Tours - zanzibarforholiday

TOURS ... SPORT & DIVING

Nature will bear the most careful observer. It invites us to place our gaze
at the height of its smallest leaf and to have an insect's point of view of its plain.

"Work is contrasted with another kind of effort that does not arise from an imposition, but from a truly free and generous impulse of the vital power: sport"

(José Ortega y Gasset).

IN THE CITY - STONE TOWN

The town is a fascinating labyrinth of mysterious alleys, immersed and shrouded in centuries of history. Around every corner you can discover something new and magical; an old decrepit palace, a Persian public bathhouse, a grand coral stone residence with carved gates and wooden balconies, the ruins of some ancient glory, a school resounding with children's voices. Stone Town, sometimes also called Zanzibar City, is the capital of the state of Zanzibar and it is by far the largest populated center on the island; it occupies a triangular-like shaped area bounded on two sides by the sea and on the other by Creed Road. The majority of the points of interest are located in the northern part, on the waterfront. One of the most fascinating experience here is waiting for the evening, sipping an aperitif and enjoying the sunset over the ocean in a blazing palette of colours; the most spectacular sunset can be admired in the period between October and March.

SPICES TOUR

In the past, spices were the key product of Isle of Zanzibar's economy. Nowadays, it is no longer the case, but plantations still occupy a substantial part of the central territory; they can be visited through special tours where you have the chance stimulate your palate tasting a variety of spices, herbs and fruits grown on the island, including vanilla, black pepper, cloves, cardomom, cannella, nutmeg, breadfruit, jackfruit (jaka) and lemongrass. Usually the spices tour lasts half a day and follows a specific program: starting in the morning visiting plantations and historical sites in center of Stone Town and ending with the lunch. However, tt is possible to design your spices tour managing the destinations such as visiting schools or local villages.

SHAMANS' ISLAND - THE BLACK MAGIC

There are a great primordial tradition, folk beliefs, ghosts and lots of black magic in Zanzibar. The allure of mystery that shrouds the island of Tumbatu is the reason you must visit this island, making it an immediate must-see stop of your Zanzibar trip. Although the ancient history of this island remains unknown, ruins of an ancient worship place have been found on its southern tip, apparently dating the place about the early 11th century. Here, its inhabitants have remained particularly conservative, bonded to local traditions, guess that to land on the island a permission from the village chief is required. The traditions of this island are strictly linked to the roots of black Africa, rekindling the fire of a voodoo culture that have never fully died out. Black magic is performed throughout the island's secluded coves, the magic rituals here means life and they represents the Africa itself. Thus among the palm trees, ancient and magical rites are performed, spirits and deities are invoked, animals are sacrificed to obtain wealth, love and health.

WILD LIFE - THE WHALES WATCHING

If you want to learn in detail what this excursion is all about, how to dress up and how to get ready in the best way, you are in the right place. It is one of the most popular and requested excursion due to the tight time-frame to have the best chance to sea the whales; our advice is to book the whale watching tour as soon as possible. Our boat tours offer the opportunity to see closely these majestic mammals.

PRISON ISLAND

JOZANI FOREST

NAKUPENDA BEACH

Prison Island, also known by the names "Changuu," "Quarantine Island," and in older sources as "Kibandiko," is a small island in Tanzania, belonging to the Zanzibar archipelago. A colony of giant tortoises lives on the island. The origin of this turtle colony is controversial, although it is almost certain that they came from Aldabra Island; and according to some sources, they were brought to Prison Island in the 19th century to protect the species from extinction. On the island you can also visit prisons built for slaves as well as relaxing on the beach with the opportunity to snorkel on the reef.

Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park is a national park established in 2003 that includes Jozani Forest and Chwaka Bay Lagoon. Within the park you can walk through the nature trail, about 45 minutes, and then take advantage of a nearby wooden boardwalk that runs along a waterway among mangroves. In addition to the most famous colonies of Colobus monkeys (Red Colobus), about 6,000 ones, numerous peculiar animals live in this small park, such as the Cephalophus Adersi, another endangered species and protected by Zanzibar law being one of the smallest species of cephalophus.

