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Make the Most of 4 Days in Stone Town and Zanzibar

Make the Most of 4 Days in Stone Town and Zanzibar


avatar   Stacy
Trip Date 08/19/2023
Posted On 02/19/2024 13:00:00

Destinations | Tanzania | Zanzibar | Spice Islands | Stone Town | UNESCO | Menai Bay | Beach | Prison Island | Spice Farm | Cooking Class | Jozani Forest | Dhow Boat | Sunset | Snorkeling | Darajani Market | Zanzibar Tour Guide | How to Get Around Zanzibar | Itinerary | What to Do in Zanzibar



Just like any other city that you're visiting for the first time, making the most of a stay in Zanzibar requires considerable pre-planning. For us, we started with a planned 8-day safari on the mainland of Tanzania scheduled for August of 2020. Due to pandemic uncertainties, we postponed our travels for three consecutive years - giving us even more time to plan! The company with whom we arranged our safari offered supplemental add-on packages, however we opted to plan our stay in the Spice Islands on our own.

After many hours of research, we created our "must-do" list which included the UNESCO World Heritage Site Stone Town, the Darajani Market, Prison Island, Jozani Forest and a sunset sail on a dhow boat. Although we usually prefer to explore DIY style, during the course of my research, something drew me to In Zanzibar by Aiysha, a highly recommended local Zanzibar tour guide. I reached out to Aiysha Mohammed, shared my ideas and asked for recommendations. Following our correspondence, we decided that we had the time to add some additional destinations including a visit to a spice farm with a cooking class plus some time either at a beach or on a snorkeling excursion in Menai Bay.

In this article we start with a brief history of Zanzibar before revealing our top seven recommended sites to see for those with only four days in the archipelago. After helpful information on guided tours with In Zanzibar by Aiysha, we wrap up with more tips for planning a visit to the Spice Islands including how to get around Zanzibar and important money matters. You'll leave with plenty of ideas for what to do in Zanzibar and how to plan your itinerary.

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Meet Zanzibar

In the Indian Ocean just east of the African mainland country of Tanzania lies the archipelago known as Zanzibar. The group of islands includes the two largest and most populated islands, Unguja (commonly called the main island) and Pemba, plus numerous smaller islands. The largest city and capital, Zanzibar City, is located on the central west coast of the main island which many refer to as Zanzibar. The historic center of Zanzibar City is Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A few years after Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer, made landfall in Zanzibar, the islands became a possession of Portugal in the early 1500s. Nearly 200 years later, Omani rule took over and the wealth in the islands increased significantly due to trade (cloves, ivory and slavery). It wasn't until 1876 that the slave trade was officially abolished by the British who then took over rule of Zanzibar in 1890. In 1964, the islands of Zanzibar joined with the mainland known as Tanganyika to form the United Republic of Tanzania.

Now that you know a bit about the history of Zanzibar, here's our list of the seven places that we recommend including in your four-day itinerary. Although it's difficult to put them in an order of importance, we've made our best attempt at ranking the list. The good news is that with just four days (or maybe even 3 1/2 days if you fill every minute of your time), you can easily fit them all in!

Map created with Wanderlog, for making itineraries on iOS and Android

1. Take a Walking Tour of Stone Town

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, no visit to Zanzibar is complete without a stroll through the historic center known as Stone Town, thus ranking it number one on our list. Stone Town is located in Zanzibar City, the capital of Zanzibar, and is found on the western side of the archipelago's largest island (Unguja). If you look at a map, you might notice that the historic area is triangular in shape with a coastline on two of its three sides.

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The streets (or alleys) of Stone Town are narrow, the buildings are old (some are more well preserved than others) and the architectural styles are varied. As you explore Stone Town, you'll notice influences from African, Arab, European, Indian and Persian cultures. The oldest building, the Old Fort (also known as the Arab Fort) dates back to the late 17th century.


