Home. Zanzibar Island Travel Information

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Spice island information - there was since the beginning of time a magical ring to the word. One can imagine a time of Sultans walking the shores of the beaches. It is also known as the Spice Island and the smell of cinnamon and other spices is thick in the air - an air of a care-free life, where today is for the living and tomorrow will take care of itself.

On the photo is Annelie of GetawayAfrica is getting a few travel tips from one of the friendly businessmen owner in a narrow street where no vehicles can enter, in Stone Town. Some locals drive with motorcycles in these streets.

Just off the coast of Tanzania, 20 minutes by small plane (2 hours by slow ferry), the island is actually part of main country. The main country is actually a combination of the two old countries' names - Tanganyika and Zanzibar.

Return flights from Dar Es Salaam to the island on the plane is every hour from $ 50pp and the flight is +/- 15 min.

The island is the collective name for a series of East African islands off mainland Tanzania - the main ones being Unguja, Pemba and Mafia.

The Island (known locally as Unguja, but as Zanzibar internationally) is the biggest and most populated island within the islands archipelago and is surrounded by more than 20 other islands, many of them uninhabited. Unguja is 60 miles long and 20 miles wide, occupying a total area of approximately 650 square miles. It is characterised by beautiful sandy beaches with fringing coral reefs, and the magic of historic Stone Town - said to be the only functioning ancient town in East Africa.

Pemba is the second largest island of the Archipelago. It is famous for its clove production and its channels offer some of best diving experiences in East Africa.

The capital of the islands is Stone Town, a fine example of the Swahili coastal trading towns of East Africa and a World Heritage Site. The historic charms of Stone Town with its it's narrow alleyways, large carved wooden doors and covered balconies is fascinating for visitors who come here to explore the ancient remains of the cultures of Africa, the Arab region, India, and Europe.

The coasts offer something for everyone. White sands, crystal-clear waters, palm trees and seemingly eternal sunshine make the Zanzibari coastline a Paradise that continues to lure visitors from around the world. The East Coast is the most popular with tourists as this has the best stretches of beaches. Many of the large resorts can be found here. But the North coast is just as enticingand it offers great diving and snorkeling reefs.

The South coast of the spice island does not attract that many visitors, except for Kizimkazi where tourists can dive with dolphins. The tourism infrastructure on the west coast is not particularly well-developed.

The island has a great variety of accommodation ranging from budget Bed & Breakfast inns to luxurious hotels and all-inclusive holiday resorts. Click here to read more about our the islands hotels and resorts.

On top of that, we can tailor-make packages of any length and including flights, transfers and accommodation at almost any of the hotels and resorts. Click here to read more about the hotels we use for our packages.

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