Russian tourists are just starting to open forZanzibar himself, although many have heard of him since childhood. Remember, in Chukovsky: "We live in Zanzibar, in the Kalahari and the Sahara ..."? To tell you in detail about this small corner of our vast Earth, one article will not be enough, but you can characterize the charming island of Zanzibar in just a few words - “Akuna matata!”, Which translates approximately like this: problems. This is the whole meaning, spirit, way of life of the islanders and the very atmosphere of Zanzibar, into which everyone who comes here is immersed.
Zanzibar Island: where is it?
If you visualize Africa, itsthe eastern part, washed by the Indian Ocean, and then even the children of the famous island of Madagascar, and slightly move from it to the north towards the mainland, then you will fall into the water area where the island of Zanzibar is located. Next to it from the north-west side there is a little smaller island of Pemba and a lot of very small, mostly uninhabited. Another landmark for those who travel a lot is Zanzibar located about the same place as the Seychelles, only to the west, closer to the mainland, from which only 40 km of water is separated. Previously, Zanzibar was called Unguja, but even now many locals call it that way.
How to get there
Попасть на остров Занзибар с континента можно по air and water. There is a small airport that receives aircraft from Tanzania, some African and European countries. From Moscow, of course, there are no direct flights here. You need to fly to the mainland of Tanzania to the capital's international airport. Flights are carried out by several airlines, including Swiss, Qatar Airlines, and Emirates. In Dubai, it is necessary to stop for docking, and the airline Emirates offers overnight, while others just waiting for the desired flight at the airport. The flight from Moscow to one of the two capitals of Tanzania - Dar es Salaam - lasts from 10 hours, the ticket costs from 45 thousand rubles (with discounts it can be cheaper). In Dar es Salaam there is a second local airport from which flights to Zanzibar are made. The ticket, according to the latest data, costs $ 65. The road from one airport to another takes about an hour. In addition to aircraft, there are passenger ferries to the island from the mainland, starting in the capital’s port.
A couple of words about the story
Once upon a time, Zanzibar Island was the outskirts of the continent,but in the Miocene, a part of the land fell, and the outskirts received "independence". The local tribes that lived here were engaged in fishing, hunting and other harmless crafts, until the Persians appeared on the island in the 10th century. They brought the local population to Islam (still the dominant religion in Zanzibar) and actively engaged in the slave trade, catching their live goods in the jungle. In the XVI century on the island dominated the Portuguese, who took over the slave trade baton from the Persians. A fierce war began against the new colonizers in the 17th century. By the middle of the 19th century, a sultanate was established in the country, which existed until 1964, when the long-suffering Zanzibar declared long-awaited independence. In the same year, he became part of Tanganyika, which changed its name to Tanzania (so that it also had something from Zanzibar). The island remained autonomous, has its own flag, its own customs, its own way of life, even its own president.
Neighboring Islands
В данной акватории Индийского океана остров Zanzibar is the largest, but not the only one. The second largest and most competitive island in tourism is Pemba, which lies about 45 km north of Zanzibar. It is rich in interesting sights and great beaches. There is also a small airport here, but it is more convenient to get here by water. There are only a couple of inhabited islands in the water area - Uzi and Tumbatu, located 2 km from Zanzibar. The islands are rather small, up to 10 km long. Their isolation is largely due to the multiple corals that impede their path to them. For the same reason (sharp corals around) other islands of the water area remain undeveloped. A very similar name to Pemba, the island of Pnemba (Mnemba) is also located just two kilometers from Zanzibar, only from the ocean. It is tiny in size - only 5 hundred meters in diameter, but very interesting for divers. A private property, Pnemba is open only to elite tourists.
Climate
Zanzibar Island is located just south of the line.the equator. The climate here is subequatorial, with distinct rainy seasons. The heat, which in theory should be at the equator, is not in Zanzibar. This is facilitated by fresh breezes, bringing a pleasant coolness. In the African summer, the average daytime air temperature is +30 +32, at night +24 +25. The temperature of ocean water off the coast + 24 + 26, that is, for recreation from November to March is a heavenly place. But during the rainy season (from March to May and from September to November) sometimes there are such rains that it is impossible to stick your nose out into the street. In Zanzibar, this time is called the low season. Many hotels and restaurants then close, and the rest in half or more lower prices. But there are years when it rains quite a bit from the sky during the rainy season, and the rest is quite comfortable.
Beaches
Advertising Bounty removed in six places, and couldchoose only one - the island of Zanzibar. The photos give an idea of how white sand is on the local beaches, but it’s hard to imagine how soft and soft it is like powder. The color of the water in the photo is turquoise blue, and in fact it is. Add to the silent picture the rustling palms of trees, the fresh ocean breeze, the unobtrusive chirping of birds - and here they are, the beaches of Zanzibar. There are no noisy water parks with water slides, jet skis, catamarans, "bananas" and other leisure activities inherent in the seaside resorts. Maximum entertainment - volleyball net and surfer board. But the beaches of Zanzibar, especially on the east side of the island, have their own peculiarity - the ebb and flow. The ocean can “leave” from the coast for more than a kilometer, which is not very pleasant for holidaymakers, but it is used to the maximum by local citizens who collect everything that can be used on the exposed bottom. On the beaches of the mainland, the ebb and flow is almost not noticeable, so the rest there is more popular. A good place to spend time without problems is Kendwa village. Besides him, the popular beaches Pongve, Uroa, Jambiani, Nungwi, Kivengava, Chvaka.
