their properties and uses. Throughout the tour, you can sample local
delicacies and local staple foods. Your next stop is at a local village for a slice of Zanzibari
culture and life. Cooking, weaving, building houses and playing with the children, you’ll have
chance to see what life is like for Zanzibaris.
An informative and action packed day, this tour gives a taste of everything found in all other
Zanzibar excursions and is strongly recommended as a first excursion. You’ll finish the
excursion with a comprehensive view of Zanzibari life and you’ll be able to plan future
excursion based on what you enjoyed the most, choosing the most relevant tour from our
standard excursions.
Advisable
• Please dress conservatively when walking through Stone Town, women should cover their
shoulders and wear long skirts or trousers.
• Comfortable closed walking or hiking shoes and pants.North Coast Tour
The north coast is the dhow building capital of Zanzibar. Your drive to Nungwi will take you
past the fish markets, where you can see freshly caught seafood being auctioned. There’s a
stop at the ruins of an old Portuguese settlement, where your guide will explain the history of
the ruins and the Portuguese conquest of Zanzibar, dating back to 1497.
A stop at the blacksmith is fascinating. Tools are still made in the traditional way for
constructing dhows. At the construction site, dhows are built in the same way they have for
centuries, skilled craftsmen bending wood to create the dhows. Visitors may be invited to try
their hand at this unique craft.
A visit to the Nungwi turtle sanctuary and aquarium follows, where ailing turtles are nursed
back to health and released into the ocean. A guided tour of Nungwi village, where mamas
wrapped in kangas cook over firewood and smiling kids play. Walk down to the beach where
you can enjoy an optional lunch at one of Nungwi’s popular restaurants and enjoy some free
time sunbathing, swimming and snorkelling.
The northern tip of Zanzibar offers some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world. The sky
turns pink and gold as the sun sinks over the Indian Ocean. Sundowners and a late transfer
back to your hotel can be arranged if you wish to stay to enjoy the sunset.
Advisable
• Swimwear, beach towel and water resistant shoes.
• Hat and sunscreen.Freddie Mercury Tour
Walk the streets of Stone Town and follow in the footsteps of Zanzibar’s most famous son,
Freddie Mercury. Lead singer of the rock band Queen, skilled musician, flamboyant
showman and also a Zanzibari. Born Farouk Bulsara on the 5th September 1946 in
Shangani, Freddie Mercury spent his formative years living and playing in Stone Town’s
winding alleyways. His parents were Parsi and had emigrated to Zanzibar from India.
His families were practicing Zoroastrians, a fire religion, founded more than 3000 years ago
and believed to be the world’s oldest religion. After studying at boarding school in Bombay,
Farouk Bulsara returned to Zanzibar, leaving with his parents and younger sister at the age
of 18 for London, where his transformation into Freddie Mercury was completed.
Wander through Shangani where Freddie Mercury was born and lived with his family. Your
guide will take you to the Zanzibar Gallery shop, once home to Mercury’s family where you’ll
receive a Freddie Mercury t-shirt. From here, you’ll head to the mystical Zoroastrian temple,
where Mercury worshipped with his family. You’ll end the day with a seafront lunch at
Mercury’s restaurant, a modern day tribute to the man and the music.
Advisable
• Suitable for individuals and large groups.
• Closed walking or hiking shoes.
• Please dress conservatively when walking through Stone Town.Prison Island
Prison Island gets its name from the prison built to condemn Zanzibari citizens to the isolation
of the island, looking out at the coast. Previously owned by an Arab to house his rebellious
slaves, the prison was never used, and the island is now home to a tortoise sanctuary, prison
ruins and hotel.
Prison Island is 20 minutes away from Stone Town by boat and has spectacular coral reefs
to enjoy while snorkelling. Giant tortoises shuffle through the trees, with the patience that old
age brings you. Originally thought to be from the Comoros Islands and Seychelles, some of
these tortoises are said to be over 100 years old. Stately and lumbering, the tortoises have
even been known to take children on a ride.