Zanzibar's Old Fort

Zanzibar's Old Fort

The House of Wonders (or Palace of Wonders) is one of the most well-known sites in Stone Town. It was the first building in Zanzibar to have electricity, but due to the collapse of a part of the building, it is not currently open to visitors.

Other buildings in the historic center that are popular with tourists include the St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Cathedral, the Christ Church Cathedral (an Anglican cathedral built on the site of the former slave market), the Freddie Mercury Museum (in the home where the singer lived with his family during his youth) and the Old Dispensary.


The Old Dispensary

The Old Dispensary

In addition to commercial property, there are also private residences in Stone Town. Today, it is the Zanzibari doors on these homesteads that are the most talked about characteristic. Each of the wooden doors are uniquely carved and often have elaborate embellishments. In general, the rectangular doors are attributed to Indian architecture while the rounded entrance doors, like that on the home of former slave trader Tippu Tip, have an Arab influence.


Tippu Tip's Entry

Tippu Tip's Entry

For more details on what to see during a walking tour of Stone Town, come back next month for an article solely devoted to the historic center of Zanzibar. In addition to a more complete list of the not to be missed buildings, we'll also give you some hints on where to eat plus where to see an early evening free "show" that's fun for the whole family!

2. Menai Bay Conservation Area, Blue Lagoon & Kwale Island (Snorkel, Swim and Lunch)

Most people have a vision of a tropical paradise when they think of Zanzibar - sandy beaches, beautiful water and tropical fish. Because of this, it just makes sense that an excursion which includes enjoying a dip (or snorkel) in the inviting ocean waters would rank high on a must do-list. If, however, you've got more than four days to spend in Zanzibar, we recommend a two-stop stay. Spend a minimum of three days in the Stone Town area and, rather than just having one day to fulfill your "beach fix", choose an oceanside resort with easy access to the clear blue waters to spend the remainder of your time.

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For those with limited time in Zanzibar (4 days or less), a day trip aboard a traditional wooden Arabian dhow is the best way to experience the sandy beaches and blue waters for which the islands are known. After boarding the dhow, your captain and crew will sail southwest of the island into the Menai Bay Conservation Area. A mid morning stop at a sandbank gives everyone aboard the opportunity to wade or swim in the crystal clear water or to just relax in the sun or under a shade awning.


All Aboard Kapka for a Day of Fun

All Aboard Kapka for a Day of Fun

Relax, Swim or Wade? The Choice is Yours!

Relax, Swim or Wade? The Choice is Yours!

After snacking on fresh tropical fruits served by the crew, everyone returns to the dhow for more time in the bay. You'll have your choice of soaking in the beauty of the bay while relaxing on the boat or "jumping" into the water for some swimming or snorkeling. In addition to the Indian Ocean being home to dolphins, which you may see while sailing, there's plenty of colorful fish swimming among the coral reefs.

Once all are back on board, the captain will head towards Kwale Island by way of the Blue Lagoon. Surrounded by a mangrove plantation, you'll immediately know when you pass through one of the two narrow entrances into the natural swimming pool filled with calm, turquoise blue waters. It's this same protected lagoon that boats often wait out severe weather for safety.


Clear Blue Waters of the Blue Lagoon

Clear Blue Waters of the Blue Lagoon

After pulling up to Kwale Island, your crew will walk with you past a restroom (actually, a "pay" squatty potty) and a tourist market where you can purchase souvenirs (beach apparel, shells, picture frames, etc.). After being seated in the thatched-roof restaurant, a traditional Swahili seafood lunch is served.


Lobster, Calamari, Fish, Octopus and Prawns - What a Meal!

Lobster, Calamari, Fish, Octopus and Prawns - What a Meal!

Before heading back to your starting point, pictures by the island's famous Baobab tree are a must. Some sources estimate the tree to be as many as 500 years old. As soon as you approach the giant tree, you'll realize something is not quite right! The tree was actually downed by a storm in the last 75 years or so, however it continued to grow.


