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Zanzibar Map

Zanzibar Map

Weather Zanzibar

09.09.2010
fair
29°C
Sunrise 06:06:00
Sunset 18:01:00

Newest Packages

Zanzibar

Zanzibar, or ‘Unguja’, the Spice island, has a history dating back to the 1st century AD, when Greek and Roman ships sailed down the east coast of Africa. Centuries later saw a succession of Arab, Persian, Portuguese and African traders all searching for ivory, tortoiseshell, ebony, coconuts, fruit, timber and of course slave trade.

Unguja consists of two islands: Zanzibar itself and Pemba. Zanzibar is roughly 85km long and 30km wide. To the north lies the island of Pemba. Although not too far from each other they have different climates and vegetation. Unlike most other Indian Ocean Islands, the monsoon season starts in early March until the end of May and then again in November. For the remainder of the year hot sunny temperatures are the norm, ranging from 26o - 28oC (80o - 83oF). Pemba is slightly cooler and receives more rainfall.

Both islands boast world-class beaches, opal coloured seas and a choice of luxury and budget hotels to suit all tastes. World famous for diving and snorkelling these seas offer unspoilt coral reefs with a variety of marine life including whales, dolphins, dugongs and big game fish. The beaches in Zanzibar are tidal and swimming is only possible at high tide. The islands are easily accessible, either by air or ferry.

The capital Stone Town is a bustling harbour town with much to offer, including fine restaurants serving local, Asian, Arabic, European and Western cuisine. Take a stroll down the main streets where vendors ply their wares above the noise of the traffic, music carts and bustling public — a colourful experience not to be missed. Leaving Stone Town and heading north, south or east, life is slower in the rural areas.

Zanzibar Top Attractions

  • Stone Town: Visit the market along Creek Road, House of Wonders, Livingstone House, Palace Museum, Old Customs House, the Arab Fort, Saint Joseph’s Catholic Cathedral and the Hamamni Baths.
  • Slave Route: Over 15 000 slaves were exported annually from Zanzibar. Visit the Dhow Harbour, the Anglican Church and Mbweni Ruins, where you will find the slave chambers at Mangapwani. Walk through the caves, which stored hundreds of slaves waiting for the monsoons and the arrival of the dhows to be exiled away from home.
  • Chumbe Island Coral Park: 10km south of Stone Town, the park has a protected reef, 350 species of fish including turtles, sharks and dolphins, 60 species of birds, and the famous Coconut Crab.
  • Jozani Forest: Wear good walking shoes, see the rare Red Colobus monkeys and hear the tales of leopards and  medicinal cures.
  • Yoga Zanzibar: Experience the bliss of yoga on a pristine white sandbank. Private yoga tuition at your hotel offered on request.
  • We offer experiences ranging from cooking lessons in the spice gardens, dhow safaris, sandbank picnics and photo shoots, filming and advertising campaigns..

Zanzibar Travel Tips

  • Getting there: 1Time Airline has direct flights from Johannesburg to Zanzibar (twice weekly), South African Airways fly to Dar es Salaam regularly. Daily charters to from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar, Mafia and Pemba.
  • Visas: All visitors need visas. Travellers are advised to obtain these in advance although they can be issued on arrival for last minute bookings.
  • Currency: Tanzanian Shilling (TZS). Euro and US$ cash are widely accepted. All hotel payments must be in foreign exchange. Many hotels will add a surcharge for credit card and Traveller's cheque payments. Please note that only Visa and Master Card are accepted.
  • Health: Yellow fever certificate is compulsory. There is also a Malaria risk, so prophylactics are a necessity. It is not advisable to drink tap water. Bottled water is sold everywhere.
  • Language: Kiswahili is the official language. English is widely spoken and Italian is understood.
  • Climate: Tropical, dominated by the Indian Ocean monsoons. The Kaskazi winds from the north bring the short rains in November and December. The long rains known as Mwaka, arrive in April and last until late May. January-March is hot and dry with little rainfall. July-October are ideal months to visit (average temperatures of 25 Degrees Celcius).
  • Clothing: Women should cover their shoulders, knees and midriff. Please take diving booties or plastic beach shoes to the coast to protect your feet from sea urchins. Topless bathing is illegal.
  • Photography: Government buildings, airports or military institutions may not be photographed. If you want to photograph people ask first.
  • Customs allowance: 1 bottle of wine or spirits, 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco.
  • Luggage allowance: 20kgs and one item of hand luggage. Airlines will not accept luggage over 32kg or 900mm x 720mm x 450mm. Plastic wrap your baggage, especially if departing from OR Tambo.
  • Charter flights: Strict baggage allowance of 15kgs for checked in baggage (soft bags only) and one small item of hand luggage (5kg). Anything above these weights will not be allowed.
  • Time zone: GMT + 3 hours.
  • Power Supply: 230v, 3 prong square or 3-pin round triangular plugs.
  • Read on: Zanzibar: The Bradt Travel Guide by Chris McIntyre.

