🏝️ Zanzibar: a complete guide to a tropical paradise

Until a few decades ago, Zanzibar was an island in an unknown African country, and Tanzania itself was strongly associated with yellow fever and malaria. Today Zanzibar is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Africa. More and more tourists are choosing this holiday destination due to its accessibility, snow-white beaches and unique culture. You can purchase a tour to Zanzibar to celebrate summer in this miracle of nature. We have collected information on how to get the most out of your vacation.

Entry conditions

To enter the country you need to obtain a tourist visa. This can be done after landing at the airport or at the consulate. You can get help in obtaining a visa in advance. She allows you to stay on the island for up to 90 days. Its registration will cost $50. To obtain a visa, you will need a passport that is valid for at least 6 months after travel, and completed visa application and arrival declaration forms.

We advise you to have $50 in cash with you in order to be guaranteed to enter the country and not be left at the border. No one is immune from interruptions in the operation of terminals. In addition, they often charge high commissions.

The next required document is medical insurance. Please note that insurance must cover expenses for the entire period of your stay on the island.

To travel to Zanzibar, vaccinations and supporting certificates are not required.

Best time to relax

Zanzibar is an island of eternal sun and summer, but even in such conditions you need to know when it is most comfortable to come here on vacation.

During the year, the average air temperature ranges from + 29℃-+35℃, and the sea water temperature is +25℃-+30℃. The best period to travel to Zanzibar is from May to October. If you have made your choice, you can select a tour online.

The periods “March-May” and “October-November” are the famous rainy seasons. The number of tourists on the island at this time is minimal. Rains often wash out roads and fill the entire area with water. Planning a comfortable trip in unpredictable weather conditions is almost impossible.

December, January and February are the hottest months in Zanzibar. If you are tired of the European winter and feel comfortable with average temperatures up to +28℃ during the day, then you can plan a trip. Don't forget about cloudy and windy weather. Winter, even a tropical one, has not been canceled.

What to see and do?

Freddie Mercury's apartment

Admit it, did you know that the leader of Queen was born in Zanzibar? Yes, yes, this island gave the whole world not only a paradise resort, but also a star of the first magnitude. Freddie was not only born, but also lived here for eight years.

Now the house of Freddie and his family has become a museum, which is visited not only by fans of Queen, but also by ordinary tourists. By the way, this is one of the most popular attractions on the island.

The house has two entrances, one of which has been completely transformed into a hotel. Yes, staying here will cost from $132 per night, but the chance to see such a place does not come around very often. You can book your hotel here.

In the second entrance there is a museum in memory of Freddie Mercury. This is a small room where you can see archival photos, music record covers and manuscripts of song lyrics. Entrance to the museum costs $10. Agree, a good tour into the musical history of Zanzibar.

Stone Town

Coming to Zanzibar and not seeing Stone Town is a real crime! This is one of the most ancient parts of the island. UNESCO included the Stone Town on the list of world cultural heritage!

In the Old Town you can see how history mixes with modern trends and how the styles of different peoples are harmoniously combined together. The architecture of Stone Town will definitely not leave you without emotions. Stroll through the narrow streets and passages, visit traditional shops and feel the atmosphere of the souks. Appreciate the beauty of cathedrals and mosques, spend time at the Old Fort and the House of Wonders. If you have time, be sure to buy a ticket to the David Livingston House Museum.

Prison Island

What do you think about traveling to prison? We suggest going there. Calm down, the prison has long ceased operation, and the main feature of the island is the huge turtles with which you can swim and take photographs. Here you can pet the animals, walk with them and even groom them. Entrance to Prizon Island will cost $4-5.

You can get to the island from Stone Town in just 30-40 minutes, so we recommend planning a trip to two locations for one day.

Jozani Forest

This is one of the most beautiful attractions in Zanzibar. Jozani is a unique national park where you can walk among mangrove trees and see wild birds and animals in their natural habitat.

