ABOUT ZANZIBAR HOLIDAYS

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In Zanzibar, there is a wide range of excursions: day and half-day trips include a visit to a spice plantation, the Jozani Forest National Park, the mangroves of Mungooni and Uzi, beach resorts such as Nungwi, Paje, and Jambiani, a “Safari Blue”, sailing through the Menai Bay Conservation Area, Prison Island, the Island Chumbe Coral Park and a city tour of Stone Town, where there are lots of interesting souvenir shops, bars, cafes, regular concerts and even a handful of “clubs” and events.

In your spare time, you can also take music and dance lessons, yoga classes, and interesting workshops by the Cultural Arts Centres participants in Zanzibar.

Many participants also travel to the mainland of Tanzania to do a safari or to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. You use our accommodation Moshi, Kilimanjaro at affordable prices to stay as a base for activities in northern Tanzania.

Nungwi

Nungwi is a village on the northern tip of Zanzibar and one of the places where beach tourism began, about 20 years ago. The difference between low tide and high tide here is the lowest of all Zanzibar, which makes the beaches of Nungwi and Kendwa especially popular with tourists. There are luxury hotel facilities and small, local backpacker accommodations, and especially during the season, tourist “Nightlife” with several bars along the beach. There are also several diving and water sports centers. The turtle conservation station at the lighthouse is a popular tourist attraction. The snorkeling and sunset cruises on a dhow, the traditional sailing ships of the Indian Ocean, which are built-in Nungwi on the beach, are also popular. Since especially during the season many tourists walk through the village, many residents of Nungwi try to benefit from it through small shops for tourists, selling products, and offering their services for tours.

Muungoni

Muungoni is a village in the south of the island, where there is no tourism except for the few visitors to the “Zanzibar Land Animal Park” by teacher Mohammed; this is probably because this is away from white sandy beaches and large mangrove areas of the coast. Most residents of Muungoni are fishermen or farmers and little has changed in their lives over the past hundreds of years. Here, you can still get to know a part of the original rural Zanzibar.

By being accommodated in the village, you are in the middle of their living and will be warmly integrated into the village society. The mangrove areas are the largest of Zanzibar and part of the Jozani Forest Chwaka Bay National Park; they are of priceless ecological value.

The village lies on the road connecting the capital, Zanzibar Town, and the tourist beaches of the southeast coast (Paje, Jambiani, Michamvi) and the West Coast (Kizimkazi). Due to the excellent connection by the public transport system of Zanzibar, the area is 40 minutes by Daladala from the city and 25 minutes to Paje.

Zanzibar with pristine beaches, turquoise waters, and white sands. It certainly feels like a little slice of paradise. Whether you’re looking to relax by the beach, discover the history, or explore the country, Zanzibar has so much to offer.

  • An epic and diverse trip
  • A combination of some busy and some very relaxed days
  • A well-rounded visit that includes a bit of history, sightseeing, and of course….LOTS of beaches
  • Exploring different areas of the island Endless amazing memories

Things to Know Before You Travel to Zanzibar.

Safety – Zanzibar is extremely safe for tourists. The country’s economy relies heavily on tourism and you will generally be treated very well.

Clothing – Although a majority Mulsim country, there is no particular need to dress modestly unless you are visiting a mosque or a very not touristic town. The locals are very accustomed to tourists and they do not take offense to non-modest dress.

Getting Around – The easiest and most convenient way to get around the country is by taxi. Public transportation is nearly impossible to figure out unless you’re a local.

Costs – Zanzibar is overall a relatively expensive destination. Hotel costs and food prices at nontraditional restaurants are similarly priced to most western European countries.

Visa – Most countries require a visa to visit Zanzibar.

Days 1-3 Stone Town (2 nights)

The first stop is Stone Town, the capital city of Zanzibar. Whether you’re arriving by airplane or by ferry (from the mainland Tanzania), you’ll still be entering through Stone Town. The airport itself is just about a 20 minutes drive from the center of Stone Town making this the perfect place to spend the first couple of days.

Also colloquially known as Zanzibar City, Stone Town is beautiful, full of history, and bursting with fun things to do. Countless yummy cafes and restaurants with lovely sunset views. A day trip to the infamous Prison Island or the pristine Nakupenda Island. The port, the tragic history of the slave trade, the spice market, it’s the main hub of the island.