Lunch is available on the island and then you’re left to your own devices. If you’re feeling
active, you can explore one of the hiking trails, snorkel in the crystal clear waters in search of
colourful tropical fish darting through the reef or soak up some sun on the powder white
beach. Thatched bandas are dotted along the waterfront, available for hire if you wish to stay
for the night.
The Prison Island excursion is a great companion to a morning city tour. After an eventful
morning of walking through the busy streets of Zanzibar, you can enjoy this slow and relaxing
island excursion.
Advisable
• Swim wear, towel and water resistant shoes.
• Hat and sunscreen.
• Please do not feed or touch the tortoises.Kizimkazi Boat Trip
Take a one hour drive from to Stone Town to Kizimkazi, on Zanzibar’s southcoast for a day
of dolphin spotting. Kizimkazi is home to large numbers of bottle-nosed and spinner dolphins,
beautiful coral reefs and tropical fish.
On arrival, you’re given a short safety briefing and the dos and don’ts when faced with these
wild animals. Then, you board a traditional ocean going dhow and set sail on the Indian
Ocean in search of dolphins.
You can get as close as 10 to 20 metres away from the dolphins. Sleek and grey, they jack-
knife through the water, sometimes showing off with jumps and twists. In the past, some
tourists have been lucky enough to swim and snorkel with these magical animals. However, the
dolphins aren’t tame, and can be shy and elusive. Although visitors see dolphins on the
majority of outings, there are no guarantees. Whether you’re fortunate enough to see
dolphins or not, you can enjoy two hours sailing and taking in the sights of the ocean. There’s
superb snorkelling in the pristine coral reef and swimming in the clear, warm water of the Indian
Ocean.
You’ll return to the beach for lunch, where you can swim in the shallower waters and talk to the
crew, who can tell you sea stories about the one that got away.
Advisable
• Swim wear, towel and water resistant shoes.
• Hat and sunscreen.Safari Blue
A full day excursion on a traditional sailing dhows, Safari Blue starts from Fumba, the
perfect starting point to explore Menai Bay, an official Conservation Area. Home to
beautiful uninhabited islands, the area is stunning, frequented by humpback and bottlenose
dolphins.
On arrival at Fumba, clients are given a briefing on Safari Blue and then you board your
dhow and you’re off to explore the bay. Dolphins are sighted on approximately 90% of trips.
Anchor is dropped at the Kwale sandbank, where sunshades are set up and guests have the
chance to go snorkelling in the coral reefs, helped by the guides.
After snorkelling, you’ll be offered refreshments to whet your appetite before heading to
Kwale Island, for lunch under the tamarind trees. Drinks are served throughou the day and
lunch is a buffet of grilled fish, lobster, calamari, chicken and rice, with a tasting of tropical
fruits.
After lunch, you can sunbathe, snooze or visit the beautiful mangrove lagoon. Depending on
the tide, you may be able to take a swim in the lagoon. For the adventurous, join the crew to
sail in an “ngalawa”, a local outrigger canoe but be careful not to tip the boat! Then it’s back
to Fumba for around 5:30pm.
Advisable
• Swim wear, towel and water resistant shoes for walking over coral.
• Water resistant bag for cameras and other valuables.
• Sunscreen and Hat.Sandbank Picnic
Experience the way Livingstone felt discovering untouched land and sail away with us to
sandbanks around the magnificent island of Unguja, Zanzibar. Come on board our
traditionally crafted dhows, put your feet up and allow our staff to pamper you as the Sultans
of Zanzibar were once upon a time.
We set sail to find an untouched sandbank an hour away from Stone Town. Swim in the
crystal clear blue water around the sandbank and snorkel to discover a whole new underwater
world filled with marine life and corals of brilliant colours. Tables are set out on the golden
sand and a five star seafood lunch extravaganza, prepared by the talented chefs from the
Zanzibar Serena Inn will await you. After lunch relax on the sandbank listening to the hush of
waves lapping against the shore or discover more underwater life around it and listen to
stories from our crew about sailing the seven seas.
