My experience in Zanzibar, Tanzania, was absolutely amazing. Before my friend recommended the place to me, I only knew Zanzibar as the name of a famous gentleman’s club in my hometown of Toronto, Canada. I had no idea it was a picturesque, balmy island off the coast of East Africa. Zanzibar Island, also known as Unguja, was the first place I had ever visited in Africa, and it was much better than I expected. Many travelers from North America have not dared to venture over the Atlantic to visit Africa. If they had the opportunity to visit this charming paradise, I think they would throw away their reservations about the length of the journey and ignore the media-driven stereotypes that plague many safe African regions.
After arriving, I was taken aback by the many similarities Zanzibar had with Jamaica. The atmosphere was extremely laid back, the beaches were stunning, and the tropical fruits were abundant. The locals were very welcoming, and the weather was perfect in January. There are three main beach locales that tourists frequent when visiting the island, Nungwi, Kendwa, Paje. Nungwi is famous for turtles and stunning sunsets. Kendwa is known for coral reef and Maasai warriors, and at Paje you can do kite surfing and snorkeling. I decided on staying in Nungwi due to its proximity to Kendwa, it is a ten-minute drive between both places, and it also had reviews online.
During midday, it was too hot to visit the beach, so I lounged around my hotel for the most part. On most days tourists head to the beach around 3pm. Arriving at 3pm gave revelers just enough time to take a few dips in the ocean, eat fresh seafood, and catch the majestic sunset, which occurred around 6pm each evening. I heard about a few bars in Nungwi, but I did not take the time to see what was going on with nightlife. I was content just chilling by the ocean and enjoying the views from under my beach umbrella.
After spending four days in Nungwi, I spent my last two days on the island in Stonetown. Stonetown is the busiest part of the island with the best restaurants, stores, and entertainment. It also has a beach, but it pales in comparison to the other beaches I mentioned earlier on in the post. Serendipitously, during my few days in Stonetown, there happened to be a well-renowned Afrobeats festival taking place that only occurs once a year. The festival is called Sauti Za Busara, and it celebrates significant cultural music from all regions in East Africa and beyond. Experiencing the festival was a great way to end my time in Zanzibar. I got to hear phenomenal musicians from all over Africa and get a glimpse of traditional Tanzanian culture up-close and personal. See the video below.
My first time in Africa was an experience I will not soon forget. For a place I was apprehensive about visiting for the longest time, zenful Zanzibar had me wishing I did not have to leave. Have you been to Zanzibar before? Thinking about going? Leave a comment below.