The major downside of Stone Town is the beaches. Although they are swimmable, they are not the pristine white sand and turquoise water beaches that you picture of Zanzibar, which is why we would only recommend staying two nights in the city. Leaving just enough time to explore everything the city has to offer, but also adventure to the rest of the island.

Where to Stay in Stone Town

Being the main city of Zanzibar, Stone Town certainly has no shortage of lovely, beachfront hotels with stunning views.

Days 3-6 Ras Nungwi (3 nights).

After a few days exploring Stone Town, head on over to the north coast’s Nungwi Beach. Famous for its idyllic crystal clear waters, white sands, and honeymoon accommodations, this is certainly what you picture when you think of Zanzibar. Always quite busy with tourists, there is no lack of things to do. Water sports, day trips to go snorkeling, endless long walks on the beach, even horseback riding! Nungwi has it all! The nearby Kendwa beach is also lovely and offers a very similar experience.

The price includes:

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

Internet: standard Wi-Fi Internet is available and Ethernet Cable in the room.

Sunset bar Living & Pool Area Offers snacks, Soft drinks, in-house wine, local beer, juices, water, tea and Coffee.

It offers morning and afternoon teas and cool drinks, soft drinks, juices, throughout the day.

Daily activities and sports as per weekly recreational agenda (i.e. water gym, Fitness, Yoga, beach volley, )

Water sports, snorkeling, kayaking, windsurfing.

The price excludes:

Flight tickets, tipping and things of personal requirements.

zanzibar_holidays_safari

Zanzibar’s spices are famous worldwide. The Sultan of Oman built the first spice plantations on the island in 1873; to this day the gardens are filled with exotic spices, fruits, and vegetables.

Many of these plants serve medicinal purposes and are still used by local residents. Rare plants grow here as well, such as lipstick and perfume trees. You will also visit the stucco garnished Kidichi Persian Baths.

You will see the outside of the Livingston House, built in the 1860s by Sultan Majid. The house was used as a European Missionaries and Pioneers Point. Then proceed to the Maruhubi Palace ruins, which were built during 1880-1882, by Sultan Barghash to serve as a Harem for his concubines.

Zanzibar is still the best-kept secret in the Indian Ocean. The Zanzibar archipelago consists of over 50 islands – which vary from tiny outcrops to the larger, more populated islands of Zanzibar and Pemba. The beaches are often stunning: powdery white sand, shaded by palm trees. The sea is shallow, but venture further out into the sparkling, turquoise water and you’ll find coral reefs for great snorkeling and diving.

The larger islands are lush and highly fertile and everywhere the air is suffused with the aroma of fruit and spices; it’s an intoxicating, exotic atmosphere. Zanzibar makes a great relaxing break after a challenging climb of Kilimanjaro.

Let Climb Kili’s local Zanzibar staff take care of all your Zanzibar accommodations, transfers, tours, and adventures.

Beaches

 

Soak up some rays on the white sand beaches or play in the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean. Water sport activities include snorkeling, kayaking, windsurfing, water-skiing, and much more. Zanzibar is home to over 25 beautiful beaches, you’ll even find a few that are secluded and peaceful. Come relax while sunning in one of the world’s most beautiful hidden treasures.

Historical Stone Town Tour – 1/2 day tour

 

Stone town is one of the only historical Swahili coastal trading towns in East Africa still intact. The combination of small shops, bustling markets, Hindu temples, and the diverse population of people meld the beauty of different cultures.

The UNESCO declared Stone Town a World Heritage site in 2000. During our Stone Town tour, you will see many interesting structures including the central market, the former slave market, and Anglican Cathedral.

 Spice Tour – 1/2 day tour

 

You will see the outside of the Livingston House, built in the 1860s by Sultan Majid. The house was used as a European Missionaries and Pioneers Point. Then proceed to the Maruhubi Palace ruins, which were built during 1880-1882, by Sultan Barghash to serve as a Harem for his concubines.

Extensions: Slave Coast Mangapwani

Explore the dark slave caverns on the coral limestone-lined coast of Mangapwani. These ancient structures were used to conceal slaves waiting to be delivered overseas to French Colonies. Lunch will be served nearby on the terraces. After lunch, a couple of hours of entertainment can be enjoyed at the Mangapwani Water Sports Center.

