Zanzibar is in east Africa and is a part of Tanzania. Surrounded by the Indian Ocean.   Zanzibar Zanzibar is also called Mini Jamaica, it is in union with Tanzania, it is about 25 kilometers from the capital in Tanzania, Dar es Salaam. Zanzibar's population is around 700.000, of whom half them resides in Zanzibar city, also called Stonetown. They official languages is swahili and british. Zanzibar is 90 kilometers long, and 40 kilometers wide. The cost of living is very low.       People on Zanzibar Inhabitants on Zanzibar is incredible nice and forthcoming. A lot of them speaks english, and it is easy to get in touch with the locals.      Jambiani and Stone town Jambiani. Jambiani is a bigger village with about 8000 inhabitants and it is 3 kilometers long. It is located at the southeastern part of Zanzibar, 40 kilometers from Stonetown. Jambiani is an authentic city, and it is nice to see the locals in their everyday life, on the beach, in the town or on the ocean. Most of the people in Jambiani earn their money from the nature, that is seaweed, fishing and tourism. A strong community. Jambiani is peculiar in that way, that the city by their own have saved up to build up a medical center, where there is a surgeon and a nurse. Everybody in Jambiani has a collective attitude, so the community in Jambiani is very strong, so that everybody including the tourists can feel safe and secure. The coral reef is very close to the shore, on certain hours, when it's low tide, you can almost go out to the coral reef, it takes about 15 min. and it is a good opportunity to study coral fish and plants. Food and groceries. There several guesthouses and restaurants in Jambiani. Straight round about the corner is there a groceries, were you can get most commodities. There's plenty of opportunities try the Zanzibarian kitchen, that is a compound from african - Indian - asian and european food. Stonetown Stonetown is the capital and old historical center from Zanzibar city. It is a compound between Indian, east african and arabic culture, and numerous buildings from colonial time. There is the old part of town, very small streets, white colonial houses and the small streets is almost like a maze. Green balconies, shady slums and impressive palaces. On Zanzibar and Stonetown they really like big and heavy wooden doors, proud Zanzibarian craftsmanship. There is allot of mosques, shop and the residences, it is no so difficult get a little lost. Creek Road builds the boundary between the old city and they new districts. Islands around Zanzibar Pemba. Pemba is a little island, no a long way from Zanzibar. There is not a lot of tourists even though the island has much to offer. This i where some of the best sea fish in east africa is caught. Diving among some amazing coral reefs. The capital is called Hake Hake that is homelike and quietly. You can also experience bullfights which are held on Embay island. The boat from Zanzibar to Embay is about 2-3 hours. Mafia. The Mafia island is a paradise for divers, it's a nice and relaxed spot, with about 40.000 inhabitants. Mafia is the biggest of the islands, incredible with amazing nature. Ask Rama the caretaker about diving spots on the island. Mafia Island     The islands at Stonetown Changu Island - Jungle island. Outside Zanzibar Town is Changu Island Island. In the old days the rebellious slaves were banish to the island. A jungle island with nice beaches. There's around 50 giant turtles that lives on the island. Take the boat from Stonetown. Prison Island Prison island is 15 min. with boat from Stonetown. It's extremely small island, and is allot of giant turtles, there is up to 200 years old. A really good beach, and you can do some good snorkeling.   Tanzania Tanzania. Tanzania is one of the best places in the world, to experience safari. The country has some of the most famous national parks, like Serengeti and Kilimanjaro, there's allot of exotic plants and rainforest. Tanzania went formed in 1964, where the countries Zanzibar and Tanganyika were joined. Today is country a highly visited, mostly by safari travelers and people that climbs Kilimanjaro. Look at the safari page for more information. Dar es Salaam - Capital In the capital there is 3.000.000 inhabitants, the primary languages is Swahili and English. Christianity and islam are they largest religions. The normal tourist season is in january and february, where the hot and dry weather is most comfortable. Dar es Salaam has a good nightlife. There is a lot of cinemas, nightclubs, casinos, and allot of hotels.   National parks and safari Ngorongoro National Park They two rain season is march, april, may and october, november that makes it hard to go along in the national parks. By the foot of Ngorongoro is four luxurious safari-lodges, and a cheaper lodge. On the crater is a camp, because you can't camp in the actual park.  National parks in Tanzania. www.tanzaniaparks.com Serengeti National Park The rain season is the same as in Ngorongoro march, april, may, october and november. And most of the animal has gone to Kenya and other places , when the dry season is peaking. Serengeti has enormous crowds of gnus, beyond a million. Thousands of the gnus gets eaten, either because they can't be keep up with the heard or because they stumble and get injured. In Serengeti you can also try balloon safari. From Arusha to Serengeti there's 210 kilometers in Jeep. Another alternative is to fly to Serona. National parks in Tanzania www.tanzaniaparks.com         Safari Vi have contact to Blue Lagoon Tours & Safaris Ltd. a safari company in Jambiani, with safari in Tanzania. Se the safari page Kilimanjaro Kilimanjaro They best months to climb mount Kilimanjaro is january, february and september. It is not recommend to climb mount Kilimanjaro in the two rain seasons, from march to june and from october to december. Nature Mount Kilimanjaro has extraordinary nature. As you climb up the mountain, you meet many various kinds nature. At the foot of the mountain there is savanna. Further up you meet rainforest, higher up there is low vegetation, when you get to where the trees s growing. The last climb to the is tundra and ice. The climb On the ascent you sleep in mountain lodges.The lodges have beds, you have to bring your own sleeping bag On the mountain there is two hotels, a lot of tourists use it as a base camp. Mount Kilimanjaro. Kilimanjaro The Airport In the middle of between Arusha and Moshi is Kilimanjaro'sInternational's airport. Here is various flight companies, foreign and domestic. Weather on Zanzibar   Weather on Zanzibar. The weather is very good, almost all year around. Sun and rain. Zanzibar has idealistic vacation weather the whole year around. The warm weather is often dimmed from the ocean breeze from the sea. Zanzibar is close to equator, therefore is hot the whole year. There's average of 7-8 hours sun every day on Zanzibar. Rain season. The rain season is from 21 March to 21 June and in november.     