Terms and Conditions

These terms and conditions will apply to your holiday and the arrangements which you make. Please read them carefully as you will be bound by them.

By making a booking, the client confirms that all of the people named in the booking made by him/her have read these conditions, and have agreed to be bound by them and all the other terms of the contract, and that he/she has the authority to accept these terms and conditions on their behalf.

1.    Regardless of the place of execution, performance or domicile of the parties, this contract, together with all modifications and amendments, shall be governed by, construed under and in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Africa.

2.    All packages and tours are sold subject to our standard terms and conditions. Reservations must be signed on a booking form. If the services of a courier are employed during this process, the costs shall be borne by the client.

3.    A 20% deposit is payable on confirmation, unless otherwise stated on the booking form. The balance must be paid 6 weeks prior to your departure. No contract is made between the client and Unusual Destinations until the deposit or, where required, the full price has been paid, whether or not a booking confirmation has been issued by Unusual Destinations or one of its agents. Failure by the client to pay any sum by due date shall entitle Unusual Destinations to cancel the booking, and to charge a cancellation fee as set out below (see point 17 below).

4.    Quotations are based on the exchange rates valid at the time that they are sent to the client. Unusual Destinations reserves the right to increase any prices where currency fluctuations occur, until such time as they have been paid in full. It is the client’s responsibility to check on possible price increases prior to full payment. Airfares are subject to prices quoted by airlines, and Unusual Destinations can therefore not accept responsibility for unexpected fare increases.

5.    It is the clients’ responsibility to obtain travel documents including a valid passport and air tickets. It is also the clients’ responsibility to contact the airlines at least 72 hours prior to departure to reconfirm all flights. All clients who, at the time of departure, are under the age of 18 years, must be accompanied by a client aged 21 or over who will at all times during the tour or trip be responsible for their welfare, conduct and behaviour. Clients are expected at all times to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner with due regard to the health, safety, comfort, enjoyment and general well- being of all the other people who may be on the tour or trip, or other people who may be staying in the relevant hotels. If it appears that the client’s conduct or behaviour is such as to be a breach of this requirement, or is likely to endanger the client’s own health or safety, or that of others, or where their actions or conduct impedes the operation of the trip, then Unusual Destinations reserves the right to refuse the further participation of any such client. No refund will be considered in respect of any client whose participation in the trip is terminated for these reasons. Further, where the client is repatriated pursuant to this clause at Unusual Destinations’ expense, or where Unusual Destinations is put to any additional expense as a result of the client’s conduct, then Unusual Destinations shall have the right to recover such costs upon demand. Under no circumstances, at any time, shall Unusual Destinations have any liability for the denial of boarding or expulsion from an aeroplane by any airline contracted in terms of this contract, such denial being at the sole discretion of the airline concerned.

6.    While Unusual Destinations will do its best not to cancel or make any material alteration to the itinerary after a booking confirmation has been issued, it shall nonetheless be entitled at any time prior to departure to cancel the contract between the parties, or to change and/or curtail the scheduled itinerary where this becomes reasonably necessary on operational, commercial or other grounds. Unusual Destinations will however inform the client of any such cancellation or change of itinerary as soon as possible. Where such a change of itinerary amounts to a material alteration, the client shall be entitled to cancel the booking within 3 days of being advised of the itinerary change without any cancellation fee being applicable.

