Incredible wildlife, welcoming people, scenic beaches, uniques cultures, and home to the Serengeti and Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania has everything all wrapped up in one big spectacular and adventurous package. Tanzania is an East Africa paradise and a travelers dream come true. It will sweep you off your feet!
We flew into Zanzibar from Ethiopia. There are regular and direct flights from Paris, Amsterdam and Dubai. Additionally there are regional flights from Kenya, mainland Tanzania, Malawi and Ethiopia also. Due to Ethiopia’s high incidence of yellow fever that Zanzibar doesn’t have, we had to show proof of vaccination on the tarmac before entering into the main terminal. We had purchased our visa online prior to arrival and that didn’t seem to make much difference. Customs was long and slow and even though there was a counter for visa on arrival, that queue wasn’t moving any slower than ours.
Zanzibar: Stone Town
Stone Town is the historical centre of Zanzibar City, the capital of the Zanzibar archipelago. It’s historical value as well as it’s incredible beauty have rightly earned it its place on the UNESCO world heritage list. What began as a rudimentary trading post for silk, spices, and sadly slave trade for over a millennium has transformed itself into a visually stunning ancient town. In fact, it’s one of the last remaining ancient towns in Africa. With its old colonial buildings, exquisitely designed and carved Zanzibari doors, narrow streets, and a shoreline lined with dhows, Stone Town is both fascinating and unique. It is also predominantly Muslim where the sounds of call to prayer and the omnipresence of minarets are ubiquitous. It is a sensational meeting place that promises to introduce you to the blending of African, Arabian, Indian and European cultures.
Freddie Mercury, the former lead singer of Queen, was born in Zanzibar in 1946. He was born Farrokh Bulsara and his birth home / childhood home is located in the heart of Stone Town. We were lucky one night walking past it because the beautiful hand carved wooden door was open and we could see inside. I took some pictures because otherwise unless I rented this apartment, I wouldn’t have ever seen the inside. The apartment block is co-located with the Freddie Mercury museum which is quaint but has some pretty cool memorabilia in it. There are handwritten lyrics that he wrote early on in his Queen days. For the 8$ entrance fee to see childhood pics and Queen regalia, I thought it was a fun thing to do while staying in Stone Town.
Food and Beverage
The cuisine of Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania for that matter relies mainly on grains, rice, spices and fruits. Often meats like chicken and fish accompany these dishes. Zanzibar offers a great deal of exceptional seafood. Swahili style of food on the island includes the use of spices and coconut milk, as well as rice, fish and prawn curries. It is aromatic and flavorful. It’s also incredibly healthy. Raw fish marinated in coconut milk and lime is also quite popular in Zanzibar 🙂
It should come as no surprise that Africa’s most notorious mountain has been merchandised since forever, and one of the products that proudly boasts its name is Kilimanjaro Premium Lager. It has become the country’s best-selling beer, and some refer to it as the Budweiser of Tanzania. And guess what? It hasn’t been boycotted by rednecks and bigots here lol “Kili” is has a simple texture and a bit of a sweet aftertaste. It’s not a terribly layered beer but on a 30C day, it wets the whistle.
One of the tastiest fruit juices I tried in Zanzibar was hibiscus juice. I had a glass every. One big one at breakfast and found it to be the most refreshingly tasty juice I have ever tried. What’s even more awesome than it’s remarkable taste is that it’s packed with antioxidants and vitamin c. Moreover, hibiscus juice fights inflammation and lowers blood pressure. It’s literally a super juice. Another treat is tamarind juice which does all of the same things as well.
If you are looking for a fun and off the beaten path place to dine, The Rock is where you want to go. This quirky restaurant was built on a rock and is surrounded by the incredibly blue and serene waters of the Indian Ocean. Few locales are quite as interesting and it’s architecture as inviting as this eatery.
The Rock Restaurant is located on Michamvi Beach, on Zanzibar’s south-eastern shore of Zanzibar. It’s best to make a reservation prior to showing up. We went for lunch after a morning of snorkeling and free diving. The food is absolutely grand and mouthwatering. Their menu offers a wide variety of fresh seafood, as well as a few vegetarian choices. My husband had the raw fish and I had the beet gnocchi. We shared a passion fruit dessert which was equally as delicious as the entrees.
Baraka Natural Aquarium
In the north of Zanzibar, in a small coastal town named Nungwi, the Baraka lagoon is nestled along its shoreline. And it’s full of turtles. FULL! The “aquarium” buys the turtles caught by fisherman in order to prevent their sale and this natural lagoon provides a safe and peaceful sanctuary for them.
