Spice Tour

Zanzibar as it is well known as a “Spice Island” has a great variety of spice farms which are not generally commercial growing operations with single species cultivation, but rather gardens with trees, shrubs and grasses all grown together in the shade of mango and jackfruit trees. It can be quite surprising to see the range of different plants from which spices are obtained, and the different methods by which they are extracted.

The popularity of spices has its origin in ancient times when one of the most common means of preserving food was that of drying it, especially meat and fish. Spices were needed in order to add flavor to meals, and in this way turned into a major trade as most spices grew only in South-East Asia. When the Omani Arabs made Zanzibar part of the Sultanate of Oman, they assumed that the climate in Zanzibar would be favorable to spice plants and decided, instead of importing spices from South-East Asia at very high cost, to try and grow them in Zanzibar. The experiment turned into a large success – although unfortunately at the cost of nearly all original rain forests on the islands.

Especially the cloves became famous – in particular those grown on Pemba – but also other spices grew, such as vanilla (which, not being an indigenous plant, up to this day has to be pollinated by hand!), turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon and many others.

On this half-day tour through our chosen spice farm you will not only find out how different spices grow and from which part of the plant they are made, but also that all spice plants are medicinal plants, as well. Our specialized guide Mr. Said is a professional herbalist, who has extensive knowledge of the healing properties of spices and fruits and has successfully proved it (from a simple flu to conceiving problems…).

The tour can be done in the morning or in the afternoon. Please enjoy the lovely spice tea there and taste a variety of fresh fruit.

Recommendation: The spice farm’s owner’s wife is a fantastic cook and prepares an excellent typical Swahili lunch buffet! There’s a large choice of Pilau rice, curry stew, spinach and beans cooked in coconut sauce, grilled fish, freshly pressed fruit juices, spice tea or Zanzibar coffee – all prepared not only with the best ingredients, but also with lots of love!

Stone Town Tour

Stone Town used to be the city of the rich Arabs and Indians of Zanzibar. In contrast to the mud houses in the villages, it was built in stone, therefore its name. One of the unique things about Stone Town is that it is built in coral stone, which is held together by a mix of sands and water, formed into local cement. The city used to be cut off the rest of the island by the sea – names like ‘Creek Road’ and ‘Darajani’ (meaning ‘on the bridge’) remind of this time, which only recently ended when the creek was closed so as to keep the sea outside, and a paved road was built – Creek Road.

If the walls of this old city could talk, they would have lots to tell! It was visited by traders and seafarers from all over the world, some of whom settled there, such as the Arabs, many Indians, but also Chinese, British and many others. It was the capital city of the Sultanate of Zanzibar which had been created in the beginning of the 19th century by Sultan Said bin Sayed, who separated Zanzibar from the Sultanate of Oman. Stone Town was the showplace of the shortest war in world history – it lasted only 46 minutes, and one would wish that all wars in history, if at all necessary, would end as fast as this. But it was also East Africa’s largest market for slaves – one of the darkest chapters of the history of the islands.

Stone Town nowadays is a buzzing little town, no longer than ten minutes’ walk from any one side to the other – but only for those who know their way, which is easy to lose in the winding narrow streets, in which one may err for hours! With good guidance though you will discover the marvelous Zanzibar doors (the Indian and the Arab versions), often up to four hundred years old, you will visit the House of Wonders – the first in Zanzibar to have electricity and current water, and the first in East Africa to have an elevator! – you will pay tribute to the many slaves who lost their lives or were sold here when reaching the Anglican Church, and you will get insight into the importance the Hamam once had for the honorable citizens of this town.

But most of all, absorb the atmosphere of this town and let yourself be entranced by the sounds and smells of a world that up to now seems to live at the time of Aladdin, as if in a fairy tale out of Arabian Nights!

Prison Island Tour

Zanzibar Prison Island, also known as the Changuu Island, lies about 30 minutes by boat from the Zanzibar Island. The prison thereon was never used to house prisoners. This part of your holiday mainly focuses on a tour to the island. The island was once used by an Arab slave trader to contain the more troublesome slaves he had brought from the African mainland to prevent their escape before shipping them to the Arabian purchasers, or for auctioning on Zanzibar’s slave market. The slaves were dumped on the island.

In 1893, Lloyd Mathews built the prison. The prison idea was to send violent criminals from the Tanganyika mainland to the Prison Island. The Prison Island ended up being used as a quarantine center, instead of a prison, for yellow fever epidemics that once raged through the region. The old prison’s crumbling cells can still be seen on the island and provide occasional shelter for the giant tortoises which are conserved upon the Prison Island.