Vegetable world
Unique natural wealth is famousTanzania. The island of Zanzibar, separated from the mainland a few millennia ago, boasts plants and animals that have long since disappeared in other parts of Africa. That is why the island of Zanzibar, and with it the whole archipelago is considered a natural reserve. What is curious: on the island, virgin nature, represented by the Jozan forest, and man-made, including huge spice plantations, coexist peacefully. What is just not grown! Cinnamon, vanilla, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, coffee, cardamom, pepper. These and dozens of other spices used by us in the kitchen can be seen and tried on excursions that are organized on the plantation. And in the virgin forest grow mangroves, date palms, dozens of vines and hundreds of other plants, large and small. To walk around this corner of nature, be sure to wear pants and high shoes, because you have to walk not along the asphalt paths, but along barely noticeable paths in the undergrowth.
Animal world
Who wants to go to uncharted islands,Zanzibar - what you need. The animal world here is unique. In the hotel where you stay, as well as on the streets of the city and, of course, in the forest, you will be accompanied by bright and leisurely lazy, large and small lizards. There is a lot of them on all islands of the archipelago. Exotic butterflies fluttering over exotic and ordinary flowers will delight the eye. Dozens of birds can be seen in the crowns of trees and on the coast, many of which are very rare and live only in Zanzibar. Among them are spotted pigeons with red plumage, hornbill, Fisher toucans, a total of 47 species. Among the animals we can name colobus - cute monkeys living in the Jozani forest, macaques - petty thieves pulling all the food that the tourists were left unattended for a short time, leopards who try not to catch sight of tourists, antelopes, flying dogs living on the island of Graves cobras, black and green mamboes, the bite of which is 100% lethal, and, of course, large turtles. To see them, you need to make a trip to a cute island where a prison and a link existed for patients with yellow fever. The island is called Prison Island. Excursion here will cost about $ 100. Speaking of the animal world, it is impossible not to mention the dozens of coral fish that can be seen among the reefs. Clown fish, parrot fish, barracuda, bonito are just some of them.
Excursions
In addition to trips to the farm of spices and the islandPrisons, visit Stone Town (Stone Town) considers it their duty, everyone who arrived on the island of Zanzibar. The photo shows one of its main highlights - the carved door. Do not be surprised, this unique place is famous for its unique doors. In addition to these, in Stone Town, the palace of one of the former sultans of Zanzibar, called the House of Miracles, is of interest. It attracts mainly with its appearance, and the “miracles” at the time of its construction were an elevator, a water tap, and electric light bulbs. In the Stone City you should definitely see the Persian baths, the museum located in the palace, the Malindi mosque, the Shakti temple.
Food
Stone City can not be circumvented not only because of hisrelics, but also because of the catering facilities that are the best on the island. Of course, they are in other places, but seasoned tourists and guides know that in Taun’s cafes and restaurants they cook better, feed them more nourishing, and dishes, even though European cuisine, even local, are much more digestible for the stomachs of Europeans. The most common dish in Zanzibar is Pilau rice, which is eaten with leek salad. It is worth trying the sorpothel (stewed with seasonings pork, beef tongue, heart, liver), porridge, salad mchicha, lobster, lobster, fish and meat, cooked in an unusual way with the addition of spices in the most fantastic combinations.
Hotels
Rest on the island of Zanzibarassumes accommodation in any hotel. Their choice is unusually wide - from modest "guest houses", for example, Beit al-Chai, to high-class hotel complexes that provide rest at a European level, for example, Hilton Resort Zanzibar. The hotels are located along the entire coastline, as well as in Stone Town. In high season, of course, prices are twice as high as in low. Also prices depend on the location of the hotel and on the category of rooms. Interesting hotel "Coffee House", where each room is not familiar to all categories of "standard", "luxury", "deluxe", and the names of coffee sorts - "espresso" (the easiest from $ 75 per duck), "mokato" (more spaciously and more expensive) and so on. You can book a room in any hotel through a travel agency or independently, which is much cheaper.
Additional Information
The islands of Zanzibar belong to the RepublicTanzania, but included in the autonomy of Zanzibar. Although 60% of Tanzanians are Christians, Islam dominates the island, which brings its own characteristics to the lifestyle and behavior of Zanzibarians. For example, most of them do not welcome photography. It is also undesirable in public places (in the market, in shops, just on the streets of the cities) to have too frank outfits on yourself. In terms of crime, Zanzibar is a relatively quiet place, but walking alone at night away from public places is not recommended. It is also not recommended to flaunt in jewelry and in every way show your good financial situation. Entering a mosque or a private house (if you are invited), you must unload yourself. Smoking in public places of Zanzibar is prohibited, and kissing, hugging - disrespectful to others.
A few more features of the island:
- Swahili (all) and English (not all) are spoken here;
- money needs to be changed only in official institutions (bank, hotel, airport);
- payment by credit cards here is only accepted in some hotels and shops, cash is not issued for them;
- vaccination against yellow fever coming from Russia can not do;
- tap water can not be used even for washing and brushing your teeth;
- As a souvenir, spices, clothes, paintings, handicrafts, jewelry are being brought from here, and tanzinite is especially valued.
Zanzibar Island: reviews
Those who are fortunate enough to go here, consider a lengthy flight a minor disadvantage of rest.
Notable pluses:
- gorgeous nature;
- fabulous beaches;
- good weather (in high season);
- pleasant hospitable locals;
- interesting excursions;
- comfortable hotels in different price categories;
- a real exotic.
