Zanzibar

What better way to end a safari than with a tropical island holiday? A short hop away from Dar es Salaam is the Zanzibar Archipelago, which comprises some 60 islands. The best known of these is Unguja, more commonly called Zanzibar. Other islands include Pemba and Mafia Islands. Zanzibar is by far the most commercialized of the islands, but it’s well worth a visit. The old city or Stone Town is the heart of Zanzibar, and it’s recommended to spend at least one night here enjoying the sights and sounds of the city. The buildings and markets and tall doors are reminders of the time when the Sultan of Oman ruled this area. The least developed parts of Zanzibar are the east and northwestern coastline, and visitors can expect spectacular beaches. For the most part, they have been fished out, but there is still excellent snorkelling particularly at Mnemba Atoll and other reserves where sound conservation policies are in place. Here you can expect large schools of dolphins, migrating hump-backed whales and turtles that lay their eggs on the beaches.