Mbuyu (Adasonia Digitata), Zanzibar's Famous Baobab Tree

Mbuyu (Adasonia Digitata), Zanzibar's Famous Baobab Tree

No matter which tour company you choose, boarding and/or disembarking the dhow may require wading through knee-high water between the boat and the shore. As with all excursions on the water, the final itinerary (and order in which stops are made) is dependent upon the current weather conditions.

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3. Spice Farm Tour, Cooking Class and Lunch

With the nickname "The Spice Islands", how can a Spice Farm tour not rank high on a list of the must-do's? And, why not couple that tour with a cooking class followed by a traditional Swahili lunch featuring some of the spices grown right there on the farm?

It's probably no surprise that spices have been important to the islands for hundreds of years. Credit is usually given to the Portuguese for first introducing some of the many plants that yielded spices on Zanzibari lands. Later, it was the Arabs who were responsible for creating large spice plantations, many of which still produce spices to this day. It was at this point that the "spice trade" became important to the Zanzibar economy.

While spices are commonly associated with cooking, in many parts of the world, they are important for so much more, hence the reason why they are so valuable. Some cultures rely on spice plants for their medicinal or healing benefits. Many religions believe in the spiritual significance of spices and often use them in religious ceremonies. Some spice plants are even used in the creation of dyes and/or cosmetics.

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Although spices are still important to the economy of Zanzibar, income from tourism has surpassed that from the "spice trade". Cloves are still grown on the islands, but Zanzibar is no longer the world's largest producer and exporter of the spice. In addition to cloves, spices sold in the biggest quantities these days include black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg and turmeric. Saffron, the world's most expensive spice, is also produced in Zanzibar.

Today, a spice farm tour gives people a chance to explore a small farm that is in the business of producing spices as well as fruits. As you stroll through the farm, your guide will break off a small part of numerous plants or trees. After pressing or crushing the leaves between your fingers, you'll get the chance to smell (or even taste) and then identify each plant. Even if you aren't very good at the identification phase (like us), it's still fun to involve all of your senses at the farm - see, touch, smell and taste before hearing about each plant and its uses and benefits.


Learning About the Fruits and Spices at Jambo Spice Farm

Learning About the Fruits and Spices at Jambo Spice Farm

The addition of a cooking class allows guests to participate in creating a lunch that they will later be able to enjoy. In the outdoor cooking hut, you'll first "dress" for your role as an assistant chef.


Thatched-Roof Hut Made for Cooking

Thatched-Roof Hut Made for Cooking

Dressing in Traditional Apparel

Dressing in Traditional Apparel

You'll meet the family and then have the opportunity to make yourself comfortable on the dirt floor where you can help by cutting/chopping/dicing fruits and vegetables, crushing spices and shredding coconut. (It's not quite like at home where you probably have a cutting board!)


Prep Chefs for the Day!

Prep Chefs for the Day!

Watching the "master chef" skillfully use the outdoor kitchen equipment is equally as fun. But for us, the best part of the class was definitely the reward of eating the tasty Swahili meal that we had a role (albeit a minor one) in preparing.


Watching and Learning from the Master!

Watching and Learning from the Master!

Depending on the time of your tour, your itinerary may be adjusted. At Jambo Spice Farm, just north of Stone Town, most visitors start with a tour of the farm followed by preparing and then eating lunch. We arrived at the farm later than many of the visitors due to our morning arrival to Zanzibar, so we kicked off our visit with the preparation of and eating our lunch. We wrapped up our visit with a tour of the farm, an opportunity to purchase spices and other items to bring home and a tasting of some tropical fruits.


Saying Goodbye at Jambo Spice Farm

Saying Goodbye at Jambo Spice Farm

Although the next two items in our list tied for 4th place, we've listed "Explore Prison Island" first due to its proximity to Stone Town. It's easy to combine a Stone Town walking tour and a trip to Prison Island to fill one of your days in Zanzibar.