Nungwi Beach

Nungwi is a village boasting a few of Zanzibar’s most breathtaking beaches. On this tour, you will see picture-worthy shores where local woodworkers build wooden dhows, as they have for centuries. Nearby, you will visit the Mnarini Natural Aquarium and feed sea turtles. After this, the rest of the day you are free to enjoy the beach. If you wish, a visit to the Portuguese Ruins can be included in your tour.

Safari Blue – Full-Day Tour

 

This tour allows you to view the intriguing natural environment of the Indian Ocean Bay. You will leave Fumba by dhow, the Kwale Coral Reef is the first stop. Kwale offers a gracious view of coral and colorful fish. Your guide will point out specific marine life and instruct you in snorkeling. The trip then continues to a sandbank to snack, while taking in the view of ocean water. Humpback whales may be spotted feasting on marine life at the ocean’s surface.

The boat will then take you to an island where a feast of grilled fish, chicken, calamari, and lobster will be served with cold soft drinks and beer. Afterward, a tropical fruit tasting of 10-15 varieties will take place, followed by a shot of African Amarula liquor in coffee. You may take part in the island’s other activities, before traveling back to Fumba.

Village Life Excursion – Full Day Tour

This tour lets you see the traditional fishing and farming life, you begin with a visit to a spice plantation. You will see how the crops are farmed and taste fruits and spiced teas. Then, after a visit to the Kidichi Persian Baths, you will continue on to Mchangani, a village untouched by time. You will see how women obtain well water and paint with henna. A villager will teach you how coconut is essential to the locals and show you how it’s prepared.

A local blacksmith will explain making handmade nails before we eat lunch in Nungwi around 1:30 p.m. The restaurant sits on a flawless beach and guests are welcome to enter the water. Before returning home, a visit to the Mnarani Natural Aquarium will finish the trip.

*Donations of school supplies to children are appreciated and encouraged, but not required.

Jozani Forest – ½ Day Tour

The forest is part of Jozani Chwaka Bay, a nature reserve protecting an essential ecosystem. This thick forest is home to the red colobus monkey, an endangered species only found in Zanzibar. A guide will show you these rare primates. The forest itself is a sight to behold, and home to many other animals. You will also enjoy a walk through mangrove forests

Prison Island – ½ Day Tour

You will travel to the island by motorboat, the island was used as a “jail” for disobedient slaves and a jail was built, but never used. Today the island is a tourist attraction and home to giant tortoises. After a brief history lesson, you are free to explore.

humble Island Day (MARINE PARK) Tour

This island is situated 8 miles southwest of Zanzibar Town. It is an uninhabited island dominated by coral rag forest and bordered on its western shore, by a fringing coral reef of exceptional biodiversity and beauty. Based on the initiative of Chumbe Island Coral Park Ltd, a private company created for the management of Chumbe, the island was gazette in 1994 as a protected area by the Government of Zanzibar.

It covers 16 hectares of undisturbed forest and is surrounded by a virgin coral reef, which can be reached in about 45 minutes by boat. The sanctuary has more than 200 pieces of pristine stone corals, about 400 species of fish and turtles & dolphins regularly passing by. A fixed number of people are allowed to go there, which is not more than 14 persons for a day trip and for accommodation is 13 when it’s full. You will do a guided walk in the small forest, snorkel, swim, or just relax.

Tips:

  • Inclusive Lunch
  • No advance booking for a day trip to be confirmed, it depends on guests’ occupancy of the lodge, the booking stands on a provisional basis and will be confirmed a week before

Dolphin tour

The main attraction is swimming with the Dolphins. Being very social themselves, if you are lucky you even get to play with them. Situated on the southern point of the island, Kizimkazi fishing village is home to several schools of bottle-nosed dolphins and Humpback dolphins, which are sighted following a short boat trip from the village.

We advise clients to wear their swimming attire. We also advise wearing waterproof sandals for boarding the dhows and bringing sunscreen, a towel, and a spare T-shirt for snorkeling.