Then sail off to Prison Island. It is now home to a tortoise sanctuary, the prison ruins and a
hotel. Watch the giant tortoises shuffle through the trees, with the patience that old age
brings.
We will slowly sail back to Stone Town, after a day of relaxation and fun.
This excursion is suitable for anyone, from those who wish to completely relax to those who
want adventure and excitement…Karibu onboard with us for a day!
Advisable
• Swim wear, towel and water resistant shoes for walking over coral.
• Water resistant bag for cameras and other valuables.
• Sunscreen and Hat.Sunset Dhow Cruises
Step onto the deck of our vessels, relax and let us sail you away on a magical sunset cruise to
end your day. Our sunset cruises leave Stone Town in the late afternoon to cruise along the
coast, slicing through the clear turquoise water.
The sounds of the bustle of busy people in Stone Town grow faint in the distance until they
seem only in a memory. Musicians take over playing songs of love and loss, as the butler serves
canapés and keeps your glass topped up with your choice of a selection of beers, wine and
sodas, encouraging you to sink back into the cushions and enjoy the romance of Africa while
watching the scenery drift by.
On board our dhow we also have a personal guide who will accompany you on your cruise and
give you a tour of Stone Town from the water. Feel free to ask any questions you may have
about Zanzibar.
The blue green of the sea contrasts against the clear blue sky. The sun sets, changing the
sky from shades of pinks and blues to magnificent golden colours, as you sail back towards
the glimmering lights of Stone Town in the distance, the wind gently blowing you back to
shore.
Returning to Stone Town in the evening to the shores of Serena Hotel, we guarantee
blissful relaxation after hours of luxurious sailing around the beautiful island of Unguja.
Advisable
• Towel and water resistant shoes.Special Sunrise Cruise
This is a great sailing and snorkelling excursion for early risers or travellers on the run!
While you watch the local fisherman setting off for the day’s catch in the quiet morning
tide, our guides will give you the history of the dhow in Zanzibar and the UNESCO
world heritage site Stone Town, including the House of Wonders, the Old Fort and
the many other architectural jewels decorating its shoreline.
Depending on the tides, you will visit one of the many remote sandbanks surrounding
the small islets of Zanzibar Town, to plunge into the blue and explore the coral reefs.
The sandbanks are exposed only at low tides, so the powder-white sands are always
pristine and untouched when you arrive. After leaving the dhow, the crew will provide
equipment including flippers and masks, and take you on a guided snorkel of the reef.
In the still morning tide you can see creatures like Emperor Angelfish, brilliantly
coloured sea anemones, playful clown fish, zebra fish, slippers,
soft and hard corals and a host of other tropical reef creatures. After working up an
appetite under the torquoise water, you will return to the dhow and set sail again for
Stone Town. After returning to the Zanzi bar Serena Inn, your appetite will be
greeted by the chefs and a delightful breakfast of fresh pastries, tropical fruits, juices,
Swahili chai and coffee and many other sumptuous delights.
Advisable
• Swimming gear
• Sun hat, sunscreen
• Comfortable shoes
• Suitable for couples and groupsDhow Trip – Prison Island to Mangapwani Beach
Giving you a taste of Zanzibar’s history and its immaculate beaches, this dhow trip is a
full day excursion for the ultimate dhow experience.
Departing from Stone Town, the dhow sails to Prison Island, built by the Sultan to
condemn rebellious slaves to isolation and later used as a quarantine station between
trading ships and the main island of Zanzibar.
The Arabic house and prison ruins are still intact, but the island is now a sanctuary for
Giant Tortoisessome of which are over 100 years’ old.
After visiting the tortoises and snorkelling in the reefs of Prison Island, you’ll set sail
again towards the coconut-fringed beach at Mangapwani.