Weather Statistics. Average temp. JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 28 28 28 27 25 25 24 25 25 26 27 27 Average rain days. JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 5 5 8 11 10 4 2 2 3 4 9 8 Night temp. JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 25 25 24 23 22 20 19 19 19 21 22 24 Water temperature. Average temp. JAN FEB MAR APR May JUN JUL AUG SEP Oct NOV DEC 27 28 27 27 26 25 24 24 24 25 25 26   Nature and beaches Beaches Zanzibar have some of the best beaches, there's 25 beaches on Zanzibar. They are encircled by the coral reef. Long and white beaches with very fine sand. There is several spots on the island you can sail out to the coal reef, and experience some of the best diving in the world, both snorkelingand real diving. Jozani rainforest. You can visit the Jozani rainforest. Here can you can experience special palms and very nice nature, red silk monkeys and Columbus monkeys a monkey species, that only reside på Zanzibar. It's easy to spot the monkeys Jozani Imagine is a part from a eco-friendly project. The people from the villages works as guides. Forests and woodland. A small percentage of Zanzibar forest remains, it is mostly farms and plantations. The main forest areas are Jozani forest, Unguja and Ngezi forest, Kiyuu forest on Pemba island and Masingini forest in the north Zanzibar. They have tall trees with buttressed roots and ferns ans smaller bushes. Coral reef Coral reefs on Zanzibar. The coral reefs on Zanzibar is constructed over millions of year, by small coral animals. Around the coral reef is about 600 various coral animals, and then a couple of thousands species of fish. When coral animal die, their remains stay, and as the remains stick together, it becomes coral. On of the old corals, comes new ones, and so the coral reef grows, about 2 inches a year. Butterfly fish   Lionfish           Blue-Stripe Snapper   Soldier fish           Diving Diving Zanzibar is reputed to have some of the best diving in the world, and the coral reef structures that surrounds Unguja and Pemba, ensure that the marine life is abundant. Good visibility (60 - 200 feet) and a year-round average water temperature of 80 degrees ensure that you enjoy your Zanzibar diving experience. Diving schools on Zanzibar. www.zanzibartourism.com Good diving places. www.africanencounters.com You can ask Rama our caretaker, he also knows where the good schools and diving places are.   Animals   Animals. There is almost none dangerous animal on Zanzibar you may see small snakes, in the rainforest Chameleons are found on invest on Zanzibar. Jozani you can find black and gold frogs. Mongoose ice frequently seeing crossing the road, they are very slowly. You meet geckos allot, they are innocent and scared of people. Zanzibar Land Animals Park A few kilometers west of Jozani forest, on the road to Kizimkazi, you will find ZALA Park, that is like a zoo with pens and compounds, mostly reptiles, it is a very good place for kids. ZALA is one of the places you can observe snakes and lizards up close. Zala Park Fishing Fishing The largest profession on Zanzibar is fishing, the boat the fishermen use is called a Dhow. It is often you can see the fishermen bring there catch up on the beach, so you can get real close and see the different kinds. Sometimes they have races in the dhow's.           Local Zanzibar Food and fruit. On Zanzibar there is allot of seafood, lobster, kingfish, squid, shrimps. There is many different vegetables, often coconut and there is plenty opportunity to get vegetarian food. Words in Zanzibarian. Hakuna matata No worries Karibu Welcome or your welcome Polle polle Slowly or take it easy General greeting Jambo/sijambo How’s it going Mambo Peace with you Salama Aleikum Dalla dalla Mini-bus Nzuri Good Yes Ndiyo No Hapana Okay Sawa How much - Price? Bei Gani                 Drums and dance on beach. Many of the inhabitants on Zanzibar is very fond of playing drums, make fire on the beach and sing and dance. People on Zanzibar really like to have a good time, play football, play on the beach, and just live hakuna matata.   Zanzibar Cultural Festival. Every year in july the Zanzibar Cultural Festival takes place, where participants from whole world comes to experience the culture of Tanzania. In the little city Makunduchi, south of Zanzibar city, is the Mwakakogwa festival between july and august, it is a festival to celebrate a good harvest.          Information Public transport. The public busses on Zanzibar is called Dala Dala's Taxi's is allot more comfortable, from Stonetown to Jambianin a taxi costs about 40$ You can also rent bicycle/scooter or car.       Money. Currency på Zanzibar is called schilling. 1000 schilling is about 1$ It is a good idea to have some cash when you arrive. In Stonetown there is ATM's. Credit card. A lot of places on Zanzibar you can use credit card, but often they take 10-20% commission. Banks. The only place on Zanzibar there is a bank, is in Stonetown. Price example. Soda and and beer: 1$ 5 kr Restaurant meal: 4 $   Hospital and Chemist's. There is a hospital in Stonetown Nordic Clinic, Valhalla House 30 E -mail: nordic@raha.com Tel. 05160 0274     Good for kids. The beaches on Zanzibar is very good for kids, likewise is the people very friendly, and the is almost no crime on Zanzibar.   Internet. Communications from the island are easily accessible, allot of internet cafes who also provide telephonic facilities. Cell phone. International cell phone roaming is also available. Power: Electricity 220 - 240 V AC, 50 Hz