Joanna James
One of the most beautiful islands, Zanzibar, is affectionately called the spice island. With beautiful Omani architecture, natural surroundings, and a culture based on Islam, Zanzibar brings you a diverse array of things to do and see. If you are planning a visit to this magnificent island, here’s how you can plan your trip.
Booking a package holiday can be the best thing depending on how many people you are planning to travel with. Most package deals include accommodation like The Residence Zanzibar and flight tickets as well. More often than not, booking your accommodation and flights separately can cost you a great deal more than a package holiday.
However, you should always do your own research and bargain with your tour operator. There are many tour companies that offer special holiday packages, so find one that suits you the best.
You can fly directly to Zanzibar or take the ferry. There are a number of airlines that offer direct flights, including Auric Air, Coastal Travel Limited, Flexflight, Air Excel, and Air Tanzania. From the US, however, there are no direct flights; you’ll need to make a stopover, possibly in Dubai or Nairobi.
Alternatively, you can take the ferry from Dar es Salaam. There are regular ferries, and the journey can take about 70 minutes.
Once you get to Zanzibar, getting around is quite easy. To travel around like a local, take a dala-dala. This is a vehicle like a jeep, but it’s much larger than a jeep. The vehicle can carry about 20 people at one time. But the journey can be very uncomfortable. Also, they stick to a schedule, so you might have to talk to a local.
You can take a taxi, which is much more comfortable than a dala-dala. If you are going for a tour package, you’ll most probably be provided with transport. If not, you can speak to your hotel and get them to arrange transport for you.
You can also rent a car or a bike. For a bike, you don’t need a licence, but you’ll need one if you want to rent a car.
Walking is the best option for sightseeing; most attractions are located close to each other.
Zanzibar hasn’t made any vaccinations compulsory for the moment. As for visas, you’ll be given one at the airport; a tourist visa is valid for three months.
The island is blessed with plenty of sunlight, making it a year-round destination for travellers, so you can visit any time.
However, choose the months with the least amount of rain and the most amount of sunlight. June to October is the best time to visit, and the rainy season is from March to May. The high season is from September to January; this is when everything is extremely expensive, and places are packed with tourists.
If you are going for a package deal, you won’t have to worry about accommodation. But if you are booking your accommodation separately, there are a few things you need to consider.
Do plenty of research before booking your accommodation; you have so many options. Choose a seasonal offer if you can; most hotels offer hotel deals like last-minute offers, honeymoon packages, and advance purchase offers. Find a place that’s close to tourist attractions.
Things to do in Zanzibar make up a long and diverse list. There are so many places you can visit as well.
For a cultural experience, visit Stone Town in the West. Beaches in the north are excellent if you are after a beach vacation. You can also go for a private island tour.
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