This strip of sand, also known as "Pange," is a very white beach that rises above a deep blue sea. The excursion includes being spoiled with delicious seafood barbecue for lunch; after lunch you will be guided to discover the history and be able to join the Prison Island tour as well if requested. Nakupenda is located in front of Stone Town and it is a spectacle, an explosion of life, from the first moment you see it from the boat. It is usually only possible to visit this extraordinary strip of land in the morning due to the tidal phenomenon (another predominant feature in Zanzibar).

NUNGWI

MAFIA ISLAND

LE SPICE FARM

Nungwi is a fishing village located in the northern end of Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar archipelago. It was known in the past for being one of the most active construction sites of "dhows," the typical fishing boat of Zanzibar Island. Today it is one of the most popular tourist destinations even if, until the mid-1990s, the local population was against the tourism, which is why its beach was one of the last areas to have hotels and restaurants. Here a small aquarium with sea turtles can be visited as well.

Also known as "Chole Samba," is an island in Tanzania, located in the Indian Ocean about 25 kilometres from the mainland coast. Together with Zanzibar and Pemba, it belongs to a group of islands referred to as the "spices islands". The park encloses a unique and diverse ecosystems of estuary, mangroves, coral reef and marine channel. Recommended for snorkelling and diving activities (including whale shark watching), it is also renowned for deep-sea fishing: famous for the presence of tuna, marlin and other large fishes.

The spices farms are special places where, through a guided tour, you can discover all the secrets of spices and herbs, amid scents and colours that exist only here on Zanzibar Island. The plants and spices that you will be able to admire are countless: nutmeg, coffee, curry, cardamom, turmeric, lemon grass, pineapple, cocoa, pepper, vanilla, cloves, palms with their coconuts, avocado, aloe, different species of banana trees, almonds, as well as many other trees full of fragrant flowers.

SPORT

It is now known by everyone that motion is good for you from both a physical and psychological point of view. That is why it would be important to do it all the time, adopting a more active lifestyle every day and playing sports regularly without interruption. What about on vacation? Ideally, you should not stop practicing even when you are away from home ... and Zanzibar supports you in that really well.

erfect wind conditions for surfing and kitesurfing, winds paddle ... sea depths ranging from 5 to 45 meters, for diving and snorkelling ... padel, tennis, soccer and basketball courts. Adventures by bicycle, buggy or quad bike on Zanzibar's roads and in the island's forests. As well as unforgettable scenery for walks to the reef among crabs, tropical fishes and starfishes.

DIVING

Zanzibar is a "diving archipelago" that will leave you breathless. The scene setting is a cluster of islands made of white beaches, wrapped in the turquoise color of its lagoons, in a lush land where the marine flora and fauna are incredibly diverse; the coral reefs count more than 500 different species. We offer snorkelling activities, boat trips to see the seabed, deep-sea scuba diving, and courses for those who have never experienced diving before or for those who want to fine-tune their level. It is worth to mention that the Zanzibar archipelago is one of the most impressive places to spot the world's largest fish ... the WHALE SHARK.

CHEETAH’S ROCK

A special mention for this tour, not only because of the opportunity to get in touch with all the animals present (supported by excellent staff), but also because of the goal of this "project" aimed at the preservation and the conservation of wild animals. The people who work there, tirelessly, have as their goal the care and health of the animals, with the intention of giving them the happiness they deserve and release them into the wild when possible. Cheetah's Rock offers free round-trip transfers, as well as storage of any luggage during the tour. It is located on the west coast of Zanzibar, north of Stone Town and south of Nungwi, and there are two types of tours to choose from: "Big Wildlife Tour" and "VIP Otter Experience." The "Big Wildlife Tour" allows you to safely interact with cheetahs, symbols of the park, with opportunities to touch, pet and photograph them; you can feed apples and carrots to zebras, act as an obstacle track for monkeys, observe hyenas, turtles, lemurs, Suni antelopes, tigers and lions (even the white lion). The VIP Otter Experience adds the chance to swim with otters and the opportunity to approach other animals depending on park availability. Cheetah's Rock will give you a unique experience to "touch" wildlife; having almost no government support, a visit to the park becomes means supporting the people who work there and the animals who dwell there.