Prison Island is presently home to giant land tortoises that were imported from the Seychelles in the late 19th century. Now it is more commonly known as a home of Zanzibar’s Giant Aldabran Tortoise colony, some of which are over a hundred years old! This endangered species came to Zanzibar as a gift from the government of the Seychelles.

Once on the island, you have the opportunity to 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.

The island is fringed with a beautiful coral reef, ideal for snorkeling, and has a lovely white beach for sunbathing. This tour is a great way to see some history and wildlife, and also to see Stone Town from the sea as many old maritime legends would have done.

Jozani Forest Tour

Until the Oman Arabs gave the order to cut all the rain forests so as to plant spices, the islands were covered with swamp forests, evergreen thickets, and mangroves. The last leftover of this original vegetation on Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar Archipelago, is Jozani Forest, located between the bays of Chwaka and Uzi.

Inside the lush forest with its warm humidity, its thicket below, and its tall rare trees, you may well encounter a giant snail, a black monkey, a coconut crab, or even a python. A little further, there are Zanzibar Red Colobus Monkeys swinging through the branches of trees, grooming each other or eating. They are good friends with the Black Monkeys – because they do not compete for the same food! Again a few meters ahead we enter an amazing mangrove forest with roots that hold the trees like stilts in the water and branches of the sea entering the forest like rivers.

On the way to Jozani Forest, we will pass by the nearby Butterfly Farm which, in cooperation with the WWF, is trying to preserve all species of indigenous butterflies. The villagers raise them in their homes and in this way can make some extra income, and the butterflies are released into nature. Only a few are kept in a big garden, protected by a net, so as to guarantee their continuing existence.

Safari Blue Tour

Safari Blue Tour starts from the fishing village of Fumba, a 30 to 45-minute drive southwest of Stone Town. After a short briefing (including a demonstration of life jackets), we board a Dhow and set off to explore Menai Bay. The dhows are hand built from African mahogany, finished, and maintained to the very highest standards. Menai Bay has been officially designated a conservation area since 1998. There are a number of uninhabited islands and sandbanks, and the bay is frequented by Humpback and Bottle Nose Dolphins. During August and September, there is also a small possibility that you will encounter whales on the way.

The most stunning natural creations are the two pristine sandbanks of soft white sand that rise out of the turquoise blue of the Indian Ocean. 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 and the experienced snorkeling guides will show you the pristine coral reef, which teems with tropical sea life. Instruction is also available for beginners, and fresh coconuts and local snacks are available throughout the day. After snorkeling, we go to a nearby island where we have our “desert island” restaurant with of course fresh sea fruits. The rest of the afternoon we spend again swimming and relaxing. The sandbanks have been described by many clients as the most idyllic place in the world. As Safari Blue Tour comes to an end and we return to Fumba by traditional lantern sail, the full splendor of the African sunset reveals itself.

Sunset Cruise

This depend on hotel the clients are living, if clients stay in Nungwi hotels might be picked up by the vessel from the beach of their hotels or will be picked by the car to the beach where we start our Romantic Sunset Cruise. Likewise, if clients are staying in hotels located in other areas are likely to be picked one hour before cruise start so that they will be dropped to the starting point of the cruise. If clients are from Stone Town our sunset cruises leave Town in the late afternoon to cruise along the coast, slicing through the clear turquoise water.

After you step on-board of the vessel, the skilled crew on board takes the dhow about 1km away from the shore by means of an engine. Once out in the sea the engine is shut off and during a tense moment the crew puts up the sail, which once it is in favor of the wind, you can sit back, relax and enjoy the peacefulness of the ocean as you hear the ripple of water on the sides of the dhow while it glides swiftly through the clear turquoise water.

The sounds of the bustle of busy people in Stone Town grow faint in the distance until they seem there, only in a memory. As the dhow sails you will be served with sodas, drinking water, and Zanzibar light snacks which will encourage you to sink back into the dhow bench and enjoy the romance of Zanzibar Island while the sun sets down with its beautiful orange colors.

Your breath will be taken away by the wonder of the fiery golden-sun setting beyond the horizon as it makes the sky a magical canvas of shades of pinks, purples, blues and orange. As you head back for Stone Town the wind gently blows into the Latin sail which is truly mesmerizing.

On board of our dhow we have a personal guide who will accompany you on your cruise and give you a tour of the Island from the water as well as be able to answer any questions that you may ask him. You will come back to the shore at 1830hrs to return to your hotel.