it is the island’s connection to spices and herbs. Zanzibar and Spice is a romantic entanglement that dates to the 16th century. Apart from being an important commodity on the trade routes.
They can be seen in the plantations just outside Zanzibar town, this is also a fantastic opportunity to see the countryside and rural areas of Zanzibar and also connect with local people.
We have developed a special Spice Tour with in-depth information not only about spices, but also organically grown herbs and detailed descriptions about their uses in traditional dishes, as cures for ailments and even for dyeing traditional ceremonial outfits for weddings and festivals. We have knowledgeable guides.
Our guided walking tour passes through villages and spice plantations, a walk through the farms as spice farms workers climbs trees, seek out specific plants and cuts off various barks, letting you see, feel and taste everything. You will be decorated with palm-leaf accessories such as ties, rings, bracelets and glasses.
At the Spice farms you will have an opportunity to taste some of the exotic fruits of Zanzibar. After the tour we invite you for an opulent traditional Swahili lunch served in a local house, here you will get a really taste of the spices in the food. The tour includes visiting the Kizimbani At the Spice farms is the best place to buy fresh spices directly from the source.
The half-day trip includes transport, guide, entrance fees and a superb lunch.
Fumba is the most convenient location for exploring the wildlife, isolated sandbanks and rugged island scenery of the Menai Bay Conservation Area.
Our aim is to provide our customers with a truly memorable experience using the best Zanzibar has to offer, while making a positive difference to Zanzibar and its people. This trip starts from the village of Fumba in South West Zanzibar and we will take you to see the Dolphins, Sandbanks, Islands and Coral Reefs of Menai Bay, a beautiful conservation area.
In the morning we set down on one of the beautiful sandbanks where one can relax, swim or snorkel. There are plenty of good quality snorkeling equipment’s and the experienced snorkeling guides will show you the pristine coral reef, which teems with tropical sea life. Instruction is also available for beginners, fresh coconuts and local snacks are available throughout the day.
After snorkeling we go to Kwale Island where we have our “desert island” restaurant. The buffet lunch includes fish, slipper lobster, calamari, rice and sauces all served hot from the grill. The crews also prepare and present a gastronomic fruits tasting with a large selection of delicious tropical fruits, ice cold sodas, mineral water and a delicious Zanzibar seafood lunch with grilled fish and slipper lobster, coffee.
When the tide permits us, we can explore the natural lagoon found on Kwale Island. The lagoon is surrounded by a mangrove forest and we will take you swimming in the lagoon for an unforgettable experience The dhows are traditional sailing boats, hand-built from African mahogany and finished to the very highest standards. They are comfortable and well equipped with outboard engine.
The island is also known as Changuu, the Swahili name for a fish which is abundant in the surrounding waters, and its total length is 800m.
Beneath its pristine beauty, Prison Island has a sinister history. Prison Island was uninhabited until the 1860s when the first Sultan of Zanzibar, Majid bin Said, gifted it to 2 Arab slave owners who used the island as a prison for rebellious slaves. In 1893, British First Minister, Lloyd Matthews, acquired the island and planned to build a prison on this tranquil outpost. Although the building work was completed in 1894, the prison never housed any inmates.
In the 1920s, Prison Island was transformed into a quarantine island that served British territories in East Africa. The prison buildings were converted into a hospital, and patients were monitored for 1-2 weeks before they were permitted to leave.
Once on the island, you could feed and pet the tortoises, if you have time you may also like to take a stroll through the forested interior where you will see a wide variety of birds, colorful peacocks, bats, and beautiful butterflies. Keep your eyes peeled too for the shy and elusive Duikers – an unusual tiny antelope species.
It is roughly triangular in shape, about 500 meters (1,640 ft) in diameter and about 1.5 kilometers (0.9 mi) in circumference. It is surrounded by an oval reef seven by four kilometers in extent. These reefs have been declared a Marine Conservation area. Mnemba Island and its reef are sometimes called Mnemba Atoll which is incorrect because an atoll is an island that encircles a lagoon, which is not the case for Mnemba Island.
Mnemba Island is a popular scuba diving site, with a wide variety of corals and associated species, as well as occasional sightings of larger species such as turtles and dolphins. Calm conditions are most frequent in November and March, with maximum visibility. Mnemba Island is a 90-minute drive from Stone Town across the main Zanzibar Island, before a twenty-minute boat crossing.
The forest is 2,512 hectares (6,207 acres) in size and was declared a nature reserve in the 1960′s.
Wonderful photo opportunities and sightings of these rare creatures living in the forest reserves are possible on the pathways. Our guides are also naturalists and nature lovers will have a wonderful time in the nature reserve.
They were an endangered species, but numbers have increased in recent years thanks to conservation work by the nature reserve working closely with the local people. It is estimated that there are now between 2,000-2,500 monkeys. The monkeys are wild, but it is possible to get close to them and they carry on their normal activities as though human visitors do not exist.
The elusive Zanzibar leopard (last sited several years ago) is said to feed here at night – perhaps this is why the reserve is only open during the day?! Jozani has an excellent nature trail and the guides are well trained and informative. A walk through this impressive flora and fauna is one of the highlights Zanzibar has to offer.
At Jozani, you will also visit the Mangrove swamp and walk around the Mangrove forest.
The shallow coastal waters around Kizimkazi are a favorite hangout for dolphins that come here for the reliable food supply, to nurse their calves, rest and socialize. Several bottle-nose dolphins stay at Kizimkazi all year-round. There are also rather shyer humpback dolphins that put in an appearance here, although their schedule is a little more erratic.
Dolphin tour is best very early in the morning, because in the afternoon as the sun rises sea water tends to become warm, therefore dolphins dive deep down the sea bottom to escape heat. You can do the trip later in the afternoon but the probability to see dolphins is very small, not only that but at this time there might be many boats at the dolphin sites this scare the dolphins which is not good for their sustainability.
Although dolphin-spotting is a popular activity, sightings aren’t guaranteed 100%, and actually managing to swim with dolphins is a rare occurrence, like with other wild animals spotting dolphins require time and patience as they are not confined in a cage or a zoo, they are in their natural environment. Dolphin trips last two to three hours.
Kizimkazi is also the site of a 12th century mosque, the earliest evidence of Islam in East Africa, and is thus worth a visit for both cultural and historical reasons. We provide Lunch on full day trips only at the beach restaurant. We advise clients to wear their swimming costume. We also advise to wear waterproof sandals for boarding the dhows and to bring sunscreen, towel and spare T – shirt for snorkeling.
The dolphin trip can be combined with Jozani Forest, as the forest is on the way to Kizimkazi; we pass through the forest on the way back from dolphin tour