The Magical
Island of spices…
The name Zanzibar means "Land of Blacks"
and originates from the Arabic words "Zinj" meaning black
and "barr" meaning land. Lying off the coast of Tanzania
in the Indian Ocean about 72km north from Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar
(Unguja) is the undiscovered jewel on the African Coast. Zanzibar
is 85km long, 40km wide and 1464 square kilometres. With its mix
of unspoilt beaches, aquamarine, warm seas, incredible culture and
fascinating history; it is definitely not a place to be missed.
The majority of people inhabit Stone Town (which is the "capital"
of Zanzibar). Many of the rural people prefer the fertile Northern
section of the island, whilst the East Coast has coral rag, and
provides the most spectacular beaches and holiday destinations.
Weather & Climate
Zanzibar is a few degrees south of the equator and enjoys a tropical
climate that is largely dominated by the Indian Ocean monsoons.
Average temperature in the summer months is 27ºC and in the
winter months is 24ºC. It is very humid all year round, particularly
in the summer monsoon rain period. April and May experience the
highest rainfall and from July to August the lowest. The island
is blessed with an average of seven to eight hours of sunshine daily.
Health precautions
Zanzibar is a malaria area, as are most tropical destinations in
the world, and you should take advice from your doctor at home regarding
what malaria tablets to take.
Visitors heading off to Tanzania are no longer required to provide
mandatory certification for yellow fever before entry into the country.
However, when you return to South Africa, Customs will ask you for
your Yellow Fever Certificate at international arrivals. Please
contact your nearest Travel Clinic for the latest requirements.
Food
Lobsters, kingfish, prawns, octopus, crabs and squid are just a
few of the many types of seafood on offer. It is not surprising
that Zanzibar's specialties are centred around what is available
locally, so take full advantage of the variety of spicy seafood
dishes on offer. Coconut also features in many dishes and you can
drink the coconut juice directly from the fruit anytime and anywhere.
Drink bottled or boiled and filtered water for your safety.
The local food is mainly based on rice mixed with fish, meat, chicken
and vegetables.
Fruits are often served to be eaten at the same time.
Money
The local currency is the Tanzanian Shilling (Tsh). It is not available
internationally, so visitors are advised to bring a sensible mix
of hard currency traveller's cheques and cash. US Dollars
are recommended for the best rates of exchange and are also the
preferred currency. You can use credit cards at larger establishments-Visa and Master Card are the most widely accepted.
Communications
There are many Internet cafes in Stone Town and at some of the hotels
and resorts. MTN and Vodacom both offer roaming facilities on Zanzibar.
Electricity
This is the same as the UK and in South Africa, being 220/230 V.
You will have to buy flat 3 pin plugs should you wish to use any
electrical appliances.
Getting around
Taxis and minibuses are available from good tour operators and can
also be found at most major arrival points and around town. The
Zanzibar version of transport is called Dala-dala's - they are pickup-type
vehicles with a roof, and will take you to certain points along
a certain route.
Crime
As with all countries, Zanzibar is not free of crime, however we
find it one of the safest African countries to travel to.
People, Religion and Language
Zanzibar's local people are an incredible mixture of ethic
backgrounds, indicative of her colourful history. Islam is the dominant
religion, practised by most Zanzibaris, although there are also
followers of Christianity and Hinduism. Swahili is the most widely
spoken language on the island and is the official language of Tanzania.
English is spoken by most of the islanders.
Economy
Fishing and agriculture are the main economic activities of the
local people. Zanzibar was once the world's largest producer
of cloves, and her economy was based on large incomes. Although
cloves are still a major export along with coconut products and
spices, tourism has been earmarked as the primary foreign exchange
earner with more visitors to Zanzibar each year.
Wildlife
There are no large wild animals in Zanzibar, and forest areas such
as Jozani are inhabited by monkeys, bush-pigs and small antelopes.
Civets-and, rumour has it, the elusive Zanzibar leopard!
Various species of mongoose can also be found on the island. There
is a wide variety of bird life, and a large number of butterflies
in rural areas. The coral reefs that surround the East Coast are
rich in marine diversity, and make Zanzibar an ideal location for
snorkelling and scuba diving.
Photography
Ask permission first before taking photographs of people. No military
installations may be photographed and there are normally signs indicating
the same in these areas.
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