Zanzibar Island – 6 Days

ZANZIBAR 5 NIGHTS

Zanzibar – Mystical island in the Indian Ocean //..

For the traveller, Zanzibar conjures up the sights, sounds and smells of days gone by. Although part of the modern world, Zanzibar is still one of the few “get-away” places available for the discerning traveller. Enjoy relaxing at the tropical beaches, pristine and white, with the turquoise water of the Indian Ocean lapping at your feet. Or if you are more adventuresome, step back in time as you explore the diverse cultures of Zanzibar and enjoy what Zanzibar has to offer. It makes the perfect end to your safari and expeditions on the mainland. The East Coast of Zanzibar is among the best places on Zanzibar. Endless palm tree-lined beaches, fringed by one of the best and untouched reef systems in the world. Visit small fishing villages and enjoy a tranquil, friendly atmosphere away from the mainstream and large tourist-type resorts. The East Coast of Zanzibar will attract tourists who are looking for a place to relax and who want to experience a local, cultural experience.

Day 1: Arrival Nairobi //..

Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Nairobi, Kenya. After passing through customs, your driver-guide, and your waiting team from JACKO AFRICA SAFARIS will meet and transfer you to the Hilton Garden Inn Nairobi – just about 3 Kms from the airport, or at the Nairobi Serena Hotel – Bed & Breakfast 

Day 2: Nairobi – Zanzibar Stone Town //..
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning transfer to Jomo Kenyatta Airport for a morning flight to Zanzibar. Upon arrival at Zanzibar Airport, meet your waiting JACKO team and transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day is spent at leisure. Overnight at Stone Town hotel of your choice on Half Board basis.  [NOTE: Pick from the list of hotels provided in this itinerary].

Day 3: Stone Town Half-Day Tour, then to Zanzibar Beach //..
After breakfast you shall be picked up from your hotel and drive for morning half day guided tour of Stone Town, including Central Market, Christ Church Cathedral, Slave House, House of Splendors, and People’s Palace Museum & Hamamni Baths.

Afternoon you will be transferred to your chosen beach hotel where you will stay for the next 4 nights on Dinner, Bed & Breakfast basis. This Beach Resort is an ideal retreat. It is a perfect start to relax and laze away the days on the white sandy beaches or in the turquoise waters. [NOTE: Overnight at the beach resort you have chosen from the list].

Day 4 & 5: Zanzibar Beach [Each Day on Half Board] //..
Enjoy these extra 2 nights at leisure at your beach resort – each day on Half Board. On one of these days [clients choose] you shall have a vehicle at full-day disposal [– courtesy of Jacko Africa Safaris] to take you anywhere you want on the island. Dinner and overnight at your beach hotel.

Day 6: Zanzibar – Nairobi //..
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning check-out from the resort room. Spend the day at the beach.  Afternoon transfer to the Zanzibar Airport for your return flight to Nairobi. On arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta Airport, connect onto your onward travel program.

QUOTATIONS:

Based on: Dhow Palace Hotel x 1 night [in Stone Town] + Ocean Paradise – Superior Room x 3 nights [on beach]. From: US$ 1,620.00 Per Person Sharing Room.

Based on: Spice Tree by Turaco x 1 night [in Stone Town] + Blue Bay Beach Resort – Superior Rooms x 3 nights [on beach]. From: US$ 1,570.00 Per Person Sharing Room.

Based on: Zanzibar Serena Hotel x 1 night [in Stone Town] + Breezes Beach Resort – Deluxe Rooms x 3 nights [on beach]. From: US$ 1,496.00 Per Person Sharing Room.

Based on: Zanzibar Serena Hotel x 1 night [in Stone Town] + Neptune Pwani Beach Resort x 3 nights [on beach]. Prices at Neptune Beach are inclusive of: Full board meal plan, afternoon tea, water, soft drinks, juices, coffee, tea, house wine, beer and a selection of in-house spirits – BUT laundry. From: US$ 1,750.00 Per Person Sharing Room.

Based on: Zanzibar Serena Hotel x 1 night [in Stone Town] + Palm Beach x 3 nights [on beach].- Prices at The Palms are inclusive of: Full board meal plan, afternoon tea, water, soft drinks, juices, coffee, tea, house wine, beer and a selection of in-house spirits – BUT laundry.

From: US$ 2,090.00 Per Person Sharing Room.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

– Baggage allowance is 15kg, which is inclusive of hand baggage. NOTE: Some luggage can be left stored in Nairobi.

– There is a departure tax of US $ $20 per person which is payable in cash directly by each client to get out of from Zanzibar.

– Flight fare is current and subject to change without prior notice.

Possible Excursion Descriptions:

Historical Stone Town Tour – 3 Hours Per Person: US$ 70.00

This is a wonderful introduction to Zanzibar and gives you a feeling of the rich cultural heritage. One gets a comprehensive view, history and walk of the Stone Town, magnificent architecture, narrow alleys, sand and stone ancient built houses where some of them are over 200 years old and have Arab/Indian carved doors. The tour starts at the main City market which was opened in 1904, where tropical fruits, vegetables, spices and fresh fish from the island are sold. Our next stop is the Anglican Church of Christ which was built by Bishop Steers in 1873 on the site where slaves used to be auctioned. Other highlights on the historical stone town tour are visits to: • Sultan’s Palace Museum- Built in the late 1890’s for members of the Sultan’s family. • House of Wonders – Built in 1883 as a Royal Ceremonial Function Palace. • The Africa House – Formerly the English Club. • Forodhani Park- Where you can spend your evenings leisurely watching the brilliant sunset while sipping freshly squeezed sugarcane juice or enjoy charcoal barbeques and locally made dishes. • The Old Fort – Built by Arabs for defense against the Portuguese.