4. Explore Prison Island

Just 3 1/2 miles northwest of Stone Town lies a small island suffering from an identity crisis! It can get a little confusing because, depending on who you talk to, you may hear the island referred to as Changuu Island, Prison Island or Quarantine Island:

  • Changuu is the Swahili name for a species of fish found in the waters surrounding the island.
  • Starting back in the 1860s, the island served as a prison operated by a team of Arabs to house disobedient slaves. Following the end to slavery in Zanzibar, construction began on a new prison which was completed in 1894. Although the plan was to incarcerate repeat criminals, the buildings were never used for the intended purpose.
  • Because Stone Town was the main port serving all of east Africa, there was concern about the transmission of Yellow Fever and other contagious diseases. Beginning in the early 1900s, the prison buildings were converted into a hospital used as a quarantine facility.

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There's no ferry or other form of public transportation making the transit from Stone Town to the island. If you opt to travel on your own, you'll need to arrange for a small motorized wooden boat for the 30 minute journey. The boat operator will wait for you as you explore the island and afterwards will bring you back to your starting point. You'll usually also have the option of swimming or snorkeling in the turquoise colored waters off the coast of Prison Island. (Although our round-trip ride was relatively smooth, know that others have reported that the water can be extremely choppy).


Traveling with Mr. Bean from Stone Town to Prison Island

Traveling with Mr. Bean from Stone Town to Prison Island

Once on the island, most visitors spend the majority of their time interacting with the Aldabra tortoises. Four of these giant tortoises were given to the island as a gift from the governor of the Seychelles in 1919. The tortoise population on the island grew naturally for over 35 years when some were stolen to be sold. In more recent years, the numbers have grown, and today the island is home to both young and elderly tortoises in what is often referred to as a "sanctuary".

You'll be surprised at how quickly the time passes by as you interact with these amazing creatures, many of which are much older and more than likely weigh much more than you! (Aldabra tortoises can weigh over 400 pounds and can live to be 200 or more years old. Some have their estimated ages painted on their shells - the oldest on the island during our visit was thought to be between 200 and 250 years old.)


How Can You Resist that Face?

How Can You Resist that Face?

Keep your eyes peeled and your camera ready as you mingle with tortoises during your stroll along the walkway. You're sure to be lured off of the pavers and on to the soil to get up close and personal with more tortoises. See them interact with the visiting humans and with their fellow hard-shelled family members. Watch them lift their weight as they move from a resting position to a more active (although slow) walk on all fours. You'll see some trudging through the mud, others lying in (or sipping) water and you can even feed some greens to a hungry tortoise!



Meal Time for this Aldabra Tortoise

Before heading back to meet your boatman, make sure to take some time to see the other facilities on the island. What looks like ruins today were originally built to house prisoners before being converted into a quarantine hospital.


The Islands' "Prison" Namesake

The Islands' "Prison" Namesake

You may even run into a few peacocks or other critters along your walk between the tortoise sanctuary and the ruins.


Keep Your Eyes Open for Peacocks!

Keep Your Eyes Open for Peacocks!

By having a guide alongside us, we learned so much more about the history of the island than had we tried to explore on our own!

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5. Stroll through Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park and Biosphere Reserve

All visitors to Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park must be accompanied by a guide. Those arriving to the park without a certified tour guide will be assigned a park guide upon payment of the entrance fee.

Zanzibar's only national park is about a one-hour drive southeast from Stone Town. It's the red colobus monkeys that lure most visitors (including us) to Jozani Forest, as it's most frequently called. Established in 2004, it was not just these monkeys that were a threatened species in the archipelago. Today, the Zanzibar leopard and Sykes' monkey are even more elusive, with the leopard likely already extinct.