  • The above information is for Half day Dolphin tour which doesn‘t include a sandbank trip for lunch. Full day dolphin trip includes a boat ride to sand back for lunch and leisure till late

Sandbank Picnic

(Daily Trips Pend on Natural Conditions)

*This is a guided tour, dhows and lunch will be shared, transfers to and from the hotel will be private.*

From the hotel we set sail by dhow toward Prison Island to view prison ruins and giant tortoises, followed by snorkeling the coral reef with a teacher. Then, we travel to a sandbank inhabited by varieties of birdlife, to view more coral, observe the birds and hear stories, before a slow sail back to Stone Town.

Sunset Dhow Cruise

Enjoy a relaxing sunset cruise through the ocean water complete with a personal guide, musicians, a feast of Swahili Cuisine, white wine, cold local beer, as well as juices and cocktails.

Serving white wine, cold local beer, fresh juices, and cocktails to cheer your delicate palate you’ll also enjoy a tasting of Italian cheese with homemade jam, prawns, fried calamari, crispy cassava, and other delicacies of Swahili cuisine. What better way to end your trip to Africa?

Departure 4:45 pm to Sunset.

Tips: This is a guided trip, clients will share a dhow, but private transfers to and from Hotel, we intend to make our clients more comfortable Live music will be provided with 6 people are on board.

Sunset Cruise special Honeymoon

There is nothing more romantic than sailing away together into a golden sunset in our traditional Swahili dhow, this is a special organization just for two, ensuring your Honeymoon vacation is the magical, memorable, and heart-warming experience that it should be.

Aboard our dhow with Latin sails that glides silently along the stone town coast of Zanzibar under a starry and moonlit sky, we are giving you a wonderful honeymoon treat offering an intriguing different view of this amazing Island, enjoying the scenery by evening with its soft silent wind which is truly mesmerizing.

We also entertain you with special welcoming services, snacks, wine, beer, sparkling wine, soft drinks and traditional live music, just to make memorable your special date.

Sunset Cruise & Dinner

We have the great pleasure to offer you a sensational “Sunset cruise & dinner” with our traditional dhow; it has all the facilities to guarantee you an extraordinary experience that you can’t miss.

Imagine yourself having dinner in a traditional dhow enjoying the view of Stone Town, sipping your choice of drink, and being entertained by a mix of traditional Swahili and classic international music.

You will enjoy the view of the Old fort Ngome Kongwe, the house of wonder Beit-l-Jaib, Palace museum which housed daughter & wives of Sultan, the Malindi Zanzibar old port, passing near mangrove to Maruhubi Palace ruin where the Sultan kept his concubines, lastly you will arrive at Mtoni ruins where famous Princess Salme was born.

Scuba Diving

Zanzibar is world-famous for its crystal clear diving.  Tropical fish are abundant in shallow waters and experienced divers can enjoy night dives, wall dives, and drift dives.  In deep waters, you will find large game fish (barracuda, tuna, kingfish, and wahoo) manta rays, sharks, and a large garden of coral that goes on for miles.  There are several dive companies available.

Depart from the town hotel in the morning. After a 45 minute drive through coconut palms, we arrive at Jozani Forest, the last remaining patch of ancient forest on the Island. The forest harbors a wide cross-section of exotic trees and palms, and most importantly it is the habitat of the Red Colobus Monkey, a sub-species of the Colobus that can only be found on Zanzibar. We take a walk in the forest to see these distinctive monkeys, who are not shy. Our guide explains more about the forestand its eco-system and, after a small break for refreshments, we continue on towards the East Coast of Zanzibar.

Arriving on the East Coast we pass by Paje, a small and very picturesque fishing village, where all the local houses are made from white sand and coral stone. We continue along the coast to Jambiani, a village situated on a beautiful, mile long white beach. Here we have our picnic lunch, swim and relax in the afternoon. Small local boats are available for rent carrying you to the reef for swimming at low tide. We return to town before sunset.

Dolphin tour

The main attraction is swimming with the Dolphins. Being very social themselves, if you are lucky you even get to play with them. Situated on the southern point of the island, Kizimkazi fishing village is home to several schools of bottle-nosed dolphins and Humpback dolphins, which are sighted following a short boat trip from the village.

We advise clients to wear their swimming attire. We also advise wearing waterproof sandals for boarding the dhows and bringing sunscreen, a towel, and a spare T-shirt for snorkeling.