Spice Tours – 3 Hours Per Person: US$ 70.00

Its primary objective is to give you a complete picture as to why this beautiful island is known as “The Spice Island” Our tour starts with a drive through a profusion of greenery in the countryside seeing, smelling and tasting a variety of spices and mouthwatering tropical seasonal fruits such as jack fruit, pineapple, banana, green coconut juice, dourian, love apple, litche, soursop etc. Spices such as cloves, cardamon, cinnamon, black pepper, turmeric, nutmeg – are as exotic as their flavours….etc. A full tour involves much more than spices and you will also have a chance to see the iodine plant, heena bush, ylang-ylang, the lipstick tree, cocoa, and coffee bean trees. The tour also includes a visit to: • Kidichi Persian Baths – built in 1850 by Seyyid Said bin Sultan for his Persian wife Princess Sheherezade granddaughter of the Shah of Persia. • Maruhubi Palace Ruins – built by the third Sultan of Zanzibar Seyyid Barghash for his 99 concubines. • Dr Livingstone House – built in 1860 for Sultan Majid. Dr David Livingstone lived here before commencing on his last journey to the mainland interior.

Sunset Dhow Cruise – 1630hrs – 1900hrs Per Person: US$ 92.00

This tour starts from the shore of Stone Town two hours before sunset. After you step onboard the vessel, the skilled crew on board take the dhow away from the shore by means of an engine, once out in the sea the engine is shut off and during a tense moment the skillful crew put up the sail, once the sail is in favour of the wind, the guest can sit back, relax and enjoy the peacefulness of the ocean as you hear the ripple of water on the sides of the dhow as it glides swiftly through the clear turquoise water. One can savour a glass of chilled wine, cocktail, beer or juice as you watch the magnificent Stone Town shore line as you glide by silently. Your breath will be taken away by the wonder of the fiery golden-sun setting beyond the horizon as it makes the sky a magical canvas of shades of pinks, purples, blues and orange. As you head back for stone town the wind gently blows into the lateen sail which is truly mesmerizing.

Jozani Forest Tour – 3 Hours Per Person: US$ 94.00

Jozani Forest lies 35kms South-East of Zanzibar Town with an area of about 1,000 hectares, it is the only remaining natural forest on Unguja island where long ago you could find leopards and antelopes. At present it is the habitat for the Red Colobus Monkeys (Colobus badius kirkii) and the Blue Sykes Monkey. The Red Colobus monkey is one of the most endangered and rarest species on the planet. The Red Colobus monkey that are found in this Forest are very friendly and love to be photographed and can be viewed at close quarters by the help of your guide. Other interesting features in this forest include the coastal evergreen bushland, mangroove forest, saline grassland and ground water forest, though these may require longer walks to reach.

Prison Island Tour – 3 – 6 Hours Per Person: US$ 80.00

Prison Island or Changuu Island is the middle island of the three visible from the Stone Town. It takes approximately 30 minutes to get there by boat. The prison which was never used on this island was built in 1893, but was later used as a Quarantine Hospital. Apart from the Prison ruins you will also see the enormous giant tortoises which are the main attraction of the island. The tortoises were brought on the island from Seychelles by Sultan Said Majid in the 1820’s. On this little paradise one can also swim, snorkel, sunbathe or just relax on the beach and enjoy the peacefulness that this small beautiful island has to offer.

Dolphin Tour – 6 Hours Per Person: US$ 113.00

The drive from town to Kizimkazi a small village at the Southern point of the island takes one hour. The surface of the Kizimkazi channel is broken by the skimming arcs of wild bottle-nosed dolphins, here you are taken by boat powered by an outboard engine into the sea to see the dolphins and if lucky will be able to swim quite close to them as they are very friendly and playful. Snorkelling will also be part of this tour (snorkeling equipment can be hired at the site). Kizimkazi is also the site of a 12th Century Mosque, the earliest evidence of Islam in East Africa. The return trip includes a visit of this Mosque which still contains the famous Kufic scripts in its walls

What’s Included:

Accommodation at Hilton Garden Inn Nairobi, or Nairobi Serena  for 1 night on Bed & Breakfast <> Accommodation at a hotel in Stone Town for 1 night on Half Board basis <> Accommodation at a resort on beach for 3 nights on either Half Board or All-Inclusive basis [according to your choice] <> Regional flight Nairobi – Zanzibar – Nairobi [both ways might go via Kilimanajro International Airport – KIA] <> Airport transfers in Nairobi and in Zanzibar <> Half-day tour of Zanzibar Stone Town <> Vehicle at full-day disposal on any one of the 2 days [clients choose] at the beach resort [– courtesy of Jacko Africa Safaris] <> Transport in an exclusive 6-seater 2X2 safari minibus in Zanzibar, with pop up hatch roof <> Assistance of English or French Speaking driver-guide(s) in Nairobi and in Zanzibar.

What’s Not Included:

International Air ticket <> E-Visa fees <> Porter age, laundry, soft and hard drinks, EXCEPT only at the All-Inclusive beach resort. NOTE: There, laundry is still NOT INCLUDED! <> Tip for driver guide, resort staff, etc (budget approx. US$ 5.00 – US$ 7.00 per person per day) <> Excursions, and any other form of tip <> Departure tax of US $ $20 per person from Zanzibar, payable in cash directly by client <> Any item (s) of personal nature i.e. tobacco, laundry, phone bills <>  Drinks of any nature, except tea or coffee accompanying your meal <> Any deviation (s) from the above itinerary <> Any other item (s) not included on the above list <> Any form of insurance. End of Quote