Living on a diet of leaves, plants and berries, this red colobus monkey is native to Zanzibar. Unlike many other monkey species, the red colobus don't appear scared of humans, nor do they play hide and seek (or take and steal with valuables like purses). They are usually found laying, sitting or hanging in the trees in crazier positions than you can imagine. It's almost as if they are competing against the rest of the clan for the funniest (or cutest) pose ... or for who can become Instagram famous first!


Is that Really Comfortable?

Is that Really Comfortable?

Up Close and Personal with a Red Colobus Monkey

Up Close and Personal with a Red Colobus Monkey

It's not only the monkeys who rely on the vegetation found in the forest. Although you may think of a walk along the nature trails through the towering trees as a means to help meet your step goal for the day, your guide will show you the "pharmacy" seen in the eyes of the locals! Nearly every plant can be used in one way or another to naturally cure an ailment.


Exploring the Trails of Jozani Forest

Exploring the Trails of Jozani Forest

In addition to the red colobus monkeys who call Jozani Forest their home, dozens of different birds and butterflies flutter about. During your visit, keep your eyes peeled for other animal species including antelope, mongoose, blue monkeys and more.


Blue Monkey inside Jozani Forest

Blue Monkey inside Jozani Forest

Once you've had enough of the monkeys, a short car ride will bring you to another path - this one leading to a wooden boardwalk. Only minutes away, the natural wonders surrounding the boardwalk feel like they came from a different world than the one you just left. Although still covered with green leaves, the roots of the trees are all above ground (or wait - the roots are actually above water)! A stroll on the boardwalk takes you through a mangrove habitat.


Mangrove Habitat

Mangrove Habitat

In addition to the trees looking different, there's no monkeys around. Except for admiring some of the birds, you'll have to look down (not up) to see the wildlife that lives in the mangrove forest. With its stream and muddy waters, this forest is home to fish, crabs, lizards and even snakes.


Patriotic Crab in the Mangrove Forest

Patriotic Crab in the Mangrove Forest

It's hard to call either the walk through the forest or the mangrove habitat a "hike". With so many stops along the way to appreciate nature (and, of course, take photos), I'm sure that our heart rate never raised into calorie burning exercise mode!


Gazing at the Mangrove Habitat

Gazing at the Mangrove Habitat

6. Dhow Boat Sunset Sail

Dhow boats, sailboats with triangular shaped sails, date thousands of years back to the waters of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. Most dhow boats have motors today, yet the sails are still raised and lowered based on the direction and speed of the wind. Although dhows are thought to have first been built by Arabs or Indians, it was on the eastern coast of Africa where they became most popular (and are still most frequently seen today).

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Originally used almost exclusively for carrying "trade" (spices, slaves and more), dhow boats today are still used for transporting some forms of trade (excluding, of course, slaves). These hand sculpted boats are also now used by the tourism industry. As the sun is setting on your stay in Zanzibar, a sunset cruise aboard one of these historic vessels is the perfect excursion for your final night in the archipelago!


Ready for a Sunset Sail?

Ready for a Sunset Sail?

Among other places along the shore, public or private sunset cruises depart from Stone Town late each afternoon. Shortly after pulling away from the shore, as you are reminiscing about your time exploring Zanzibar, the crew will raise the sails and you'll be floating in the ocean waiting for the sun to set. If you are on a dhow with stairs to an upper observation deck, be sure to check out the view from above! During your time onboard, enjoy a variety of local snacks, sweets and drinks served by your host(s). We were lucky enough to have spent the better part of our time in Zanzibar with our dhow hosts, so the sailing was the perfect time to say goodbye to our new friends!


View from Above: Aiysha and Said, our Guide and Driver

View from Above: Aiysha and Said, our Guide and Driver

7. Shop in the Darajani Souk

For many, shopping at the Darajani Market would probably rank much higher. We ranked it lower for two reasons: (1) We aren't big shoppers and, more importantly, (2) We were at the very beginning of a 3+ week long trip. From Zanzibar, our next stop was mainland Tanzania for a photo safari and we had very limited space in our luggage.


