Getting around in Zanzibar
In this post we explain you how to get around in Zanzibar (on your own). We have been there, and we assure you that it is comfortable, it is not difficult, it is safe, and it also allows you to discover corners away from the typical tourist stops, where you will discover the local side of the island, away from the beach lines where most of the hotels are located.
Zanzibar is an ideal destination for travelers who are sightseeing in Tanzania and want to spend a few days on the beach and sun after a safari or for newlyweds looking for an exotic place with very little time difference with respect to Europe.
A bit of history
Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous island belonging to Tanzania and located opposite the country’s capital Dar es Salaam.
The island of Zanzibar is a fascinating mix of cultures and religions because several cultures such as the Persians, Arabs, Portuguese, or English have passed through it. This makes the island a very different region from the rest of Africa.
What is now a famous tourist destination, was in the past a region highly coveted by the countries that controlled the world and has the sad history of being one of the most important slavery points in the world between the 18th and 19th centuries.
Zanzibar is also known as the “Island of Spices” due to its great variety and cultivation of spices, and for being the island where one of the most famous singers in the world was born: Freddy Mercury.
How to get around in Zanzibar?
Zanzibar can be reached from several cities, as it has a small airport with international connections. So it is easy to arrive from Spain without having to go through other airports in the country.
During our trip to Tanzania, we first visited the area of Arusha and Kigoma. Zanzibar was our last stop and from where we returned to Barcelona. So to go to Zanzibar we took national transportation. After analyzing pros and cons, we decided to go by boat fromDar es Salaam, as it was cheaper than the plane (about 30 USD vs 100 USD).
The truth is that the boat ride was a bit overwhelming, just arriving at the port ofDar es-Salaam, some tourist fighters came to us and started trying to sell us boat tickets when the boat stand was right in front and we just had to go there and buy them. We didn’t know exactly what they wanted, well, they wanted dollars, but we didn’t know in exchange for what since we didn’t release any or let them “help” us. We were a bit annoyed to see how they try to confuse you, being very insistent, and also lie to you, telling you that the tickets are bought in a different place than the one where they are actually bought. We arrived by cab and they were practically climbing into the car through the window.
For us, after visiting the national parks of northern Tanzania and Gombe with total tranquility and without stress, this incident caught us by surprise. But well, we are used to the fact that in port areas, not only in Tanzania, it is already common to find this type of situation. You have to get through them, and soon forget the momentary stress.
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