The beauty of Zanzibar Island stands unrivaled among most holiday destinations in the world. Zanzibar actually consists of two Islands - Pemba and Unguja - which lie in the Indian ocean 36 km off the Tanzania coast. Unguja is the more developed of the two and is what many people refer to as Zanzibar.
Zanzibar's alluring white beaches are without doubt the most famous attraction in this Island whose name means "Land of the Blacks" in Arabic. The majority of the Zanzibar beaches are situated near the Northern tip of the Island in the East coast. The landscape in this region of Zanzibar island is also dotted by several fishing villages.
There are more than 30 pristine beaches in Zanzibar. Most of Zanzibar beaches are quiet and unspoilt that the only noise breaking the silence is likely to be the ocean. At the northern end of the island is Nungwi, arguably the best beach in Zanzibar and the island's dhow building capital. Nungwi is accessed by a road lined by banana palms, mangroves and coconut trees and it is a good spot to see traditional craftsmen at work.
Matemwe beach, together with Kiwengwa, Uroa, Pwani Mchangani, Jambianito and Bwejuu beaches on Zanzibar's east coast, and Mangapwani beach on the west coast are the other worth visiting beach holiday destinations in Zanzibar. The wide stretches of beautiful uncrowded white sands add up to a perfect Zanzibar beach vacation.
In addition to the pristine beaches, Zanzibar has several small offshore islands which are ideal for short trips. Prison island is the most popular of these islands as it is only a short distance from Stone Town, the capital town of Zanzibar. Although giant tortoises are the main attractions of the island, the spot's clear waters offer excellent opportunities for snorkeling hence drawing numerous visitors.
The population in Zanzibar consists of Africans, Arabs, Asians, and Persians. Of these, 95% are Muslim, while the rest ascribe to other religious faiths including Christianity and Hinduism. Swahili, the official and national language is the most widely spoken language in Zanzibar, though English is also spoken in most places. A good number of Zanzibar residents also know some Arabic. Apart from tourism, the other main economic activities are agriculture and fishing.
Zanzibar island is not so big; you can actually explore the entire island in one day. Moving around in the Island is also made easy by Zanzibar's self explanatory map, such that it is possible to move around without the assistance of tour guides. The best months to go for a Zanzibar holiday tour are from July through March when temperatures average at 25 degrees Celsius. With very little rainfall during that period, the air is usually dry and breezy. April and May in Zanzibar experience heavy rainfall, thus not a good time for a tour of the island.
Zanzibar can be reached by air, as well as the sea. Gulf Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Air Mauritius and KLM (in conjunction with Kenya Airways) are presently offering international scheduled flights to Zanzibar. Transport can also be arranged from Dar es salaam which is only a short trip by sea or by air from Zanzibar. Dar es Salaam has regular scheduled flights, small charters and fast boats to Zanzibar.
Zanzibar's alluring white beaches are without doubt the most famous attraction in this Island whose name means "Land of the Blacks" in Arabic. The majority of the Zanzibar beaches are situated near the Northern tip of the Island in the East coast. The landscape in this region of Zanzibar island is also dotted by several fishing villages.
There are more than 30 pristine beaches in Zanzibar. Most of Zanzibar beaches are quiet and unspoilt that the only noise breaking the silence is likely to be the ocean. At the northern end of the island is Nungwi, arguably the best beach in Zanzibar and the island's dhow building capital. Nungwi is accessed by a road lined by banana palms, mangroves and coconut trees and it is a good spot to see traditional craftsmen at work.
Matemwe beach, together with Kiwengwa, Uroa, Pwani Mchangani, Jambianito and Bwejuu beaches on Zanzibar's east coast, and Mangapwani beach on the west coast are the other worth visiting beach holiday destinations in Zanzibar. The wide stretches of beautiful uncrowded white sands add up to a perfect Zanzibar beach vacation.
In addition to the pristine beaches, Zanzibar has several small offshore islands which are ideal for short trips. Prison island is the most popular of these islands as it is only a short distance from Stone Town, the capital town of Zanzibar. Although giant tortoises are the main attractions of the island, the spot's clear waters offer excellent opportunities for snorkeling hence drawing numerous visitors.
The population in Zanzibar consists of Africans, Arabs, Asians, and Persians. Of these, 95% are Muslim, while the rest ascribe to other religious faiths including Christianity and Hinduism. Swahili, the official and national language is the most widely spoken language in Zanzibar, though English is also spoken in most places. A good number of Zanzibar residents also know some Arabic. Apart from tourism, the other main economic activities are agriculture and fishing.
Zanzibar island is not so big; you can actually explore the entire island in one day. Moving around in the Island is also made easy by Zanzibar's self explanatory map, such that it is possible to move around without the assistance of tour guides. The best months to go for a Zanzibar holiday tour are from July through March when temperatures average at 25 degrees Celsius. With very little rainfall during that period, the air is usually dry and breezy. April and May in Zanzibar experience heavy rainfall, thus not a good time for a tour of the island.
Zanzibar can be reached by air, as well as the sea. Gulf Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Air Mauritius and KLM (in conjunction with Kenya Airways) are presently offering international scheduled flights to Zanzibar. Transport can also be arranged from Dar es salaam which is only a short trip by sea or by air from Zanzibar. Dar es Salaam has regular scheduled flights, small charters and fast boats to Zanzibar.
About the Author:
Andrew Muigai is the Managing Director of AfricaPoint.com, a travel agency that provides Tanzania Safaris including Zanzibar beach holiday packages and Zanzibar Hotels Reservations among other Zanzibar travel services
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