Your gateway to Zanzibar

Location and Geography
Zanzibar is the largest coral island off the coast of Africa where Centuries-old sailing dhows still sail its azure waters ornately carved wooden doors still decorate its homes and the scent of cinnamon cloves and nutmeg abound giving Zanzibar the nickname the Island of Spices This romantic paradise isle is situated in the Indian Ocean about 35km off the coast of Tanzania A number of tiny islands surround it including Pemba renowned for excellent scuba diving and deep-sea fishing The unspoiled marine environment in the famous Pemba Channel also offers excellent opportunities for snorkelling and diving fantastic deep sea fishing and a variety of watersports Visitors here also enjoy chartering sailboats and visits to historic Prison Island with its giant tortoises and dhow races

Climate
Zanzibar is a true tropical island with superb weather year-round Situated in the tropics the climate is as such - hot and humid The sea water is just as warm with an average temperature of 20 C and is very calm Surrounding most of the island is a coral reef At low tide you are able to walk out to the reef in certain places

What to wear
It never gets really cold in Zanzibar and light clothes are advisable Zanzibar is located very close to the Equator so you should bring a sunhat cap suntan lotion and good sunglasses

Culture, Language and Religion
Zanzibar remains wonderfully unspoiled it s an idyllic mix of palm-fringed beaches and turquoise sea with a strong Arabic influence Prison Island was historically used as a concealment point for slaves Tours to this island involve exploring its natural features bathing on lovely white sandy beaches which are ideal for swimming and snorkeling and enjoying a picnic lunch on the beach Tours to the Spice plantations cloves cinnamon nutmeg vanilla cardamom and others are a specialty in Zanzibar offering visitors an opportunity to stop at small farms of cash crops food crops spices flowering trees medical trees and varieties of mints and see touch and taste some of the island s exotic spices and fruits Visitors can also photograph the incredible scenery the fruit gardens mud houses thatched with coconut palms leaves and the lifestyle of the local people Stone Town is the oldest part of Zanzibar Its 2 500 buildings are all built of coral stone clay and lime hence the towns name The historic section of the town is home to some 45 Mosques as well as the Slave Market the Museum of Zanzibar the House of Wonders the Old Fort Dr Livingstone s House and the Zanzibar Maruhbi Palace Ruins Visitors enjoy bargaining for carvings in the Old Central Market also in the old part of Stone Town Of course there are the sandy palm-fringed beaches off the East Coast which offer untouched wide white sand and beautiful turquoise sea

Currency, Departure Taxes and Visas
The local currency is the Tanzanian Shilling It is not available internationally so visitors are advised to bring a sensible mix of hard currency traveller s cheques and cash These are easily changed into local currency in Bureaux de Change or Banks US Dollars are recommended for the best rates of exchange There is not an active currency black market in Zanzibar You can use credit cards at larger establishments - Visa MasterCard and JCB are the most widely accepted but American Express and Diners Club cards can also come in handy There are currently no ATM s cash machines in Zanzibar - the nearest one can be found in Dar es Salaam

Health
Anti-malaria medication and personal protection measures are recommended A Yellow Fever certificate is required for re-entry into South Africa if arriving within 6 days after leaving or transiting Tanzania

Local Time
GMT 3 hours