by Emma Gass, 6 August 2010

Soft, warm breezes scented with cloves, nutmeg, history and exotic cultures waft across the mind when one thinks of the spice island of Zanzibar off the coast of Tanzania. Conquered, colonised and inhabited over the years by Arab traders, Portuguese explorers, slave traders, David Livingstone, masai warriors, and Freddie Mercury just to name a few; today Zanzibar is known more for its extensive beaches that ring this Indian Ocean island and its perfect suitability for a post-safari, lazy African beach holiday.

The Cultural Heart of Zanzibar: Stone Town

Zanzibar's airport is close to Zanzibar Town so it's often recommended that you stay in Stone Town for your first or last night on the island to experience the unique atmosphere of this crumbling, dusty, cultural treasure trove of a World Heritage site.

It must be said that not everyone likes Stone Town. But if you are interested in the history of this fascinating island, from the slave trade, colonial missionaries like David Livingstone and the Arabian influence on Africa then you will be well rewarded. Get a guided tour of Stone Town through your hotel, or wander off and prepare to get lost in the narrow winding alleyways that take you past intricately carved doors, dark and dingy shops stuffed with bargains as the exotic smells from the spice shops mingle with the underlying stench of rotting fruit.

If you are staying in Stone Town and desperate to get a little beach time, take a trip out to Prison Island just off shore. Here there are some pretty little beaches that you can snorkel off, and giant tortoises to play with.

The island of Zanzibar is not big, and wherever you decide to stay, a visit to Stone Town can easily be arranged as a day trip organized through your hotel.

The Best of Zanzibar: The Beaches

As you would expect on an island, there are beaches to the north, south, east and west.

The north coast is generally described as the place to be, and it is certainly the most vibey and action-packed part of the island, with independent travellers, backpackers and top-end travellers all rubbing shoulders. The beaches in the north around Nungwi are lovely, white, soft and have the added advantage of being less tidal, making it easy to swim at all times of the day.

If you're the sociable kind then the choice of little beach restaurants and bars may suit you. Ensure you pop in at the popular Cholo's bar for a cocktail or three.

The east coast is a little more relaxed and is sprinkled with some spectacular, coral-white beaches. There are some lovely small guesthouses with beachfront cottages as well as larger, well-run beach resorts. This is an ideal area to bring the kids to for a fun beach holiday, there is a range of family friendly accommodation and the little ones will love playing in the shallow water and picking through the rock pools when the tide goes out; it tends to go out quite far.

The south and west coasts are not as popular and far less developed. The beaches here are therefore far more deserted, but are either severely effected by the tides, leaving you far from the ocean at low tide, or overgrown with mangroves, or both. But the areas are not without their charm.

Relaxing Zanzibar: And Other Activities

The main focus of a Zanzibar island holiday is complete and utter relaxation. After early mornings, bumpy roads and straining your eyes on a safari, you deserve to do absolutely nothing on a pale white beach next to the warm, blue Indian Ocean for a few days.

Don't expect the noisy motorized sports like jet skis and waterskiing that you often get on more commercialised island holidays, the idea in Zanzibar is to kick back on the beach, flop next to the swimming pool, get comfortable in front of the beach bar, recline in a hammock for another nap; and then do it all again.

Resorts often offer kayaks for self-propelled exploration and traditional dhow cruises to visit deserted sandy islands, or to celebrate the blazing African sunsets.

Of course I can't talk about Zanzibar activities without mentioning the incredible snorkelling and scuba diving available in the waters around the island, or the fantastic deep sea fishing for that matter.

Zanzibar offers many dive spots, mostly accessed by boat, that are suited to the experienced diver looking for world class, challenging dives, as well as very rewarding dive spots for the less experienced diver.

As most of the hotels on the north and east coast of Zanzibar have PADI dive schools, your Zanzibar Island holiday may be the perfect opportunity to evolve from a beginner to a more experienced diver in one of the most impressive, pristine dive destinations in the world.

Of course there is often fantastic snorkelling just off your hotel's beach, just jump in and start snuffling around the coral formations and colourful schools of fish.

It is worth doing one of the "spice tours”, a guided tour around the spice plantations and small villages of Zanzibar, even if it's just to identify the exotic fruit on your breakfast buffet.

You can visit the dhow builders near Nungwi and watch the primitive dhow building process that has remained unchanged for centuries but is still an essential part of life in the Zanzibar Archipelago.

For further exploration of the palm tree lined coastline and little rural villages near your hotel, hire a bike. Take advantage of the hard sand left by the retreating tide and cycle for miles along the beach.

Article © Copyright 2010 Go2Africa.

Print this page |  Send to a friend

Related content