Zanzibar Island The Zanzibar Archipelago - Audley Travel

Zanzibar beachThe Zanzibar ArchipelagoFifty islands make up the Zanzibar archipelago,which lies in aquamarine seas under a blazingequatorial sun. Just 20 miles off the Tanzaniancoast, the archipelago is easily accessible andtherefore ideal for a relaxing end to a safari. Thetwo large islands of Zanzibar and Pemba are wellknown and have a bustling island life, with ancienttowns, small villages, spice plantations and milesof sandy beaches. Surrounding these two largeislands are numerous tiny coral atolls with namessuch as Chumbe, Chapwani, Bawe and Mnemba.Some of these, such as Mnemba, have exclusivehotels whilst others are home only to seabirdsand nesting turtles and can be reached byrelaxing dhow trips. The seas are littered withreefs, with pink sea anemones swaying in warmcurrents and butterflyfish, angelfish andparrotfish darting between the corals.Zanzibar IslandThe largest of all the islands in the archipelago,Zanzibar Island is 80 kilometres long and 30kilometres wide. It is covered in coconutplantations, spice farms and lush vegetation.Pretty roads run through avenues of mangoesand the forest at Jozani, where endemic Kirk’sred colobus can be seen, while the coastline haspicture perfect beaches. Miles of white sand leadinto shallow turquoise water lined with offshorereefs. Small fishing villages have nets hanging fromcrooked wooden racks and chickens and duckswaddling about. At high tide all the dhows sail inand lively bartering for the day’s catch ensues.Zanzibar has more than just beaches, however.Monsoon winds blowing from Persia, Arabia andIndia have led traders to these islands for over2,000 years. In Zanzibar’s Stone Town, labyrinthalleys lead to sultans’ residences with thick stonewalls and intricately carved doors. Inland, thereare spice plantations where piles of curlingcinnamon bark and nutmegs lie in the sun.Zanzibar is spectacular at sunset, as hundreds ofdhows set sail for the night, their billowing whitesails tinged pink by the sun. Relax, unwind andenjoy the view, as the warm breeze blows aroundyou. Just a short flight from some of Tanzania’swildest parks, Zanzibar is perhaps the ultimatefinale to any safari.Seaweed farming on Zanzibar84

The game of bao The beach at Breezes Beach Club & Spa Fresh fish for saleFishing dhowsBREEZES BEACH CLUB & SPA,BWEJUU, ZANZIBARThis pretty resort has 70 rooms but managesto feel like somewhere half its size thanks to itslow-key, friendly atmosphere. It stands on anidyllic stretch of beach on Zanzibar’s southeastcoast. Rooms at Breezes are set in the gardensand are tastefully decorated in ivory tones, withcotton throws, teak and Zanzibari carvings. Allare air-conditioned and have en suite bathrooms.There are plenty of activities on offer includingdiving, snorkelling, sailing and windsurfing. Thoselooking to relax can do so at the pool, on thebeach or with a treatment in the spa. Withseveral excellent restaurants, this hotel is verypopular and many guests return year after year.Villa at The PalmsBARAZA, BWEJUU, ZANZIBARBaraza is a unique 30 villa resort built in adistinctive Zanzibari style and is an ideal place forfamilies or groups of friends wanting to enjoy a bitof luxury. All the air-conditioned villas have oneor two bedrooms, living room, dressing roomsand en suite bathrooms with a free standing tub.They are elegantly decorated with beautiful fabricsand hand-carved furniture. Outside there areshady terraces, sunloungers and a private plungepool. Facilities at Baraza are extensive and includea swimming pool, spa, tennis court, watersportscentre, PADI dive centre and boutique.Snorkelling excursions, trips to spice farms andmore can all be arranged.Bar, Breezes Beach Club & SpaTHE PALMS, BWEJUU, ZANZIBARSituated in tropical gardens The Palms providessome of the most luxurious accommodation onZanzibar. The hotel has just six villas, eachwonderfully large and containing a bedroom, livingroom, dressing room and en suite bathroom.On the veranda, a silk-draped four-posterZanzibari bed sits alongside a sunken plunge pool.The Palms prides itself on its cuisine and therestaurant, The Plantation House, serves excellentSwahili and international dishes. The adjacentSpice Bar is perfect for relaxing with a sundownerdrink. Guests can also enjoy all the facilities at theneighbouring sister property Breezes.Barazawww.audleytravel.com/tanzania ● 01993 838 545 ● Tanzania 85

Kirk’s red colobus monkey in the Jozani ForestDrying seaweedSchoolgirls walking home86Cottage at Echo Beach HotelECHO BEACH HOTEL,BWEJUU, ZANZIBAREcho Beach Hotel is small, simple and will suitthose looking for a quiet hideaway. It sits in fiveacres of gardens on Bwejuu, one of Zanzibar’sprettiest beaches, and has 12 rooms inwhitewashed cottages under coconut palms.Each has a shady terrace or balcony where youcan sit with a drink and watch the dhows bobbingon the horizon. The kitchen is overseen by theowner Andrew and meals are tailored to thefishermen’s daily catch, with fresh fruit andvegetables from the market also used. The lodgeis ideal for those looking to relax beside a pool,although diving, dhow trips and visits to spicefarms are easily arranged.UNGUJA LODGE,KIZIMKAZI, ZANZIBARThis boutique hotel is set amongst baobab andmango trees which are popular with red colobusmonkeys. Run by Elies Hagedoorn along strongethical principles, this lodge is not only welcomingbut well integrated into the local Kizimkazicommunity. There are ten villas, a restaurant, bar,swimming pool and Five-Star PADI dive centre.All the villas have a bedroom, sitting room,en suite bathroom and a second floor wherechildren can sleep. Private terraces overlook thesea or gardens. The lodge is ideally suited tofamilies or those wanting to enjoy lots of activitiesincluding diving, snorkelling, dolphin watching andguided village tours.The pool at Unguja Lodge