  • The above information is for Half day Dolphin tour which doesn‘t include a sandbank trip for lunch. Full day dolphin trip includes a boat ride to sand back for lunch and leisure till late

Sandbank Picnic

(Daily Trips Pend on Natural Conditions)

*This is a guided tour, dhows and lunch will be shared, transfers to and from the hotel will be private.*

From the hotel, we set sail by dhow toward Prison Island to view prison ruins and giant tortoises, followed by snorkeling the coral reef with a teacher. Then, we travel to a sandbank inhabited by varieties of birdlife, to view more coral, observe the birds and hear stories, before a slow sail back to Stone Town.

Sunset Dhow Cruise

Enjoy a relaxing sunset cruise through the ocean water complete with a personal guide, musicians, a feast of Swahili Cuisine, white wine, cold local beer, as well as juices and cocktails.

Serving white wine, cold local beer, fresh juices and cocktails to cheer your delicate palate you’ll also enjoy a tasting of Italian cheese with homemade jam, prawns, fried calamari, crispy cassava, and other delicacies of Swahili cuisine. What better way to end your trip to Africa?

Departure 4:45 pm to Sunset.

Tips: This is a guided trip, clients will share a dhow, but private transfers to and from Hotel, we intend to make our clients more comfortable Live music will be provided with 6 people are on board.

Sunset Cruise special Honeymoon

There is nothing more romantic than sailing away together into a golden sunset in our traditional Swahili dhow, this is a special organization just for two, ensuring your Honeymoon vacation is the magical, memorable, and heart-warming experience that it should be.

Aboard our dhow with Latin sails that glides silently along the stone town coast of Zanzibar under the starry and moonlit sky, we are giving you a wonderful honeymoon treat offering an intriguingly different view of this amazing Island, enjoying the scenery by evening with its soft silent wind which is truly mesmerizing.

We also entertain you with special welcoming services, snacks, wine, beer, sparkling wine, soft drinks, and traditional live music, just to make memorable your special date.

Sunset Cruise & Dinner

We have the great pleasure to offer you a sensational “Sunset cruise & dinner” with our traditional dhow; it has all the facilities to guarantee you an extraordinary experience that you can’t miss.

Imagine yourself having dinner in a traditional dhow enjoying the view of Stone Town, sipping your choice of drink and being entertained by a mix of traditional Swahili and classic international music.

You will enjoy the view of the Old fort Ngome Kongwe, the house of wonder Beit-l-Jaib, Palace museum which housed daughter & wives of Sultan, the Malindi Zanzibar old port, passing near mangrove to Maruhubi Palace ruin where the Sultan kept his concubines, lastly you will arrive at Mtoni ruins where famous Princess Salme was born.

Scuba Diving

Zanzibar is world-famous for its crystal clear diving.  Tropical fish are abundant in shallow waters and experienced divers can enjoy night dives, wall dives, and drift dives.  In deep waters, you will find large game fish (barracuda, tuna, kingfish, and wahoo) manta rays, sharks, and a large garden of coral that goes on for miles.  There are several dive companies available.

Day 1 –

A SPICY BEGINNING FOR OUR TOUR…

Although Zanzibar’s agricultural reputation is based principally on the production of cloves, the islands also produce a prodigious variety of spices, both for domestic consumption and to a limited extent for export. In centuries gone by, spices were big business and one of the main reasons for the pioneering of world trade. In the times before modern refrigeration, foodstuffs such as meat and fish which could not be eaten fresh were stored sun-dried, oven-dried or salted. Spices greatly improved the flavor of these cured goods and were much in demand in the Middle East and Europe, commanding very high prices.

Almost all of the spices that we know today originate from the East Indies and Southern China and for many centuries it was the merchants who plied their trade on the Silk Road from China, across Asia to Europe who monopolized this trade. Then, in the early 18th century, along with cloves, spices were brought to Zanzibar by the Arabs in an attempt to start production and thus eliminate the Far Eastern monopoly. Although most of the new crops adapted well to Zanzibar’s tropical climate, the other spices never flourished in quite the same way as the clove industry, but instead remained a low-key affair, supplying ingredients for local consumption and for limited trade in the Indian Ocean.

