Discover Zanzibar during Covid.

Zanzibar Island is one of the few countries in the world right now that you can travel to freely.

As of today, you do not require a Covid PCR test to enter the country and you do not require to go into mandatory quarantine (unless you have symptoms).

On arrival you will have your temperature taken and if you show signs of symptoms, you will be required to take a test, if not, you are free as a bird.

Location

Also known as Unguja in the local Swahili dialect, the island lies 22 miles or approximately 35 kilometres off the coast of east central Africa. Although the island’s capital is Zanzibar city, Zanzibar itself is considered part of the United Republic of Tanzania.

Language

As a favourite tourist destination, Zanzibar features one of the most diverse communities for an island. The most widely spoken language is a highly Arabicized form of Swahili which is popular among almost everyone but more so the Arab community. Gujarati, Hindu, Urdu and Konkani are also different dialects spoken by the island’s Asian community.

History and Ethnic Diversity

Zanzibar is part of Tanzania. In addition to the fact that it is not part of mainland Tanzania, Zanzibar has its own unique flag that was adopted on January 9, 2005. Today, Zanzibar has a population of 705,000, 99% of whom are Muslims. The island also features four major ethnicities that include: Arabs, Hadimu, Swahili and the Tumbatu.

Quick Facts

1. Due to its proximity to the equator, Zanzibar sees perfect 12 hour days and 12 hour nights throughout the year.

2. There are two rainy seasons i.e. the monsoons that last from March to May and short rains that last from November to December.

3. In the 18th century, the island was mainly used as a spice plantation. To date, the island has an abundance of cinnamon, black pepper, nutmeg and ginger which causes it to sometimes be referred to as Spice Island.

4. If you’re a fan of the British rock band, Queen, here is an interesting fact for you. Lead vocalist Freddie Mercury was born in Zanzibar and named Farrokh Bulsara!

Local Delicacies

Just like most coastal locations, Zanzibar has an amazing diversity when it comes to delicacies. From my experience, here is a list of my favourite meals:

· Mishikaki, traditionally made beef or chicken skewers

· Coconut soup

· Mchuzi wa Pweza also known as octopus soup. For seafood lovers, this dish hits the right spot, and is locally known to boost sexual desire.

· Mandazi, small locally cooked donuts that go down as a delight for breakfast or as a snack.

Currency

Zanzibar uses the Tanzanian Shilling as their official currency. As of publishing this post, the Tanzanian Shilling was trading at 3136 against the pound. This means that 2 GBP is approximately equal to 6k TZS.

Flight

A tourist visa to the island costs approximately $50, speaking from a British passport holder. I recommend acquiring it before hand to save time on arrival. I took a 7-hour flight from London, United Kingdom to Doha, Qatar where I had a 2 hour stop over. I then took a 6-hour flight to Tanzania’s capital, Dar es-Salaam. For the final leg of the journey, I onboarded my final 1-hour flight to Zanzibar’s Abeid Amani Karume International Airport.

My total travel time was 14 hours for a combined cost of £600. Unfortunately, there are no direct flights from the UK to Zanzibar so you’ll have to bear with the long journey.

Accommodation and Logistics

To make my stay as convenient as possible, I bought a local network sim card at the airport and loaded it with a 20GB data plan for a total of $20. To avoid being exploited by taxi drivers, I also chose to hire my own car. I got an amazing silver 4x4 Suzuki from Kibabu Cars for $25 per day for 6 days + a $10 permit, equating to $170.

For my accommodation, I chose a nice Airbnb in Stone Town, located just 20 minutes from the airport.

First and Second Nights

I spent the first and second night checking out the city. Some notable spots that I had visited include Beach House Bar and Restaurant where I enjoyed some great cocktails and breakfast. I also visited Park Hyat, which is a great beach side hotel. However, found it a bit pricey with cocktails ranging between £8-£12.

The night scene is absolutely amazing and I must say Zanzibarians really do know how to party. Some recommendable night clubs to visit include Tatu, Bwawan and 6 Degrees South.

After spending 2 nights in the city, I then checked into Aluna Hotel in Nungwi which is located south of the island. Here, I completed my practical open water dives in crystal clear blue waters with Spanish Divers. Also in the region, I checked out a rescue centre for wild animals called Cheetah Rock. Here you get to pet and feed exotic animals for several hours. The mini zoo features exotic animals such as cheetahs, zebras, bush babies, monkeys, antelopes, hyenas, white lions, and the rare red colobus monkey. I highly recommend this once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience such close contact with wild and endangered species.

Conclusion

If you really want to travel don’t let covid stop you. There are places like Zanzibar waiting open armed. Follow the rules, be safe and enjoy the moment. We don’t know how long this will last for, if it lasted for 20 years, does that mean you won’t travel for 20 years?

Enjoy life but stay safe.