The Darajani Market

The Darajani Market

Located on the eastern side of Stone Town (opposite the ocean), Darajani Souk is the island's main market. With the more recent addition of mobile vendors on the surrounding streets, today's market extends into the area well beyond the main building which dates back to 1904.

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Starting early in the morning (the busiest time at the market), you'll spot locals choosing from the biggest and best selection of meats and freshly caught seafood. From fruits and vegetables to grains and, of course spices, the market has everything you need to prepare a tasty meal.


Surveying Seafood for Sale in the Fish Market

Surveying Seafood for Sale in the Fish Market

"Shops" within the covered halls (as well as outdoor vendors) offer home goods, electronics, clothing and shoes, toys and more. As you would probably expect, a variety of vendors within the market cater to tourists as well. In addition to souvenirs, just about any locally grown spice imaginable is packaged for gift giving (or traveling back home for your personal use). With the afternoons being less crowded, the vendors have the time and space for more aggressive selling ... so be prepared!


Which Spices Would You Want to Bring Home?

Which Spices Would You Want to Bring Home?

Planning for Your Visit

There's more to planning a visit to Zanzibar than just creating a list of your must-do's. Here's a few tips that helped us decide whether we should explore on our own as we had originally planned or to tour with a guide (or some combination of the two):
  • With just four days in Zanzibar, choose your lodging in the Stone Town area of Zanzibar City. If you don't mind getting some steps, you'll be able to walk to plenty of places for reasonably priced meals plus you can explore the maze of streets on your own.


    Searching for Dinner at Forodhani Market

    Searching for Dinner at Forodhani Market

  • Some of the places that will likely rank high on your must-do list will have entrance (or other) fees including a spice farm tour and/or cooking class, the Slave Museum, Prison Island, a swim/snorkel/beach excursion, Jozani Forest and a sunset cruise on a dhow boat.
  • Although all places in the historic center of Stone Town will be within walking distance, transportation will be required to get to a spice farm, to Jozani Forest and to the launching point for the boat ride to a swim/snorkel/beach excursion. In addition to the entrance fee to explore Prison Island, you must hire a boat from Stone Town to reach the island.

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Getting Around Zanzibar

There are plenty of options for getting around Zanzibar including a rental car, taxis or a private driver, shared rides or dala dalas. (As of the time of this article, neither Uber nor Lyft operate in Zanzibar.)
  • Although often not in the best condition, dala dalas are the Zanzibarian version of public transportation. Dala dalas are the most economical (fixed rate pricing depending on journey) and least touristy way to get around. The downside is that they do not run on a firm time schedule - they depart from the bus terminal when they fill (or overfill) up! (You can get off the dala dala anyplace on its route, and can also flag a dala dala down from anywhere on its route.)
  • If your schedule is flexible, a more comfortable yet relatively inexpensive way to get around is by shared taxis. Just like a regular taxi, a shared taxi will pick you up and drop you off at the places of your choice. The difference is that a shared taxi may transport up to five passengers simultaneously. Because of this, it usually will take longer to get to your destination as your driver will likely be picking up and/or dropping off others along the way.
  • Much like in most worldwide destinations, taxis and private drivers are available for travel around Zanzibar. While private drivers typically require advance contact, you can reserve taxis in advance or on the spot. Many places of lodging will help schedule a taxi or private driver for you, but there may be a surcharge for their assistance. If you are up for negotiating a rate on a smaller vehicle, you can ride a boda boda (motorcycle) or a tuk tuk (small three-wheeled vehicle).


