Zanzibar
Zanzibar, also known as the Spice Islands, located about 22 miles (35km) off the east coast of Tanzania – East Africa. Zanzibar is an archipelago consisting of the two main islands and 50 other small islands, the main islands are Unguja and Pemba Island.
Zanzibar is famous for its History, Cultures, luxurious beach resorts and tourism activities like deep-sea fishing, diving, snorkeling, sandbanks. Stone Town is the historic heart of Zanzibar’s capital city, located on Unguja Island, about 7 km from Zanzibar International Airport.
The town is renowned for its unique architecture, which is a blend of Arab, Indian,
European, and African influences.
The buildings are predominantly made of coral stone, giving the town its distinctive appearance. In 2000, Stone Town was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its cultural and historical significance.
FACTS ABOUT ZANZIBAR
1.
Time:
The time zone for Zanzibar, Tanzania is GMT +3
2.
Electricity
230 volts, 50Hz. Rectangular or round three-pin plugs are used.
3.
Language
Swahili and English are the official languages. You may find some locals on the beach who may speak French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian.
4.
Communication
The international country dialing code for Tanzania, as well as Zanzibar, is +255. There is good mobile phone coverage in main tourist areas; Stone Town, Nungwi, Kendwa, Matemwe, Kiwengwa, Uroa/ Pongwe, Michamvi, Bwejuu, Paje, Jambiani, Makunduchi & Kizimkazi. You can buy a Sim Card at the Airport, it costs $15.
5.
Money
The official currency is the Tanzanian Shilling (TZS). The tourism industry prices everything in US Dollars and this is the preferred unit of currency. Money can be exchanged in the Airport, Stone Town, Nungwi, Kiwengwa & Paje beach. ATMs are also available in those places. Most lodges, some hotels and famous restaurants accept cards. But we recommend you carry some cash for small purchases
6.
Climate
The climate is tropical, hot all year round, with a hotter period from December to March, and a relatively cool period from May to August. There are two rainy seasons: one more intense, known as the "long rains" season, from late March to May, with the peak in April, and the other less intense, known as the "short rains" season, between mid-October and early December
7.
Popular flights:
Most popular international flights to Zanzibar are; Qatar Airways, Fly Dubai, Fly Emirates, Condor, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Air France, Neos Air, Ethiopian Airlines.
7.
Safety
”Is Zanzibar safe to travel?” This is a common question that is regularly asked by the travellers who want to visit Zanzibar. The short answer? Yes! Zanzibar, or Tanzania as a whole, is the safest destination in Africa, with more than 1 million tourists visiting the country every year from different parts of the world, UK, Germany, France, Italy, UAE, and so on.
8.
Local customs:
Tanzanians are known to be friendly and generally welcoming, but travellers should be sensitive to local cultural mores. Visitors to Zanzibar should be aware that it is a predominantly Muslim region and visitors should dress modestly and respectfully. Beachwear is fine on the beach or around a hotel pool, but not acceptable elsewhere. You can buy a local sarong, called a kanga, which can be used to cover shoulders when needed, or otherwise be used as a scarf or towel. Tourists should be especially careful during Ramadan when public drinking, smoking and even eating should be avoided. Homosexuality is illegal in Tanzania.
9.
Vaccinations
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is only required for travellers one year of age and older coming from – or who are in airport transit for more than 12 hours within – a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. In addition to standard vaccinations such as MMR and TDP, the CDC and WHO recommend vaccinations for Tanzania, such as Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and typhoid. Yellow fever and rabies vaccinations are also recommended depending on the traveller’s activities. As of January 2023 there are no more COVID-19 restrictions in Tanzania, and vaccinations or PCR-tests are no longer necessary before traveling. As with all international travel, we always advise you to consult your physician for professional health advice before travelling to Tanzania.
10.
Visa/ Passport requirements:
Most visitors entering Tanzania require a visa. Your visa can be requested online through the official visa website from the Tanzanian government (https://visa.immigration.go.tz/). Passports must contain one unused visa page. Visitors may obtain a visa on arrival at Zanzibar airport, costing between $50 and $100 depending on nationality, payable in cash. All visitors also require proof of sufficient funds and should hold documentation for their return or onward journey. Passports should be valid for at least six months from date of entry. Those arriving from an infected country must hold a yellow fever vaccination certificate. It is highly recommended that passports have at least six months validity remaining after your intended date of departure from your travel destination.
Note
There are some countries whose nationals do not require a visa to enter Tanzania. Below is the list of these countries, they may be reviewed from time to time by the Tanzania government.
Countries whose nationals do not require visa
Antigua & Barbuda, Anguilla, Ashmore & Cartia Islands, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Belize, Brunei, British Virgin Islands, British Indian Ocean Territory, Botswana, Burundi, Cyprus, Cayman Islands, Channel Islands, Cocos Islands, Cook Islands, Christmas Islands, Dominica (Commonwealth of Dominica), Falkland Islands, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guernsey, Guyana, Heard Island, Hong Kong, Isle of Man, Jamaica, Jersey, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Montserrat, Malaysia, Madagascar, Malta, Mauritius, Macao, Mozambique, Nauru, Niue Island, Norfolk Island, Namibia, Papua new Guinea, Rwanda, Romania, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, Swaziland, Solomon Island, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vicent, St. Helena, South Africa, South Sudan, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Another Nore
There are some countries which their nationals cannot obtain a visa on arrival. These countries fall under the so-called Referral Visa. Below is the list of these countries, they may be reviewed from time to time by the Tanzania government.
Countries who cannot abtain Visa on Arrival
Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan Republic, Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzstan), Lebanon, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Senegal, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Somali land, Syria, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Yemen
More Information
Find more information about Zanzibar in the document below. Just download and go through
Partnership and Collaborations
At ZII, we believe in fostering mutually beneficial relationships. We offer two partnership models for our water sports and Spa services to Hoteliers and Tour Companies:
Revenue Sharing (3-15%):
Collaboration based on cost sharing & service utilization, ensuring shared profits and mutual growth.
Monthly Rent (To be negotiated with Hoteliers):
Fixed monthly fee for consistent access, providing reliability without revenue dependency.
