Zanzibar.... anyone been?
Discussion
I get to choose the destination this year for a idle bit of relaxation...
Had a look and flights seem to be around £500 and villas across there seem to be around £400 per week...
Basically want to go there to do some diving with the OH... Anyone got a list of recommendations to go and do?
Had a look and flights seem to be around £500 and villas across there seem to be around £400 per week...
Basically want to go there to do some diving with the OH... Anyone got a list of recommendations to go and do?
Edited by Du1point8 on Thursday 1st September 19:09
Been to Tanzania, but closest to Zanzibar was Dar Es Salaam.
No doubt like a lot of iffy countries the tourist hotels will be reasonably priced and more than adequate - give it a go and let us know how you get on.
If you were feeling really adventurous you would of course drive there as I did (to Dar at least), but that wasn't a holiday in any sense of the word.
No doubt like a lot of iffy countries the tourist hotels will be reasonably priced and more than adequate - give it a go and let us know how you get on.
If you were feeling really adventurous you would of course drive there as I did (to Dar at least), but that wasn't a holiday in any sense of the word.
Went a few years ago - didn't really rate it too highly.
Thought Stone Town in particular was highly overrated (unless you like $2 "Gucci" sunglasses and needing to grease palms to get basic things done - the airport being absolutely classic for this).
I've visited some pretty odd (and impoverished) places, mainly for business, but in Zanzibar the persistence of hawkers/beggars really tested my patience at times.
Diving wise... can't comment.
Thought Stone Town in particular was highly overrated (unless you like $2 "Gucci" sunglasses and needing to grease palms to get basic things done - the airport being absolutely classic for this).
I've visited some pretty odd (and impoverished) places, mainly for business, but in Zanzibar the persistence of hawkers/beggars really tested my patience at times.
Diving wise... can't comment.
Spent two weeks at Mapenzi Beach Resort in October 04. Most of the resorts are self-contained and all inclusive and offer tours at probably inflated rates. There are locals who hawk the beaches (not allowed into the resorts) who offer a much cheaper alternative but it's a question of safety and trust. Some did go with them, came to no harm and said it was great.
I didn't but spoke to the guy who whinged about the Italian resort owners taking all the money and contributing nothing to the locals. I agreed it was a valid point but someone had taken a motorbike ride down the beach and got robbed round the first bend so I gave him $20 for nothing and he was a happy man. I also "bought" a turtle off a local guy (who was going to eat it) for $20 and he returned it to the ocean. A bit more hands on than the WWF!
Where we were, we had a wide white shallow beach but there were thousands of sea urchins littering the path to the distant reef which must have been a good 1/2 - 1 mile out and once there, looked quite hard to get in - and certainly out.
We went on a Blue Safari tour which gives you a boat ride, slipper lobster dinner on a beach, diving/snorkelling, swimming with dolphins (you see them but no chance of getting near them) and a sail boat ride back. We really enjoyed it. That was in the nature reserve at the south of the island.
Other things to do were a trip to the monkey "reserve" which was OK and you get to see a fair few monkeys (red something or others). We missed that "resort trip" so the resort hired us a mini-bus and we went alone and it was much cheaper and better that way. We went to Stonetown - mainly filled with hawkers and very run down generally. Took a trip from there to Prison Island which is worth it as it has a colony of giant tortoises there.
Freddie Mercury lived there very fleetingly and never went back - probably didn't have an Evora - tells you enough I think.
Roads are largely unmade gravel tracks and minor contact with other vehicles not unusual.
Would I go again? Probably not as, ecologically, it was pretty much like Kerala in Southern India which, while lacking the diving variety, was very similar in terms of what it offered scenically and far far cheaper. I think what I disliked about Zanzibar was it ought to be a cheap destination but the way they have it sewn up, it works out quite expensive for what it is.
We had lovely weather. It does monsoon with rain for an hour or so occasionally but that soon goes.
On the diving, we saw quite a few large fish, some lion fish and some cuttlefish. Water was clear but as the daily access to the "big sea" was ruled out, it was just the one day - doubtless you could arrange your own transport down to the reserve but like I say, Africa may have bigger risks than India when travelling about.
I didn't but spoke to the guy who whinged about the Italian resort owners taking all the money and contributing nothing to the locals. I agreed it was a valid point but someone had taken a motorbike ride down the beach and got robbed round the first bend so I gave him $20 for nothing and he was a happy man. I also "bought" a turtle off a local guy (who was going to eat it) for $20 and he returned it to the ocean. A bit more hands on than the WWF!
Where we were, we had a wide white shallow beach but there were thousands of sea urchins littering the path to the distant reef which must have been a good 1/2 - 1 mile out and once there, looked quite hard to get in - and certainly out.
We went on a Blue Safari tour which gives you a boat ride, slipper lobster dinner on a beach, diving/snorkelling, swimming with dolphins (you see them but no chance of getting near them) and a sail boat ride back. We really enjoyed it. That was in the nature reserve at the south of the island.
Other things to do were a trip to the monkey "reserve" which was OK and you get to see a fair few monkeys (red something or others). We missed that "resort trip" so the resort hired us a mini-bus and we went alone and it was much cheaper and better that way. We went to Stonetown - mainly filled with hawkers and very run down generally. Took a trip from there to Prison Island which is worth it as it has a colony of giant tortoises there.
Freddie Mercury lived there very fleetingly and never went back - probably didn't have an Evora - tells you enough I think.
Roads are largely unmade gravel tracks and minor contact with other vehicles not unusual.
Would I go again? Probably not as, ecologically, it was pretty much like Kerala in Southern India which, while lacking the diving variety, was very similar in terms of what it offered scenically and far far cheaper. I think what I disliked about Zanzibar was it ought to be a cheap destination but the way they have it sewn up, it works out quite expensive for what it is.
We had lovely weather. It does monsoon with rain for an hour or so occasionally but that soon goes.
On the diving, we saw quite a few large fish, some lion fish and some cuttlefish. Water was clear but as the daily access to the "big sea" was ruled out, it was just the one day - doubtless you could arrange your own transport down to the reserve but like I say, Africa may have bigger risks than India when travelling about.
Edited by LuS1fer on Monday 5th September 12:42
Stonetown is OK for a few hours; interesting old town, shops & cafes and you really have to visit the slave centres while you're there. Freddie Mercury's old house is a tourist tat shop but I've seen worse.
We had a week on Pemba island, just to the North. Sublime.
If you're at all worried about flying and claustrophobic you won't enjoy the island flights! Just trust the pilot.
We had a week on Pemba island, just to the North. Sublime.
If you're at all worried about flying and claustrophobic you won't enjoy the island flights! Just trust the pilot.
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff