Zanzibar

STONE TOWN TOUR

Stone Town is a lively place where you’ll find a mixture of Arabic, African, Indian, and European cultures living harmoniously. As you walk the labyrinth of streets too narrow for cars to pass, you’ll see mosques, churches, and temples side-by-side. On this tour of the city, your guide will take you on a historical and cultural journey, from the old slave market to Darajani marketplace, the House of Wonders, the Old Fort, and the Sultan’s Palace. Stop for lunch in a restaurant or local home (if arranged beforehand). While this tour is only half a day, we recommend staying in Stone Town for at least two days to discover its many other magnificent wonders. Forodhani Gardens is definitely worth a visit, especially at night when it comes alive as one of the best street food markets in East Africa.  

SPICE TOUR

Spices and herbs were originally introduced to Zanzibar by Portuguese traders in the 16th century, brought from their colonies in South America and India. Your tour starts with a walk through a local spice farm (shamba). There, you’ll learn how spices, herbs, and fruits are grown and cultivated. Your guide will explain how these crops are used in our cuisine. You’ll get to smell and sample spices such as clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, turmeric, vanilla, cardamom, chili, and black pepper; herbs such as lemongrass; and tropical produce such as coconut, papaya, jackfruit, cassava, and oranges. You’ll also enjoy a traditional Swahili lunch at the farm, where you can really taste the different ways of using spices and how they come together in our traditional cooking. Your tour finishes with a stop at a local spice stand selling fresh packaged spices for you to take home with you (cash only).      

JOZANI FOREST TOUR

One of the main attractions of Jozani Forest is its

abundant population of kirks and red colobus monkeys (“kima punju” in Swahili). These are endemic to Zanzibar and strictly protected today. About 10 years ago, these monkeys were in danger of extinction, but this trend has since reversed due to a conservation project that protects their lives. There are now about 6,000 red colobus monkeys residing in Jozani Forest. After visiting the monkeys, we’ll walk across to the Pete-Jozani Mangrove Boardwalk, which entwines through coral thicket vegetation, a mangrove forest, and across a creek. You’ll learn why the forest is crucial to Zanzibar’s ecosystems — providing habitat for lizards, snakes, and birdlife, as well as preventing coastal erosion.

PRISON ISLAND

The prison that this island is named after — which is now owned by a hotel — was built in 1893 and was originally intended to house violent prisoners from the mainland, as well as people sick with yellow fever. The island is also home to a tortoise sanctuary, which contains a large colony of giant tortoises imported from Seychelles in the late 19th century. You’ll visit the sanctuary and learn about efforts to protect them. The average weight of these creatures is 200 kg, and many of them are said to be over 150 years old. You’ll have a chance to touch them and take photos. The island is also home to a colony of beautiful peacocks. For the rest of the trip, you can either enjoy the marine life as you snorkel around the coral that fringes Prison Island or just relax under the warm glow of the sun until we head back to Stone Town.  

ZANZIBAR SUNSET CRUISE

Our Sunset Cruise takes place on a traditional wooden dhow boat, which offers a unique and relaxing way to explore the coastline and watch the sunset. Expect to see beautiful beaches, crystal-clear waters, and a variety of marine life. Your cruise will last for about two hours and is a great way to end a day of sightseeing or beach relaxation. This beautiful experience will be accompanied by live music performed by local artists from Stone Town. Enjoy the music, amazing views, complimentary snacks, and the most stunning sunset you’ve ever seen in your life!