Spice farms on Zanzibar are not generally commercial growing operations, with single species cultivation, but are more like gardens, with trees, shrubs and grasses all grown together in the shade of mango and jackfruit trees. It can be quite surprising to see the range of different plants from which spices are obtained an the different methods by which they are extracted…

08:00 hrs: Departure from Stone Town by Minibus
We will visit a Spice Farm and do a Spice Tour there, in order to become Acquainted with the way different spices grow and what they are used for.

10:30 hrs: After having gathered some spices on the Spice Farm, learned about their use, tasted some tea and fruit, we depart for Uroa by minibus

12:00 hrs: Arrival and welcome at Hotel in Uroa. After a short refreshment break and depositing our luggage we will take a guided tour to enter Uroa Village.

13:00 hrs: On the way to the fish auction we will visit a typical village house A young man will receive the clients with Zanzibari coffee (Kahawa) in a typical Zanzibari jug and pour it into small cups for the clients. The clients will drink their coffee while visiting the house. After that our clients will choose the fish they would like to have cooked for themselves / cook for themselves and bargain for it at the auction.

15:00 hrs: We return to Hotel and start to prepare our lunch. Juices / tea / local sweets / fruit will be served while cooking.

We will enjoy our lunch, spend the rest of the afternoon at our own leisure. Take a nice walk at the beach, enjoy a cold drink at Hotel Restaurant, have a cool swim…

In the evening we invite you for a candle light dinner at Hotel Restaurant, after which you will enjoy a show of local fire drummers.

Please enjoy the simple, but magic atmosphere at this little hotel just next to Uroa Village, which is located at one of the most amazing sand beaches at the Eastern Coast!

Day 2 –

IN THE FOOTPRINTS OF ANCIENT SPIRITS

A cave like Kichongwe Cave can only be described as a place where the energy that flows through and forms the universe is present in such high density that the spirits of the ancestors become nearly as vivid a reality as the tall trees growing from the deepest inside of this cave straight toward the sun; as the tiny insects and crabs living in the pool in the center of the cave; as the bizarre stone formations hanging down from the cave walls.

Kichongwe Cave is located 2.9 km from the village in a hidden place just next to the seashore. It is a round cave, approximately 20 m in diameter.

Up to this day, the cave is used in traditional local rituals, and you may find the leftovers of shells, bones and incense used when feeding the spirits, asking for favors or casting a spell.

We kindly request you to show your respect for the biodiversity of this cave as well as for the local people and the spirits they worship in it. The following rules should therefore be followed when entering the cave:

1. Take off your shoes and use the locally produced shoes given to you at the cave entrance when entering the cave.
2. No smoking in the cave!
3. Please keep your voice low.
4. Do not touch any of the objects lying on the cave floor or suspended on its walls.
5. Do not collect plants or animals from the cave interior.

Please write your name in our Cave Guest Book before you leave!
The times for this program depend on the tides. If it is high tide in the morning, the program will be as follows:
After breakfast we will take a local Dhow and sail to a place in the sea, where there are lots of wonderfully marine life. This is where we will be snorkeling. Enjoy the richness of the underwater world!

We come back for lunch at the hotel. After a rest, between 2 and 3 p.m., we will proceed by car to Kichongwe Cave. Enjoy this unique experience, which combines the miracle of nature with the local spirits!

In the late afternoon we return to Hotel. The following approximately two hours will be at our own leisure, until dinner will be served.

Tonight dinner will be accompanied by some of Zanzibar’s best Taarab musicians!
Enjoy! (Optional if you will require it we shall organize at extra cost)

Day 3 –

THE SEA AS A FOOD PROVIDER

Seaweed has long been known in Far Eastern cooking, but in the rest of the world was despised as sea rubbish. Industrialized countries use seaweed in pharmaceuticals, textiles, rubber, adhesives and various foods nowadays. 

In recent years it has proved a valuable cash crop for villages on Zanzibar’s East Coast. Cropping was introduced to the island nearly twenty years ago and mostly women make a living from it. Rope, sticks and seedlings are the only outlays needed to start farming. 

Today we will visit the seaweed farming women in the sea at low tide. You will see them bind the seedlings to ropes and sticks and plant the sticks in the sandy salty ground. The sticks are planted quite firmly in the ground and rarely get torn out by the water when the high tide returns.