The two hour journey will take you past the historic waterfront of Stone Town,
eventually anchoring on the beach where you depart for lunch at Mangapwani Beach
Club and enjoy a barbecue extravaganza of seafood, tropical fruit and other Swahili
specialities to tantelize your tongue. Taking time to relax on the beach after lunch,
guests can then venture forth to explore the Mangapwani Slave Caves. Built from
coral limestone, these caves were used to store slaves until the monsoon rains began
and the merchant dhows came to take them from Zanzibar. After slavery was abolished,
the cave was still used for to hide and smuggle slaves in an illicit trade that continued for
years. From the Mangapwani slave caves you will be chauffeured back to your hotel.
Advisable
• Suitable for individuals and groups
• Comfortable closed walking or hiking shoes and pants
• Sun hat and sun creamSunset cruise and dinner at Mbweni Ruins
Follow the trail of the sultans, slaves and explorers in the winding streets of Stone
Town. Your guide will tell you about the events that shaped Zanzibar, leading you
through the buildings where it all happened, such as the former Slave Market and
Anglican Cathedral, the House of Wonders and the Sultans’ Palace Museum, the
Old Arab Fort and Dispensary.
While tracing the steps of the past, the walking tour provides you with a window into
modern life in Stone Town. Explore the markets, seafood and fish piled in the fish
market, fresh loaves of bread in wicker baskets and the neat stacks of fruit and
vegetables as traders sell their wares from their stalls. Children play in the streets in the
residential areas, mamas sit out and gossip while men play board games.
From here, you’ll head to the beach and climb abroad a traditional sea faring dhow for
a sunset cruise. Sails billow in the wind and the sun sets over the Indian Ocean, turning
the sky pink and gold. You’ll arrive at Mbweni Ruins Hotel for dinner in the stunning
gardens, lulled by the sound of waves crashing against the shore, the chirping of cicadas
and evening birdsong.
Advisable
• Closed walking or hiking shoes.
• Please dress conservatively when walking through Stone Town. Women
should cover their shoulders and wear long skirts or trousers.Princess Salme Tour
P
rincess Salme. Rebel, outcast, revolutionary? Salme sent shockwaves through Zanzibar,
teaching herself to write, conspiring in a plot to overthrow her brother, becoming pregnant and
eloping to Germany with a young merchant, Heinrich Ruete and writing the sensational
Memoirs of an Arabian Princess.
This tour takes you to Mtoni Palace, where Salme was born in 1844, the daughter of Sultan
Said and one of his secondary wives. She spent her childhood in the palace, served by slaves
and playing in the gardens.
You’ll then head to Marhubi Palace, built by Sultan Barghash, Salme’s older brother, who
she helped to escape after a failed attempt to overthrow their brother, Sultan Majid.
From here, you’ll travel to Stone Town, where the princess lived in a relative exile, unmarried
and shunned by her family for her role in the intrigue. The Palace Museum has a room dedi-
cated to Salme’s life and writings. Your guide will take you to her house, where her romance
with Heinrich Ruete began across the balconies, resulting in secret trysts and meetings in the
countryside. The tour ends at the Gallery Bookshop, where you can buy Salme’s book,
Memoirs of an Arabian Princess, available in many languages.
Advisable
• Walking shoes. Please dress conservatively.
• Closed walking or hiking shoes.Swahili Cultural Tour
There are many elements to the Swahili culture – music and dance, visual arts,
traditional games, cuisine, and dhow culture to name a few. A Cultural tour is a great
way for visitors to immerse themselves in the local culture and to see how many
Zanzibari’s live on a day to day basis. On this half day tour, your guide will accompany
you to a rural village where you will have the opportunity to see daily activities being
undertaken – women weaving baskets, grinding millet, and cooking local dishes, using
traditional methods. Watch as they decorate themselves with the traditional henna
body painting, and braid hair. Behold the sight of young boys making rope and scaling
tall palm trees for fresh coconuts, which are then peeled and cracked open for a
refreshing drink under the midday sun. Sit with the men of the village as they weave
palm fronds to make the thatch roofs for their huts, or play a game of Bao, Zanzibar’s
favourite pastime. Further afield cassava plantations and bananas with their various
products can be seen and tasted – cassava chips, grilled cassava, ripe banana with
coconut, and grilled banana with local spices. The Cultural Tour is the ideal excursion
for those who want a real insight into the people and life on the Island, and is a great
way to support sustainable tourism and the people of Zanzibar.
