Not that easy to get around unless you have experience
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
As part of a world challenge expedition to Tanzania i got the chance to visit this awesome island for 5 days at the end of our month long stay in the country doing volunteer work and trecking. It was very much a last minute decision to go there as the east coast of Tanzania was much more convenient and cheaper. The one thing on the side of the small island of Zanzibar was the awesome beaches and culture which as we found out was much different to that on the mainland.
My stay was split into three parts. First an overnight stay in the Hotel Marine in Stone town (the capital of the island), secondly a three night stay in the Matenuve Bahariri beach bungalows on the north east side of the island. The final part was another overnight stay in the Hotel Marine.
Because the boat journey from Dar es Salaam was fairly long we got a short flight from Dar es Salaam international airport to Zanzibar airport which cost about $50 return (bargain!), i think it was air Tanzania but it could have been air Kenya (they all seemed to be working together though). The plane journey was only about 1 hour long and even though it was a bit bunpy it was well worth the money. Zanzibar airport was extremely interesting as it was extremely small and had a really relaxed atmosphere. The luggage came out immediately through a hole in he wall and you were then led directly out. As arranged a dala dala (local name for a taxi) came to pick us up from the Hotel Marine and we were there within 30 minutes.
For $15 per person per night the Hotel Marine was relatively cheap and gave you large posh entance halls and four poster beds. You also got your own en suite with slow flowing but hot water and all the other expected amenities. You also got a cable TV, which did'nt work and an unstocked mini bar, but that wasnt a big problem.
Stone town itself was one of the best places i have ever been. Zanzibar itself is famed for its spice markets and in the smaal streets in the centre there were pleanty of spice stalls selling every spice you could ever think of. The rest of the town had visions of its own collonial links and also being a small port there was pleanty of marine attractions. On our first night, not knowing where anything was, we walked down the road and came across a busy and loud restaurant on the sea front and ate our best meal in a month with awesome surroundings.
The day after we caught another dala dala up to the beach bungalows which cost around $60 per person per night and for that we got another four poster bed in an upmarket room with awesome sea views. The adjoining white sand beach stretched for as far as the eye could see and to one side were hundreds of palm trees and the other way was clear turquoise water. The hotel had a dive centre, although we did not use it and another brilliant restaurant. Most of the food was basic but with the use of freshly caught fish and spices it tasted beautiful and for only $4 per couse was really cheap. Most of our time here was spent on the beach but also looking around the local coral-walled cottages and villages.
To end our stay we went back to Stone town to the same hotel so that we could get up early for an early connecting flight to Dar es Sallam and eventually to Stanstead. That night we went out again to eat and found a night market where you chose what fish you wanted (e.g. Shark (many types), Barracuda, Lobster, prawn, and loads of others). The sellers would then cook the infront of you and you would eat them hot and fresh. This was the perfect end to our stay and the thing i would recommend most to anyone who goes there and can find it.
Zanzibar is an idyllic island in the indian ocean and a must visit if you are doing a tour of Africa or Tanznaia.
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