The rest of the day will be at our clients’ leisure, including a lovely lunch and a snack dinner at your Hotel.
At about 5 p.m. get ready for a special adventure: WE ARE GOING NIGHT FISHING with local fishermen on a Dhow! (Optional if you will require it we shall organize at extra cost)

Please follow the special instructions given to you regarding this special fishing trip!

Day 4 –

GETTING BACK IN TOUCH WITH MOTHER EARTH…

To turn around and laugh! Laugh the laughter of total happiness that fills you when at last you come to the realization that all creatures on this earth share the same basic needs, share that same basic energy that flows through all of us and everything, are ONE! This is what you may feel when sitting on our sailing boat and smoothly gliding across the water of the Indian Ocean under the immense sky back to your Hotel.

We have visited Michamvi…
We are going to leave at your Hotel by boat when the high tide comes in (hours to be determined by day). We cross the water to the “Thumb of Unguja”, where is the mangrove forest of Michamvi. There we will be amazed about the variety of birds, which we will be able to observe fishing and going about their daily activities while smoothly gliding through a natural sea water channel that encloses part of the mangrove forest like a little island.

After touring the channel we will leave our boat at the sea shore and proceed for a walking tour to the tip of the “Thumb”, through undisturbed nature (about 2 hours).

When we come back, we will have some time at our own leisure, which we may use for swimming or sunbathing, while our staff will get everything ready for a lovely barbecue lunch at the beach.

After the lunch we will slowly go back to our boat and sail back to your Hotel.
Dinner at your hotel. After that you will enjoy a Kidumbak (a music style mixed between African and Arab, underlined with typical Zanzibari dancing) night with our musicians and dancers…
(Optional if you will require it we shall organize at extra cost)

Day 5 –

FOLLOWING THE ANCIENT SAILORS

For many centuries, boats that sailed on the Indian Ocean were called dhows. While there were many different types of dhows, almost all of them used a triangular or lateen sail arrangement. This made them markedly different than the ships that evolved on the Mediterranean. These ships had a characteristic square sail. The dhow was also markedly different than the ships that sailed on the China Sea. These ships were known as junks.

Unfortunately, there is almost no pictorial evidence of early dhows. Most of our knowledge of the dhow’s early construction comes to us from the records of Greek and early Roman historians. Added to this, we can compare some similar hull constructions used in the later Roman period, after they had opportunity to learn from the Arab sailors. Along with this we can examine early shipwrecks, and lastly we can learn from modern day construction of dhows. It seems that dhow making is considered an art, and this art has been passed down from one generation to another, preserving, at least in part, the dhow’s basic design and use.

Today after breakfast we will go and visit local Dhow markers. We will learn how the local Dhows are made, watch the carpenter at work and surely ask a lot of questions…

We will return to your Hotel for lunch and have a rest.
Nowadays we tend to believe that modern Western medicine with its undoubtedly great achievements is the only valid method of healing disease.

The truth is that the art of healing is much older than Western medicine, and that different cultures at different times have used – and still use – different approaches and methods in order to fight disease.

Traditional African medicine is – unfortunately – still among the stepchildren of world medicine. Often we are suspicious of the ease, with which traditional African medicine men (and women) mix the use of different herbs with that of the spirits. But if the spirits are invisible to us, does this really mean that they do not exist?

At about 3 p.m. we will come back to Uroa Village, this time for a very special encounter: we are going to meet two different medicine men. We will learn about the different herbs used in local medicine, and we will become acquainted with the principle of spirits involved in the healing methods of our second medicine man.

A group of African dancers with drums and songs will entertain you tonight and in this way accompany your dinner.

Day 6 –

BI KIDUDE – A LEGEND ALREADY DURING HER LIFETIME!

(Optional if you will require it we shall organize at extra cost)
We would like you to become acquainted with one of the most fascinating personalities of our region, one of our greatest artists – singers, drummers, dancers – who at the same time is also one of our greatest herbalists and knower of ancient tradition. We will spend today in the footprints of this amazing woman:

I’ve always had an affinity for older ladies. I didn’t grow up around either of my grandmothers, and because of that I have always enjoyed and sought the company and wisdom of older women. It’s worth noting that age doesn’t always bring wisdom, but you can definitely learn a lot from those with life experience. I think there’s a freedom that comes with age, particularly with women who embrace and celebrate their longevity. These are women with stories to tell and lessons to impart. Women who have seen change and the passage of time. Bi Kidude is such a woman. She’s considered by many to be the oldest living musical performer on the world stage. The exact year of Bi Kidude’s birth is unknown, which helps to add to her mythical aura. Some web sources say she is 93, others speculate that she’s at least 100. Either way, her musical career has lasted for over half a century.