During the visit you can feed the turtles with seaweed or just spend your time in the water. The turtles can range from the size of your palm to size of a hula hoop in diameter, and can be a tad aggressive around the seaweed. Once you throw the seaweed in the water and it floats near your legs, bum or hips, you can anticipate getting bitten. They don’t mean to bite however you become collateral damage in their zeal and quest for fresh food lol.
Spice farm visit: Kizimbani
Zanzibar is aptly called “The Island of Spices”. The cultivation and harvesting of Zanzibari spices has been a very lucrative business with a history dating back centuries. Spices were known as luxury goods for Europeans. Zanzibar has the right land and climate for growing cloves, nutmeg, ginger, vanilla, cardamom, pepper, turmeric, lemongrass and many more. We learned all kinds of interesting facts like: before the refrigerator was invented, cloves were used in the process of curing and preserving meats.
Local farming communities and villages grow, process and sell these local treasures that they themselves use them to cook with, in cosmetics and medicine. This was one of my favorite activities in Zanzibar that we did. It was very relaxing and educational. It also gave us the opportunity to meet some local families.
Present day Zanzibar and more specifically it’s economy, almost exclusively relies on tourism. The current economic state of the islands and government restrictions prevents local farmers from exporting any of their products abroad. What makes this so unfortunate is that this is what put Zanzibar on the map to begin with: its export of amazing spices. Given this, farmers only have a few options. They end up selling their spices locally and at much lower prices than if they were to export them. If you do a spice tour, consider purchasing some local spices. We did and brought back hibiscus, lemongrass, cardamom, turmeric and cloves. We continue to enjoy them!
Blue Lagoon
Zanzibar’s crystal-clear turquoise water is a snorkeler’s wet dream literally and figuratively. LOL Starfish or sea stars are marine animals that come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. In the blue lagoon on the eastern shores of Zanzibar, there is an enchanting place where thousands upon thousands of starfish reign the clear shallow waters.
The most common have only 5 arms, but we did see a few with 6 arms. Starfish have been known to grow up to 40 arms!!!! These amazing sea creatures travel by way of using their tube feet and can regenerate lost limbs. Snorkeling this part of the island was a lovely way to connect with the ocean and spend a tranquil morning. The sea stars were a really unique adventure.
Pingwe is a long and wide beach with many cafes, restaurants and hotels along its shoreline. What stood out to me was that this beautiful beach was not crowded whatsoever. Fine white sand covers the shore and the ocean floor. We visited on a very hot day and couldn’t wait to get into the water. The ocean was warm, welcoming and soothing. Furthermore, Pingwe beach is clean and well-maintained.
Prison Island
Located only 5.6km from Stone Town and only a short boat ride away is Prison Island. It is a small island surrounded by the Indian Ocean and is most easily accessed by paying a local fisherman to take you across from Stone Town. Prison Island is also known as Changuu which is Swahili for fish which are plentiful in the waters around the island.
In 1919, the British governor of Seychelles sent 4 Aldabra giant tortoises to Changuu as a gift. By the 1950s, the tortoise population has risen to well over over 200. After several decades of people stealing them or selling them for food, the Government decided to protect them and the island is now considered a sanctuary for these wise and stoic creatures.
The Aldabra tortoises live outside in a compound surrounded by trees. The dappled light reaches them as they spend their days munching lettuce and cabbage. They sleep in the shade and cool off in muddy puddles. There are around 100 tortoises of different ages and sizes living on the island, alongside a few peacocks. Some tortoises are roughly 200 years old. We met the oldest resident who was pretty into the lettuce leaves we brought to feed him. All those visiting the sanctuary can interact with the tortoises. They are docile and enjoy having their feet, legs and arms massaged. They are even more into scratches under the chin and along the neck. And unlike the hawksbill turtles, these gentle giants do not bite.
Prison Island has a pristine beauty that contradicts its nefarious history. It was used to imprison unruly and rebellious slaves when the first Sultan of Zanzibar, gave it to 2 Arab slave owners in the 1860’s. Prison island is a stark reminder of the legacy and history of slavery that has plague this culture like ours.
In the 1920s, Prison Island was reframed and subsequently transformed into a quarantine island for the East Africa region. The foundations of the former prison buildings were retrofitted into a hospital. When patients requiring quarantine were sent here, they would stay a minimum of 1-2 weeks before they were allowed to leave.