Special tourist routes have been created for travelers, where they can meet red colobus monkeys, a rare species of monkey. Not far from the park there is a turtle farm and a butterfly park. To enter the Jozani forest you need to pay $10, to visit the butterfly park – $5.

If you wish, you can use the services of an English-speaking guide, and you can buy souvenirs in a special store at the exit of the park.

Spice farms

Zanzibar is an island where vanilla, cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper and turmeric are grown. Even 200 years ago, Zanzibar was one of the main places for growing cloves in the world, and the island literally provided for itself with the income from its sale.

Now tourists can choose excursions to several spices, where they will be shown the process of growing spices and even allowed to try several of them. Such tours can be booked at hotels or you can come there yourself. If you want to book a tour in advance, you can do so here for $30.

What food should I try?

The traditional cuisine of Zanzibar is a symbiosis of several culinary trends. Of course, African cuisine occupies the main place, but one should not forget about the notes of Arabic and Persian culture.

The most popular side dish on the island is bananas: fried, stewed, baked. By the way, they go well with almost all dishes. We recommend trying banana beer and banana wine. Such drinks fully describe the national flavor.

Zanzibar is a great opportunity to eat fresh seafood and fruits. They are sold at almost every turn, and the prices for the fruits are not high at all.

In tourist areas you can find many cafes and restaurants with more familiar dishes, and if an ingredient bothers you, ask to remove it in advance.

Language and currency

The main language of communication on the island is Swahili. Numerous local tribes speak their own dialects, but Swahili has the status of one of the state languages.

If learning Swahili isn't in your plans, don't worry. Another national language of Tanzania is English. With him you will definitely not get into an unpleasant situation and will always be able to find out the necessary information. Tourism industry workers often speak other languages.

By the way, locals have a special sympathy for those who show interest in their culture and heritage. They said a few words in Swahili, asked what tribe they were born into, and getting a discount or gift in the store becomes much easier.

We have compiled a pocket Swahili dictionary that will be useful to you on your trip to Zanzibar:

• asante sana – thank you very much;
• jumbo – hello;
• msaada – help;
• habari gani – how are you;
• kva heri – goodbye;
• ngari – how much does it cost;
• jina langu ni is my name.

The main currency in the state is the Tanzanian shilling. You can also pay in dollars in Zanzibar. Cash and cards are accepted for payment, but you will have to pay a considerable commission for using the card.

You can exchange dollars for shillings at the airport, cities and crowded villages. We recommend taking large denomination bills starting from $50 on your trip. The exchange rate for them is higher than for small ones.

Before buying, find out prices in shillings and dollars, and pay in the currency whose exchange rate is more favorable. This way you won’t overpay and will be able to adequately evaluate the product or service.

Remember that it is prohibited to take local currency out of the country. Do not exchange a large amount at once so that you do not have to spend it in any way in the last days.

Communication and Internet

For convenience and constant access to the Internet, you can purchase a SIM card with a package of services from a mobile operator. There are four providers in Tanzania: Halotel, Tigo, Vodacom and Airtel. You can view the tariffs and prices on the official website.

Prices for service packages from local operators from Tartu start from $4. For this amount you can get:

• 3 GB internet, 400 minutes and 100 SMS for 7 days from Vodacom;
• 6 GB Internet from Airtel;
• 4 GB internet, 280 minutes and 50 SMS for 30 days from Halotel.

To buy a SIM card, you must be fingerprinted at the airport. Without them, any way to purchase a card is closed. You will also need a passport to register the subscriber in the system.

Wi-Fi connection points can be found in many hotels, cafes, restaurants and tourist spots. Please note that the speed may be limited and may only be sufficient to send a short text message.

Answers to the most popular questions:

Do you need a visa to travel to Zanzibar?

Yes, I need it. You can get it at the airport on the island for $50.

In what currency can I pay?

The main currency on the island is the Tanzanian shilling, but you can also pay in dollars.

Should you be afraid of yellow fever and malaria mosquitoes?

There is a minimal risk of infection. However, the situation on the island is stable and does not pose a serious threat to life. You can get vaccinations if you wish, but they are not required to enter the country.