Zanzibar

tummy_tank

terf wrote:

Hi, we're going in July - any specific companies recommended for doing the spice tour and snorkelling with the dolphins? thanks!

Hi, we booked with One Ocean who are attached to the Matemwe Beach resort. They also operate a dive centre in Stone Town and are reported to be excellent. you need to be careful. I enjoyed snorkelling so much i am going to learn to scuba dive. We have snorkelled on holiday numerous time but this was by far the best, in fact, it was the highlight of that part of our trip. We didn't do a spice tour so can't help with that sorry. http://www.zanzibaroneocean.com/diving/diving.htm

AQUA-IAN

I have just booked to go back !! Flights from Gatwick, 9 nights Kenya Beach Stay and a 4 nights cruise to Zanzibar for £459. Only found out about this because of a PM from this board who has been several times. I leave in May. AMAZING.

skr80

AQUA-IAN wrote:

I have just booked to go back !! Flights from Gatwick, 9 nights Kenya Beach Stay and a 4 nights cruise to Zanzibar for £459. Only found out about this because of a PM from this board who has been several times. I leave in May. AMAZING.

any details on the package / company please?

skr80

Is it possible to fly to Nairobe (or other close major air hub), and on to Zanzibar, or is Dar e Salam the place with a further sea plane on to Zanzibar.

tummy_tank

The new trailfinders magazine lists a holiday quoting a flight from Nairobi to zanzibar with no mention of Dar Es Salaam airport or a stop. If stopping in Nairobi DON'T stay at the Hilton it's a dive!

Jaws_2

There's no need to go to Dar es Salaam. You can fly on kenya airways London-Nairobi-Zanzibar with just a few hours in nairobi airport. They also do London-Nairobi-Kilimanjaro if you are going on safari, then you can fly a light aircraft (Excelair and others) from Arusha to Zanzibar.
I visited last year and booked through Tanzania Adventure based in Stone Town (prop. an ageing German hippy named Ronnie Bender!). They don't do international flights, only internal, and like most of the locally based companies will adapt the itinerary to meet your requirements. We had a guide for just my family rather than the large groups you see doing the spice and Stone Town tours, and their safari driver was excellent. Highly recommended!

Tanzania Adventure are at https://www.tanzania-adventure.com.

Take lots of dollars in cash - Tanzania is very much a cash based economy. Remember to keep enough to pay the departure taxes (in US$ cash ONLY) at the wonderfully chaotic Zanzibar airport.
Please bear in mind that the country is very poor and that Zanzibar is mostly Muslim. When in Stone Town we saw a group of scantily clad Australians (including the guide) not surprisingly being given a very hard time by some local women for their choice of attire. This was during Ramadan.