    Traveling by Tuk Tuk around Zanzibar

    Traveling by Tuk Tuk around Zanzibar

  • If you decide to go the route of renting a car in order to have the most flexibility with your schedule, there are a number of things to be aware of. Most importantly, the driver's seat is on the right side of the car and you will need to drive on the left hand side of the road. Although most rental cars have low mileage (Unguja is a small island), your car will most probably not be one of the latest models - most are 15+ years old. Make sure that you feel comfortable with the condition and safety of the car. You'll be required to purchase a temporary driving permit, and be prepared for the potential of multiple police stops / checks throughout your journey.

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We made a new friend with Said, the driver recommended by our guide for transportation to and from the airport. In addition to providing comfortable rides throughout our four days on the island, we enjoyed dinner with him on our arrival day and a good-bye drink before heading to the airport after our stay. Should you be in need of a driver, Said can be reached through WhatsApp at +255-772-333-736 - make sure to tell him that you got his information from The Wordy Explorers!


Our Trusty Driver with his Comfortable Vehicle

Our Trusty Driver with his Comfortable Vehicle

In Zanzibar by Aiysha

Although we are usually DIY travelers, I made contact with In Zanzibar by Aiysha during my research and information gathering phase. We fully intended to explore Zanzibar on our own, but thought some of our must-see spots would be enhanced by having a knowledgeable guide by our side. After communicating with Aiysha over the course of a couple of weeks, we realized that she could help us to do more than we had originally thought possible during our limited time. Spending our four days with Aiysha provided us with some valuable benefits:
  • We always research the best things to do prior to leaving home to visit a new destination. Our research coupled with onsite historic signage provides us with basic knowledge as we explore "new to us" places. The knowledge of the island's natural and historic sites that Aiysha shared with us, plus the chance that we had to get questions answered, left us with a far better understanding of Zanzibar than we would have had by exploring on our own.
  • We had made the decision that we would not rent a car, so we planned to rely primarily on public transportation and shared or private taxis. By touring with Aiysha, all transportation (car and boats) were included in her prices.
  • Finding and coordinating transportation to and from Prison Island and Jozani Forest was going to require using some of our limited time on the island - time that we could better use for exploring. Instead, prior to our arrival in Zanzibar, we had an agreed upon itinerary for our days with all logistics taken care of by Aiysha.
  • We considered joining a free walking tour of Stone Town, however we would have tipped the guide following the tour. Based on the recommendations that Aiysha made to best utilize our time and the very reasonable prices that she quoted for each day / activity, we agreed that it just made sense to work with one guide throughout our entire stay.
  • Entrance and other fees were required during each day of our visit, however just like with transportation, all fees were included in Aiysha's price quote. In addition to lunch at the Spice Farm and on our day in the Menai Bay Conservation Area, water was provided during our long drives and hearty snacks were served during our sunset sail.
  • An unexpected side benefit of spending four days with Aiysha and Said was that we left Zanzibar with two new friends!


Aiysha Mohammed, "In Zanzibar by Aiysha"

Aiysha Mohammed, "In Zanzibar by Aiysha"

Aiysha lives with her husband and three children in Zanzibar, the island where she was born, raised and educated. She was Zanzibar's first certified freelance female tour guide and has a wealth of knowledge that will enhance anyone's visit to the island.

Contacting Aiysha is best done through either Facebook Messenger (In Zanzibar by Aiysha) or WhatsApp (+255-716-199-415). She is also on Instagram (InZanzibarByAiysha) if you'd like to see photos from some of her guided tours. When making contact, remember that Aiysha is likely with other customers when you send a message. Don't expect an immediate response! Make sure to tell her that you learned about her from The Wordy Explorers!