7.    Although Unusual Destinations attempts to make all itineraries as accurate as possible at the time of printing, they are to be considered an approximate indication of the schedule and scope of the tour rather than an inflexible chronicle of events. The itinerary may be subject to change due to circumstances beyond the control of Unusual Destinations, whether as a result of weather, government restrictions, transportation problems, road conditions, acts of God, terrorist threats, natural disasters, fires or other circumstances. Unusual Destinations however undertakes to do its best to maintain the itinerary, and will not unreasonably change it. However any such changes shall not constitute a material alteration of the contract, and Unusual Destinations shall in consequence have no liability to the client in respect thereof.

8.    Unusual Destinations will not be responsible for any additional costs occasioned by changes in the itinerary or flight schedules, such as additional flights, hotel nights or meals not included in the scheduled itinerary. Payment for such additional services will be required at the time when the amended itinerary is provided to the client. Further, any expenses incurred owing to unexpected extensions to packages, trips or tours caused by flight delays, bad weather, strikes or any other reason beyond Unusual Destinations’ control will be paid by the client upon demand.

9.    Where the client is making a booking with a tour, the rates quoted are based upon group participation, and no partial refunds will be given for unused trip arrangements or sightseeing tours for any reason whatsoever.

10.    Unusual Destinations, in order to provide the tour as set out in the brochure, group/individual tour or individual package, quotation and/or booking, is obliged to make arrangements with local operators who may themselves engage the services of local suppliers. Unusual Destinations endeavours at all times to appoint reputable and competent local operators to comply with the requirements and standards expected by the client. However, although these local operators are appointed by Unusual Destinations, they are acting as an agent on behalf of the client directly, and a direct contract is therefore entered into between the client and the local operator or service provider, and the terms and conditions of the local operator, whether or not contained in this brochure, will apply to arrangements made by them. Unusual Destinations makes the travel arrangements on behalf of the client on the express condition that it is not liable for any inconvenience, irregularity or expense occasioned by the failure of the local operator to comply with the itinerary provided, whether in relation to travel arrangements, airline scheduling, airline changes, cancelled flights, missed flight connections or any other factor not directly under Unusual Destinations’ control. In the event however that Unusual Destinations is, in spite of the provisions of this clause, found to be liable to the client, then its liability will be limited to the sum paid by the client in respect of the travel arrangement(s) in question.

11.    As Unusual Destinations acts only as an agent for local operators, it accepts no liability for any loss or damages which clients may suffer as a result of the failure by such local operators to fulfil their obligations whether in relation to travel flights, land arrangements, accommodation or otherwise. These local operators are independent suppliers who are not affiliated with Unusual Destinations in any way. Further, Unusual Destinations shall not be liable for any loss, damage, delay, accident or inconvenience caused to any person, their property or luggage under any circumstances.

12.    Unusual Destinations will not be liable for bodily injury to, or death of any client, or damage to their property occasioned through the conduct or default of any company or local operator or individual engaged in providing these services or for any reason, including, but not limited to, acts of God, quarantine, strikes, industrial action, medical emergencies, civil disturbances, theft, detention, annoyance, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, closure of ports, changes in government regulations, terrorism, war, medical emergencies or failure of the conveyance to depart or arrive as scheduled.

13.    Unusual Destinations does not provide medical services during the trip or tour. However, wherever possible, Unusual Destinations will offer general assistance to any client who suffers illness, personal injury or death, whether or not arising from an activity forming part of the trip or tour, and whether or not the result of fault by any party.

14.    Clients should bring with an ample supply of any prescription medicines required, and a first aid kit.

15.    Any cost or expense which is reasonably incurred by Unusual Destinations for or on behalf of the client in respect of any form of medical, dental or similar treatment, hotel, transportation, repatriation, or any other expenses of whatever nature, shall be repayable by the client to Unusual Destinations on demand, whether or not such sum is covered by the client’s travel insurance.

16.    Travel insurance (medical and personal accident) is compulsory. However, clients are strongly recommended to take out insurance to cover the loss of their luggage, and the deposit or part of the tour fee through cancellation.

