Zanzibar excursions : There are many things to do when visiting Zanzibar island and some of the excursions to take part in when visiting the island include the following;
Stone town tours
Stone town is found in the heart of Zanzibar and visiting this place gives you a historical and cultural experience of the people of Zanzibar, Zanzibar excursions.
Some of the places to go to when visiting Stone town include Darajani market, the old fort, the old slave market, the house of wonders among other places.
The town is also known for its architecture which portrays the influence of the different cultures on the island such as Persian, Indian, Arabic among others. You can also see the famous Zanzibar doors during a tour of Stone town.
Visiting stone town and touring the different places around can tale about 3 hours. The alleyways are narrow and the best experience when visiting the town is on foot and with the help of a local guide you can interact with the locals and enjoy getting to know and feel what the daily life in this historical town of Zanzibar is like.
Swimming with dolphins
You can also take part in a dolphin tour when visiting Zanzibar and this tour can be done as a private excursion.
The dolphin tour can take about 3 to 4 hours and it is carried out in different places around Zanzibar such as Mnemba island, Kichwani among others. The activity starts with a dhow ride to where the dolphins are in the Indian ocean.
The Mnemba island reef is one of the best places to see dolphins as well as other fish species during a tour on Zanzibar island. During the activity, the dolphins also get close to the boats and swimming with the dolphins can be done in the morning or in the afternoon.
Snorkeling
Another excursion to take part in when visiting Zanzibar island is snorkeling. During snorkeling on the island, you get to enjoy seeing the diverse marine life of the Indian ocean and also the coral reefs.
Snorkeling in Zanzibar is carried out in many locations and some of the places where snorkeling is done include Mnemba atoll, Nungwi beach, Paje beach, Jambiani beach among others. This activity can also be done at any time of the year and the best time to snorkel is February and March and also from July to September, Zanzibar excursions.
During snorkeling, equipment can be provided by the tour operators who organize the activity in Zanzibar.
Jozani forest reserve
The Jozani Chwaka bay national park is another place to go to when in Zanzibar. This destination is the perfect place to enjoy nature and also see the rare red colobus monkeys.
This tour is a half day experience and it takes place in the only national park on the island and it is located on the south Eastern part of Zanzibar. Activities which are carried out around Jozani forest include nature walks and there are also various bird species which can be seen in the forest.
Mangrove walks are also carried out when visiting the park and there is a board walk which visitors of Jozani forest can use to go into the mangrove habitat. This experience is the perfect way to get close to nature when visiting Zanzibar island.
Visiting the beaches
A trip to Zanzibar is not complete without going to at least one of the many beaches found around the island.
There are different beaches to go to and relax along the white sands and these include Nungwi beach, Kendwa beach, Paje beach, Kiwengwa beach, Jambiani beach, Matemwe beach, Bwejuu beach, Michamvi beach, Kizimkazi beach among others.
Relaxing by the beach, taking beach walks, enjoying views of the ocean are among the things you can do when at one of the beaches in Zanzibar.
Spice tours
Spice tours are also carried out when visiting Zanzibar which is also referred to as the spice island, Zanzibar excursions.
A guided tour of the spice plantations can take about 2 to 3 hours of getting to know how the spices are grown and packaged and also the different uses of the spices such as cloves, nutmeg, vanilla, cinnamon among others.
There are also different fruits which are grown on the island during the spice tours which you can taste such as jackfruit, bananas, coconut among others. After completing the spice tour, you can also get a taste of the local food prepared using the spices grown on the island.
Dhow rides and boat cruises
For many years dhows have been used as means of transport to get to different places around Zanzibar island.
The dhow rides can be taken in the morning or at sunset when visiting Zanzibar island and it can take about 2 to 3 hours of enjoying the dhow rides on the Indian ocean. Some of these tours are done as part of a private tour while others are group tours.
When visiting Zanzibar island the dhow cruise in some places starts from Stone town and continues along the coast and it can also start from Fumba beach.
Safari blue excursion
Another activity which is carried out when in Zanzibar is the safari blue excursion. The Safari blue tour is an activity which starts from Fumba village.
This activity is a full day experience which involves a dhow ride, snorkeling, tasting tropical fruits and also enjoying a buffet of sea foods as well as drinks. The snorkeling equipment is also provided during the Safari blue tour which also includes entrance fee of Mena bay conservation area.
Swimming is also carried out during the safari blue excursion in Zanzibar which can be a group tour or private tour.
Changuu island tour
Visiting Changuu Island is another excursion to take part in when visiting Zanzibar island. Changuu island is also referred to as the Prison island and it is a place in Zanzibar where you can see giant tortoises during a tour.
Changuu island can be accessed by taking a boat from Stone town which takes about 30 minutes to 45 minutes. During the tour of Prison island, you can also engage in swimming and snorkeling.