Mnemba Atoll
Mnemba atoll is home breathtaking coral reefs, it has some epic dive sites. It takes about 40 mins to get out to the atoll by boat but once there you simply sink and disappear into the ocean. The reef is roughly 7km by 4km in diameter and is home to green turtles, dolphins, sea urchins, giant clams and an amazing array of tropical fish species.
Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park
This low-lying landscape is prone to flooding, which feeds the lush surroundings and small swamps. The forest is embedded with large trees that soak up the sun and moisture seeking ferns. This protected area is also home to the world’s last remaining red colobus monkeys, an endangered species found only in Zanzibar.
These medium-sized monkeys have little potbellies lol. Their coat ranges in color from dark red to black and is sometimes accented with a black stripe on the shoulders and arms. Like all species of colobus monkeys their have a stumped thumb in place of where a thumb should be. Their have long tails, which are used for balance and posture which also help them swing from one tree branch to another.
We were fortunate the day we visited as we only had to trek about 10 minutes into the forest before we came across the monkeys. The red colobus monkey is extremely curious and spent more time trying to figure out how to remove my sunglasses from my head then afraid of me. The babies would come really close and show off by swinging on branches in front of me. It was really cute.
They are roughly 6000 Zanzibar red colobuses left on the planet. They continue to be threatened by habitat destruction as a result of timber cutting, bush burning, charcoal production, and human development. Hunting of primates, including the red colobus monkeys for consumption by humans has also historically been a problem. I am hopeful through aggressive conservation efforts that the red colobus of Zanzibar will survive and be able to thrive.
The beaches in Zanzibar are some of the most surreal and picturesque that I have ever seen. The water is crystal clear and has hues of turquoise. Most are quiet and not full of people which makes them even more appealing. Honestly, your best bet is to drive around the small island and explore all the nooks and crannies to find the ones that are the best fit for you. We spend most of our time below the water line than above it 🙂
Arusha: mainland Tanzania
Well established as the safari hub of Tanzania, this quaint town has many first rate restaurants and markets to enjoy while on your transit through. The views are simply breathtaking and wether you are embarking on a Safari or attempting to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, this is a perfect place to relax.
Ngorongoro Crater
The Ngorongoro Crater and Conservation Area is a world UNESCO heritage site. It is home to 30,000 animals and is the worlds largest caldera. Ngorongoro crater consists of highland plains, savanna, savanna woodlands and forests.
It is shared with the Maasai people who still live on the rim of the crater and practice traditional livestock grazing. The entire area which borders the Serengeti has a global importance for biodiversity conservation. The presence of globally threatened species, the density of wildlife inhabiting the area, and the annual migration of wildebeest make this conservation area the most unique in the world.
Once you begin to descend into the crater, you immediately realize how steep the grade is. The 4km ride down its road is bumpy and harrowing. Upon arrival the first thing we saw was a wildebeest carcass and a cape buffalo skull.
Other than being the biggest intact caldera on the planet, the Ngorongoro crater is also a natural sanctuary for some of the densest populations of large mammals in Africa. Given it’s enclosed nature, the animals inside have basically developed and become their own ecosystem.
The crater is famous for its geological splendor. The sheer volume and variety of fauna and flora that is collocated in such a compact area makes this place so amazing. You are pretty much guaranteed to see big concentrations of animals on a game drive in the Ngorongoro Crater. There were thousands of zebras and they came right up to the vehicle. I was able to take some great photos.
The Crater statistically also has a reliably high number of sightings of the Big 5 (elephant, buffalo, rhino, lion and leopard). Probably the highest in all of in East Africa. We were able to see almost a dozen lions on our safari. We did not see any leopards though we were hopeful.
The Crater’s resident lion population is one of the highest densities of prides in the world. They seem to have a complete disregard of safari vehicles. They were hunting very close to our vehicle and when we sat down to eat lunch outside (yes, outside of the Safari vehicle) on the plains, we saw a lion trying unsuccessfully to hunt zebra right in front of us!
Thanks to the mineral-rich volcanic soil, the short-grass plains grow lush on the floor of the crater. By providing nutritious grazing for a plethora of herbivores, they seem to flock to the inside of the crater. No giraffes live in the crater because it’s too steep for them to get into. They do sometimes venture part way in sometimes like these fellows did the day we visited.
Tanzania’s two rainy seasons are from April to May and November to December. Temperatures are warm and the roads around the caldera can get rather muddy. But there are far fewer visitors during the wet seasons and the Ngorongoro Crater transforms into a wonderfully lush, emerald ‘Garden of Eden’. We went in June and the rainy season was already done so there wasn’t much mud. It was a long 4 hour drive from Arusha but well worth it. This is one place you cannot miss if you come to Tanzania!