17.    Any changes and/or cancellations will incur penalties; in many cases air tickets are totally non-refundable. All cancellations have to be in writing. Unless otherwise stipulated, the following fees shall be charged by Unusual Destinations if a client cancels a reservation:

More than 6 weeks prior to departure:
10% of price

4 – 6 weeks prior to departure:
50% of price

2 – 4 weeks prior to departure:

75% of price

Less than 2 weeks prior to departure:

100% of price

18.    These terms and conditions, together with any other clauses set out on the application form, defines the responsibility of Unusual Destinations with respect to all of the trips/tours/arrangements made by them. Further, Unusual Destinations shall not be liable for the failure of performance or improper performance which is wholly attributable to any or all of the following:
    
a)    The fault of the client;

b)    The unforeseeable or unavoidable act of a third party unconnected with the provision of any services to be provided under this contract;

c)    Unusual or unforeseeable circumstances beyond the control of Unusual Destinations, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all due care was exercised;

d)    Any event which Unusual Destinations could not even with all due care have foreseen or avoided, including (but not limited to) an event or force major. Unusual Destinations further confirms that the carriage of passengers and their luggage by air is governed by various international conventions and the client shall be bound by the rules, regulations and conditions of contract laid down by any carrier upon which he / she may travel as a result of the reservations made, and Unusual Destinations shall be free from any liability in consequence thereof.

Zanzibar

Zanzibar known as “Spice Island” is approximately 85 km long and 30 km wide. Like most other Indian Ocean Islands, the monsoon season begins in early March and lasts until the end of May but for the rest of the year hot sunny temperatures are the norm, ranging from 26 – 28 C (80 – 83F).

Perfect white beaches encompass the island and there are many hotels to suit all types of travellers ranging from exclusive villas to back packing accommodation. The luxury hotels now offer health spas.

Zanzibar has many excursions for travellers such as swimming with the dolphins, Jozani Forest (for Colobus Monkeys), Spice tours, Dhow cruises, hire motorbikes, snorkelling, diving, deep sea fishing.

Link to Zanzibar packages.

Stone Town

Walking around Stone Town, you can see the impact of the different cultures on the buildings around you and the faces of the inhabitants. Coral and stone houses boast imposing Zanzibar doors, with their brass studs to defend against charging elephants, carved with script from the Qu’ran. Indian houses have courtyards behind the shop fronts and intricately carved balconies. Arab houses are characterised by their white washed walls, flat terraces and small windows to preserve the modesty of the women. The roof top walkways from house to house have been destroyed, so these days the women walk the streets, covered in diaphanous buibuis. Men sit on the barazas, the stone ledges outside the house, playing games, talking and greet visitors, much in the way they did a century ago.

Link to Stone Town hotels.

Pemba Island

Pemba is a treasure trove of marine life, better suited to experienced divers due to strong currents, making most dives drift dives. Pemba’s corals are pristine.

Misali Island, once a hideout of Captain Kidd is now a marine conservation area, rich in biodiversity, with over 40 different species of coral, 350 different species of fish and 5 different species of sea turtles.

Out on the reefs, black snappers school around Coral Mountain, eagle rays and manta rays glide through the water with deadly grace, while lobsters and octopus peer out at inquisitive divers from coral shelves. Green turtles perch on cabbage coral and hammerhead sharks occur.

Link to Pemba packages.

Mafia Island

Mafia Island became Tanzania’s first Marine Park in 1995 and the diving is here astonishingly beautiful. Most of Mafia’s best dives are at depths of less than 30 metres, making it accessible to less experienced divers. There’s over 400 different species of fish, with more to be identified. Kinasi Pass and the Pinnacle are a must if you come to Tanzania to dive, giant silvery barracuda swarm, shoals of reef fish populate the coral like colourful confetti, huge moray eels lie in wait to ambush prey and rays soar through the water. Between November and March, there’s the annual whale shark migration, giving divers and snorkellers a chance to see the world’s largest fish up close and personal. They can live to up to 100 years, growing up to 13 metres long and weighing up to 13 tonnes, it’s a test of nerves to come face to face with these huge creatures.

Link to Mafia Island packages.

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