COASTAL AREA
COASTAL AREA
ZANZIBAR
The crown jewel in Tanzania’s coastal treasure chest and most famous for its idyllic holiday resorts and boutique beach hotels (not to mention outstanding scuba diving), Zanzibar is more diverse than you might think.
Stone Town, the historical quarter of the island’s capital Zanzibar Town, offers the inquisitive traveller the chance to explore twisting alleys, mosques and markets while scattered around Zanzibar are tiny, off-the-beaten-track islands, ideal for honeymooners and get-away-from-it-all vacations.
PEMBA ISLAND
Set 50km from Zanzibar and long in its shadow, those who do travel to Pemba are seldom disappointed.
Covered in forest and spice plantations and ringed by great beaches, it’s still early days for tourism to Pemba which makes it perfect for people looking for a Tanzania beach holiday without the crowds.
MAFIA ISLAND
Lying a hefty 160km north of Zanzibar, Mafia has managed to remain under the radar for decades.
It’s a classic Indian Ocean island with a genuinely serene tropical ambience and is home to one of the world’s best dive sites.
DAR ES SALAAM
Whilst not particularly beautiful to the eye it is vibrant and bustling with life. There are buzzing markets, colourful street stalls and an ever busy port.
LOCAL CULTURE OF DAR ES SALAAM
In the harbour, huge steel cargo boats sit alongside wooden dhows with haphazard sails and produce spilling over the sides. Fishermen can be seen selling their day’s catch on the seafront, or walking along the streets passing glittering high rise buildings on one side and peddlers roasting cassava on the other.
COSMOPOLITAN ARCHITECTURE
There is a mixture of German, British, Arabic and Indian architecture, with cosmopolitan people everywhere, but underlying it all, Dar is a true Swahili city.
People idle away the time chatting, the pace of life is relaxed and the residents are friendly and welcoming to visitors. It is easy to while away an afternoon here, before continuing your journey to Tanzania’s parks and islands.
