The stunning Zanzibar archipelago is the perfect tourist destination for travel lovers and adventure seekers. Travelers can enjoy unique and thrilling activities such as cultural tours, museum visits, hiking, fishing, forest tours, kiteboarding, kayaking, surfing, swimming, yoga, snorkeling, scuba diving, spice farm visits, and trekking. Here is a guide to some of the most enjoyable and unforgettable activities that one can experience during their vacation in Zanzibar!
Hiking
Hiking in Zanzibar is extraordinary and memorable as it provides a physical challenge to tourists. Tourists can climb up through the lush green vegetation till they reach the top from where they can enjoy an aerial view of the surroundings. Travelers can enjoy hiking at Masingini forest, where they can find stunning flora and fauna and amazing animals such as the Zanzibar Red Colobus Monkey. They can also enjoy a hiking tour from Jozani Forest to Chwaka Bay, during which they can spot beautiful wildlife, lush greenery, and views of the beach and rainforest!
Surfing
Zanzibar is one of the best spots in East Africa for surfing. There are lots of surfing schools which provide expert guidance and top quality gear and equipment. One can go to Paje Beach which has ideal winds, great waves, and perfect tide, Bwejuu Beach which has shallow waters, excellent tides, and helpful local guides, or South Reefs at the southeast coast which have reef breaks that are perfect for beginners, as well as intermediate and advanced surfers as the region offers varying levels of difficulty with many types of waves. Other top rated locations for surfing include Dongwe, Tamarins, Kiwengwa, Jambiani, Nakupenda, and Pwani Mchangani.
Snorkeling
Snorkeling is a thrilling water sport which allows travelers to explore the stunning underwater world while wearing gear and equipment such as a wetsuit, a diving mask, a snorkel, and swim fins! In Zanzibar, tourists can go to snorkeling spots such as Pingwe Beach, Chumbe Island, Paje Beach, Mnemba Atoll, Jambiani Beach, and Tumbatu Island. Here, they can find breathtaking aquatic and marine life, which includes groupers, angel fish, hawksbill turtles, leaf fish, bottlenose dolphins, stone fish, moray eels, batfish, stingrays, octopus, pufferfish, flounders, tuna, parrotfish, napoleons, rainbow runners, and lobsters, as well as the colorful coral reef! One can find a number of schools and snorkeling centers which provide expert guidance and high quality equipment. Most of these centers follow the Green Fins code of conduct which sets out internationally established guidelines for conserving and protecting the environment and carrying out sustainable tourism. This includes taking part in beach clean up programs, refraining from selling or buying corals or shells, preventing any pollution of the ocean or the beach, and establishing a strict ‘no touch policy’ for diving and snorkeling among the coral reefs.
Kayaking
Kayaking is a thrilling and physically challenging activity. In Zanzibar, tourists can enjoy kayaking while looking at gorgeous and scenic views. At Kendwa Beach, tourists can hire guides, and kayaks, so they can enjoy an exciting kayaking tour! At Dongwe Beach, visitors can enjoy kayaking with helping tour guides and can rent equipment such as life jackets, kayaks, and paddles, at suitable costs! Kayaking among the mangroves and the crystalline waters is a memorable experience. At Menai Bay Conservation Area, one can go on professionally guided kayaking tours with Kayak Zanzibar. The trips are tailored to suit individual needs and items such as kayaks, paddles, and life vests are stable, reliable, and of good quality.