Maasai village visit
Visiting a Maasai village and learning about this fascinating culture is a lovely way to spend the day while in Tanzania. The traditional way of living for the Maasai people revolves around their livestock which of course is their main source of food. The Maasai measure wealth in terms of number of livestock and number of children. Therefore it is considered normal to have many wives and many children with those various wives. The men typically tend to the cattle and the women tend to the donkeys which help them to carry wood and water throughout the day.
Maasai live in bomas or huts. Around the outer perimeter surrounding their nomadic villages are fences made of thorn branches intertwined with poison bushes to keep the hyenas and lions at bay. Their huts are made of woven branches, the holes of which are filled with manure and mud. There are sleeping huts, gathering huts, cooking huts and even huts for prayer.
The Maasai are among the tallest people in Africa. This is in part due to their rich calcium diet given they drink a lot of milk. They calculate their age by 7 year of warrior hood increments. By age 6 in Maasai years or 42 Canadian years, men should be in their peak for warrior hood. The Maasai are known for their high jumping or bouncing skill set called “adamu”. The men will engage in this activity to demonstrate their strength and endurance.
Meserani Snake Park
If you’re fascinated by snakes and reptiles, a Meserani Snake Park tour is a must for your visit!
Located 20km west of Arusha, the snake park which is on the way to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro center, is a fun morning or afternoon activity. The park is home to some of the most dangerous snakes in the world, like the Black and Green Mamba, the Egyptian Cobra, Puff Adders and many more. Most of these snakes were caught by Maasai villagers and when turned over to the park as it offers the community a setting and chance to educate people of the types of snakes and dangers they pose to their livelihood and well being.
There are 3 Nile crocodiles in an enclosure as well. I was a little surprised when I stood on part of the fence to get some pictures and the biggest male who was in the pond came over right away. It seemed he didn’t like me being so close to their pen. Crocodiles are notorious for disliking the color red to the point that it makes them angry….I was not wearing red that day which would have made that interaction far more confrontational lol
That’s not all ─ you can even hold a real live snake and some leopard tortoises:)
Right above the crocodile enclosure were close to 300 fruit bats who were quite loud and chatty. We were careful not to stress them out.
Fruit bats are quite peaceful, shy animals that just want to forage for food and hang out with their colony! However, if they’re injured or threatened by humans, they’re capable of biting to defend themselves. Moreover, they are known to pass viruses like Ebola through their urine, feces or saliva when they are stressed out. I will say that they are pretty stinkin cute…those faces!!!!
Maasai Snake Hospital
Next to the snake park is a very small (4 room small) medical clinic which is the local snake bite hospital. Inside there were 3 people recovering from spitting cobra bites which require 3 months of convalescence. Often the bites occur when the Maasai are out tending to their land or livestock.
Recovery is almost guaranteed if they can get to this clinic expeditiously and depending on the type of snake bite. I was fortunate to meet Nataana, a 2 year old Maasai (8 year old in Canadian years) girl who was bitten 2 weeks earlier. Part of her foot had gone necrotic and had to be removed by layers. She was so sweet and so brave.
Worth the visit or not: WORTH
Tanzania has approximately 52 million inhabitants living within its borders. Of that population, there are well over 120 tribes that cohabitate peacefully. Tanzania is a safe and politically stable country where the people are friendly, kind and relaxed.
Beautiful vistas and stunning scenery are not hard to find in Tanzania as the country is blessed with striking natural beauty that spans from the mountain ranges, to the wilderness, and to the heavenly seascapes. The mainland is packed with amazing national parks that easily rank among the best in Africa, while the islands of Zanzibar archipelago offer tropical paradises of unparalleled magnitude.
Tanzania is duly noted for both the sheer number of wildlife present throughout the country and for the variety it has to offer. There are more than 4 million wild animals in Tanzania that represent 430 different species and subspecies. Tanzania packs a huge wildlife punch that leaves you wanting more.
Tanzanian souvenirs range from exquisite local paintings to intricate and colorful Maasai beadwork. Wood carvings and masks are popular souvenirs to purchase and Zanzibari spices. Tanzanite is also a beautiful gemstone found only in Tanzania. You can buy jewelry adorned with its intriguing purple color. I bought myself a handmade Ankara dress from a local village elder. I highly recommend visiting villages and communities and purchasing directly from the locals. This way, you contribute to boosting the community cooperatives and the local Maasai economy.
Happy Travels 🙂
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