We recommend the island paradise of Zanzibar as a complement to a sightseeing trip to Tanzania. It also offers a form of independent stay by the sea spiced up with excursions and 1-2 day safari in one of the nearest Tanzanian parks. We will be happy to arrange your trip here including the following excursions:
- Day trip to spice farm, Prison island & Stone Town city tour – Immediately after an early breakfast you will set off by car to the spice farm. During the tour you will get an explanation of how what is grown and what it is used for, see how coconuts are harvested and there will be an opportunity to buy local coffee and spices, natural perfumes and other products from the farm. You will also have lunch at the farm, serving mostly fish, rice, vegetables, curried bananas, local biscuits, nuts, etc. At the end, you will taste tropical fruits and try local coffee with vanilla and cardamom and nut biscuits. Afterwards, you will drive to Stone Town to the beach, from where you will take a half hour boat ride to Prison Island. On the island you will visit a turtle farm with land tortoises from the Seychelles, which you can also feed. The afternoon will be spent walking around the highlights of Stone Town such as Freddie Mercury’s birthplace, House of Wonders, Forodhani Garden and ending at Darajani Market where you can buy souvenirs.
- Half day excursion to Mnemba Island, snorkeling, swimming with dolphins and turtle aquarium – After breakfast you will drive to the beach where you will be transferred by speedboat to Mnemba Island. If you wish, you can rent snorkeling gear and explore the coral reef and its surroundings, which is a top destination for snorkeling enthusiasts, and swim with dolphins if they appear. From Mnemba Island, head to the large starfish to the other side of the island, and after a short stop, head to the northern beach of Nungwi, where you can visit the natural sea turtle aquarium. You can swim with them and feed them.
- Day trip to Jozani forest, swimming in Kuza cave, visit local village – In the morning right after breakfast you will go to Michanwi village and see how the locals live. You will see the local houses, mosque, hospital and have a look at the local government school. Next, we would visit the Maasai part of the village where the Maasai would tell you about their culture and give a short cultural performance. Afterwards, you can have lunch at The Rock floating restaurant, where you can walk along the beach at low tide and a boat will take you to the beach restaurant at high tide. If you want to dine at a less touristy restaurant, we can arrange to have lunch at one on the beach overlooking The Rock. After lunch a short rest on Pingwe beach and in the afternoon you would head to Kuza Cave with a beautiful clear lake inside. You would end the day trip at Jozani Rainforest, the only terrestrial reserve on the island. In the forest, you can see the red guereza and a variety of other animals and rich flora, in addition to the guereza. Finally, you will visit an area with an interesting stand of mangroves, trees growing partly in the water, and take a short walk along a trail called the Pete-Jozani Mangrove.
- BLUE SAFARI DAY TRIP – In the morning you will head to the beach in the southeast of the island to board the boat. The first stop will be at Sand Bank, a small sandy island in the sea that disappears with the tide. After a short swim, continue by boat to the coral reef for a snorkeling stop. We then transfer to Kwale Island where lunch will be served, fish and seafood will be grilled. There will be local music playing and you can also dance Kitaarab. After lunch, you will see the oldest baobab tree in Zanzibar and you can shop at local stalls for small gifts or clothes. The last swim will be in the Blue Lagoon, which is also ideal for snorkelling thanks to its crystal clear water.
- MIKUMI NP Day Trip – Depart from the hotel to the airport in the early morning, transfer to the mainland and from there you will be guided to Mikumi National Park where you can see not only African animals including the almost complete Big Five (except rhino), but also the beautiful African scenery of the national park. With a vetted guide, you have the opportunity to see not only large groups of animals, but animals in activities such as feeding their young, catching prey, etc. Our guides like Robinson and others are the best and that is why we are not afraid to recommend this agency. Return back to the hotel in Zanzibar is in the evening.
- SELOUS NYERERE NP DAY TRIP – Departure from the hotel to the airport in the early morning, transfer to the mainland and from there you will head to Selous Nyerere National Park with your guide to explore the nature of mainland Tanzania and thanks to your vetted guide, the wild animals in various activities like feeding the cubs, hunting prey etc. Return back to your hotel in Zanzibar in the evening.
- Two day trip NP SELOUS NYERERE – Transfer to the airport in the early hours, on arrival on the mainland you will drive to your accommodation where you will have breakfast. You will then board a jeep and begin your full day safari of NP Selou, you will see not only fascinating scenery but most importantly wildlife. After lunch you will continue your safari drive, ending with a sunset view. Upon arrival at your accommodation, dinner and relaxation follow. The next day, after a cup of coffee, you will go on a morning walking safari, after lunch you will continue with a boat safari on the Rufiji River to see hippos, crocodiles and water birds. This is followed by a transfer to the airport for your flight back to Zanzibar.
Note: If you wish, a combination of safari excursions to Mikumi NP or Selous Nyerere NP can be arranged in a package at a discounted price.