In the 1920’s, she was already singing taarab music with popular local troupes in her homeland of Zanzibar. Bi Kidude has always lived the life of a rebel. At age 13, she fled Zanzibar to escape a forced marriage. According to World Music Central, she journeyed to the mainland of Tanzania, where she collected stories and songs, and explored the land by walking barefoot. “Fleeing a second unhappy marriage, Bi Kidude boarded a dhow, the ancient sailing vessels of the Swahili coast and journeyed north to Egypt where she became a renowned singer in the foremost dance bands of 1930’s Egypt.” According to National Geographic, Kidude learned from the best in this period of her life: “In the 1930s Bi Kidude sang in a taarab ensemble alongside the legendary Siti Binti Saad, Zanzibar’s first female taarab singer and a major recording star in the region. From her, Bi Kidude learned a wealth of songs and musical lore, before striking out on her own as the main singer of a touring taarab ensemble.” Her travels stoked the fires of her rebellion. By the time she returned to Zanzibar in the 1940’s, she had chosen to shun her traditional veils and shave her head.

She lived in a clay house where she practiced traditional herbal medicine and cultural practices, married and divorced, and taught the ancient ritual of Unyago to the young girls of her village. Unyago is a female initiation ritual that can last from a day to three months, and provides education in the ways of womanhood, ranging from detailed sexual education, avoiding abuse and oppression, as well as the finer points of clothing, hygiene, and cooking. Kidude is among the most famous female initiators of the ancient ritual. A resurgence of traditional Swahili culture brought renewed interest in Bi Kidude in the 1980’s. She joined a popular band, Mohammed Ilyas and his Twinkling Stars, and toured Europe and the Middle East. The unusual spectacle of an elderly woman drumming and singing and leading a band brought her no end of attention. And no wonder – she’s a show stopper!

Throughout the Eighties and Nineties, Bi Kidude’s legend grew. She recorded her first solo album, Zanzibar in 1999. In 2005 she was presented with the prestigious WOMEX award for her lifetime achievement in world music. In 2006, the documentary As Old as My Tongue: The Myth and Life of Bi Kidude hit the film festival circuit, and has won tremendous acclaim. 

The documentary follows Bi and her entourage for three years, from her home in a township of historic Stone Town, Zanzibar, to theatrical performances in Paris. Let the record show, Bi Kidude is not considered a hero by all. She is considered an outsider to her own culture, because she rebels against Muslim beliefs and challenges the traditional woman’s role in society. In the film, she’s seen downing beers, enjoying smoking and flirting with men a fraction of her age. In her own words: “I drink, I smoke, and I sing. I do not need a microphone, I just sing.” And she dances with abandon and clearly enjoys living her life.

In the morning, we will walk along the beach and get acquainted with the different creatures hiding in the sands and ponds at low tide.

The rest of the morning will be at our leisure. Then we will have lunch at Kaure Sands Restaurant.

After lunch, during which we will listen to some of Bi Kidude’s rich music from a CD, we will meet with local women in order to discover the way of life and problems women in particular are faced with here in Zanzibar.

In the evening a group of Zanzibari musicians will perform songs by Bi Kidude while our clients will enjoy a candle light dinner.

Please enjoy this special Bi Kidude day!

Day 7 –

LEAVING A WORLD OF WONDERS…

This is your last day… sorry! Enjoy a lovely breakfast at your hotel, then let us load your luggage on our vehicle and take a last look at the sea; let’s breathe deeply and feel the world of wonders, which we have explored during the past few days. The simple ways of nature, the contact of a woman’s hands with the soil and the water, the keen awareness of the spiritual power that permeates everything in existence, the harmony between Mother Earth and human creativity… I hope it has replenished your heart the way it has ours, and left you with the warm awareness that whatever has been lost still exists. These tours can also be obtained as single day excursions excluding some of the activities. Minimum pax: 2 Meal plan: fb

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