Advisable
• Sunscreen and Hat
• Please dress conservatively when visiting local villages – women should cover their
shoulders and wear long skirts or trousersGreen Panorama Tour
Take a break from the sun loungers and souvenir stalls, and escape into the Island’s
green pockets of lush indigenous forest. This half day tour takes you into Zanzibar’s
quiet interior, and offers some of the best opportunities for wildlife viewing. First stop is
Jozani Forest, home to the island’s most famous and photographed resident, the
Zanzibar red colobus monkey, as well as the Ader’s duiker, Sykes monkeys, bush
babies, African civet, giant elephant shrews, and chameleons as well as around 83
species of birds. Next door to Jozani is the Zanzibar Butterfly Centre, an interactive
butterfly exhibit consisting of a netted tropical garden with hundreds of butterflies, all
of which are native species to Zanzibar. The enclosure is one of Africa’s largest
butterfly exhibits and provides residents and tourists of Zanzibar with an interactive
and visual environment to learn about butterflies. Our last stop on the tour is ZALA
Park – a fascinating menagerie of exotic reptiles and amphibians, as well as duikers,
bushbabies and hyrax. Various concrete compounds are dotted about the small park,
and inside natural habitats have been created for snakes, monitor lizards, crabs and
chameleons, to name just a few. You may even be allowed to crawl into the large cage
housing four enormous pythons!
Advisable
• Sun hat and sunscreen
• Closed walking shoesFishing Trip in Dhows
Forget about the horsepower engine and the motorboat – it was by the sails of the
dhow that the Swahili Empire was built. Dhow boats were used to carry everything
from the Sultans and their treasures- their slaves and the spices of Zanzibar towards
Oman, India and the rest of the Indian Ocean trading world. To this day, traditionally
made dhows continue to cruise the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, carrying the daily
catches
of Swahili fisherman and sailing as they have done for centuries.
Fishing in the traditional Swahili way, you will get a hands-on dhow experience which
you will not forget. After abandoning all modern equipment including rods and tackle,
the Original Dhow Safaris’ guides will challenge you to fish in with a simple line-and-
hook. The handline
fishing of the Swahili people will test your skills and endurance, allowing you to bait for
the many schools of fish shoaling beneath the surface of the sparkling water. See if you
can catch with the local hands and fill your buckets with the bounty of the Indian
Ocean. Depending on the season, you can expect to catch Marlin, Broadbill, Sailfish,
Spearfish, Tuna, Kingfish, Barracuda and many others. This is an authentic dhow
adventure for those who want to experience traditional fishing by hand.
Advisable:
• Comfortable clothing
• Sun hat and sunscreen
• Comfortable shoesDeep Sea Game Fishing
Join us for a day of big game fishing out in the waters of Zanzibar and the Pemba
channel. Our deep sea fishing charter boats are fully rigged and ready to take you out
for a fishing experience you will never forget. We fish by trailing a combination of lures,
natural dead baits or live bait. Our well equipped sports fishing boats and resourceful
crews will make sure you enjoy yourself out on the water. Spend either a half or full day
out at sea with professional anglers and either catch & release or catch your own dinner.
Our fishing partners are environmentally responsible and practise measures to ensure
the sustainability of marine life.
Striped, black and blue marlin can be found on the Zanzibar coastline, as well as
acrobatic sailfish and elusive spearfish. Dorado, yellow fin tuna, wahoo, barracuda, king
fish all provide endless hours of action packed game fishing out on the ocean. August
to October is peak season for tuna, with marlin and sailfish running from November till
March, following the pattern of the monsoons. Fishing in Zanzibar is a delight, with the
turquoise and deep blue of the ocean constrasting against perfect powder blue skies,
waves lapping against the prow of the boat. Whatever time of year you visit, you’re sure
to have a great day out, with a chance of landing a personal best and epic tales of the
one that got away.
Advisable
• Sun screen, sun glasses, waterproof shoes and a sun hat.