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Tips for Planning Your 4 Day Visit to Zanzibar

Here's some helpful tips as you begin to plan your days in Zanzibar:
  • Plan your tour of Stone Town on one of the earlier days during your stay. By doing so, you'll have time later to return to any site that you either didn't visit or wish you had more time to explore.
  • Because the boats which transport passengers to Prison Island depart from Stone Town, it just makes sense to combine those two destinations into a single day. (If you plan to swim or snorkel at Prison Island, start your day "dry" in Stone Town so you are more comfortable in the historic city. Then, spend your afternoon in your swimwear.)
  • You'll need a full day for the boat ride / snorkel excursion to the Menai Bay Conservation Area, Blue Lagoon & Kwale Island.
  • Including travel time, plan to devote about one-half day each to a spice farm tour with cooking class and to exploring Jozani Forest.
  • A 9:00 AM arrival to the Spice Farm will allow you to tour the farm before beginning your cooking class. In order to participate in lunch preparation, you'll want to arrive to the spice farm no later than about 10:30 AM. With this mid-morning arrival, you'll start with your cooking class, enjoy lunch and wrap up your time with a tour of the farm.
  • Although dhow boat sunset sails are offered nearly every day, it's a great way to wrap up your stay - as the sun sets on your time in Zanzibar, enjoy a sunset sail on a traditional boat!


Enjoying Lunch at Jambo Spice Farm

Enjoying Lunch at Jambo Spice Farm

Here's a sample itinerary to give you some ideas for planning your visit:

Day 1: Cooking Class, Lunch and Spice Farm Tour
Day 2: Stone Town walking tour * / Prison Island tour
Day 3: Menai Bay Conservation Area, Blue Lagoon & Kwale Island (snorkel, swim and lunch)
Day 4: Jozani Forest / Stone Town & Darajani Souk ** / Dhow Boat Sunset Sail

* Because of our morning flight into Zanzibar, it made sense for us to kick-off our stay with the half-day "Cooking Class, Lunch and Spice Farm Tour". Upon our mid-morning arrival, we started with our cooking class followed by lunch. We walked off at least a part of our meal with a walking tour of the farm.

** Other than breakfasts, dinners and several hours during our Day 4 afternoon where we spent time on our own in Stone Town and Darajani Souk, our guide (Aiysha) and/or driver (Said) accompanied us during our entire visit.

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Tanzanian Shillings - Know Before You Go

The local currency in Tanzania is known as the Tanzanian shilling (TZS or Tsh). Knowing how you will pay for transportation, tours, entrance fees, meals, etc. is an important part of pre-trip planning. Should you decide to utilize the services of a tour guide, be sure to have an understanding before you leave home of what currency, which denominations and when he or she expects payment. It's also a good idea to get recommendations for gratuities that you might want to share with others during your visit (hotels, meals, transportation, etc.).

Example: At the end of our rides to and from the airport (the only two services not included in our tour "package"), we paid our driver Said the agreed upon fee plus a tip. On the morning prior to our first day of touring, we paid Aiysha in USD ($50 and $100 bills) for our entire four days together. We tipped her on our last evening together following our sunset sail.

In most cases, souvenirs and meals are relatively inexpensive, however many smaller cafe's and market stalls will not accept credit cards. While some will accept USD (or other currencies), the rate will typically not be as favorable as paying with the local currency. While there are a few exceptions to this, you can make decisions on how you will pay based on your on-site negotiations.

Because of poor exchange rates and the difficulty in purchasing Tanzanian shillings in the United States, it's best to get the local currency from one of the few ATMs after landing. It's important to know that nearly all ATMs will limit the amount that will be dispensed to TZS 400,000 (approximately $150 USD at the time of this article)

As there are limited ATMs on the island, do some research before leaving home to confirm whether there are ATMs near your place of lodging. Although the rate will be slightly inferior, you can also withdraw Tanzanian shillings from an ATM at the airport rather than wasting time trying to get to an ATM.

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Favorite Islands Around the World

During your travels around the world, what has been your favorite island to explore? What was it about the island that places it at the top of your most loved list?

Getting Lost on the Streets of Stone Town

Be sure to check back next month for the second of our two planned articles with the skinny on Zanzibar. Our upcoming article will be all about Stone Town and will include the details on what to see, do and eat in this city which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site!



Make the Most of 4 Days in Stone Town and Zanzibar







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