Hakuna Matata- The Zanzibari way of living life!

A guest post by Janhavi Kulkarni

Zanzibar is a hidden gem surrounded by crystal blue sea and a rich history . After spending five whole days in this Tanzanian mystique town, I can vouch for this place to satiate your travel hunger. Hakuna Matata is a Swahili philosophy, which means living life to the fullest.

Most travellers always question the safety and accessibility of travelling to Africa. Let me tell you that it’s one of the safest tourist destinations in Africa. Whether you are with your partner or family, it has got something for all. Its turquoise blue beaches, powder white sand, Stonetown – a UNESCO world heritage, abundance of culture and delicious Zanzibari food will leave you spellbound. Zanzibar got its name from the Arab traders who landed on the island in the 17^th century. ‘Zangi’ is a Persian word for black and ‘bar’ is country. Hence, the name.

How to reach Zanzibar?

Whether you are travelling from India or any other place, you first need to take a flight to Daar-es-salaam. Tanzania allows visa on arrival for most passports and you can always check the website for more details. Daar-es-salaam is the former capital of Tanzania and now the commercial hub. You can then take a ferry from Daar es Salaam to Zanzibar and reach there in 2.5 hours. The ferry tickets can be booked online and are not very expensive. While on the ferry, you can enjoy breath taking views of the blissful Indian Ocean and also click pictures from the deck. And, once you get to Zanzibar… you will be greeted by giant container ships, rusty buildings and an endless ocean.

Alternately, you can even fly from Daar-es-salaam to Zanzibar but then what’s the fun in that?

Do you need a visa?

Absolutely not! All you need is a valid passport and a form to be filled out. It’s a very easy and quick procedure. And, you also get a Zanzibar stamp on your passport page! (Such an unusual country to be stamped) It’s not a different country but has a separate government from the Tanzanian union. Zanzibar has always been a separate island and still has its own history and culture intact.

Where to stay?

Zanzibar has a number of options to suit your budget. I stayed at ‘Zanzibar Retreat’, which was a one and half hour drive from the ferry. I had booked a driver who was reliable and friendly. Since the country is majorly Swahili-speaking, they understand very little English. Swahili is a mix of Arab and Bantu language. But, you will feel absolutely safe in this Swahili coast. On the way to the resort, I passed through a line of coconut palm trees, banana trees, lots of paddy fields and women draped in bright coloured clothes.

Zanzibar retreat Hotel is like a dream come true. They have used sustainable articles and have given a very organic look to the rooms. The outdoor decor has a Greek-style influence with a direct view of the blue sea. They have an outdoor restaurant and a bar overlooking the stunning beach. You can relax on the hammocks, take a dip in the ocean and enjoy their lovely blended cocktails with some shrimps and red snapper.

If you are a vegetarian, they have a few options for you as well. You need to order atleast an hour ago as they like to cook it fresh. The owner of the resort is from Finland and he started this place about 11 years ago. I am sucker for art and couldn’t help but notice the intricate details of the design and the white-dominated walls and table cloth.   

What to do in Zanzibar?

You can book for a cab which will take you to different islands for snorkelling, scuba diving and lots of other water sports. You can even choose to just laze on the beach and sun bathe. I visited Prison Island and Nakupenda beach to enjoy the picturesque views of the lovely ocean. The corals underneath the ocean gives it a green or blue colour and, the view looks straight out of a postcard. You can also see a variety of starfish at the coast during low tide. They are blue, red or even black in colour with such beautiful designs that amazes you of the nature’s beauty.

Stonetown

Even though I loved the islands, Zanzibar has more to it than just the beaches. It has the world’s oldest settlement, Stonetown… which is known as Mji Mkongwe in Swahili. This mystique town got its name because of its stone structured buildings. Zanzibar was the main entry point for Arab traders and was an open slave market back then. The Arab traders bought the spices with them and till now it has one of the biggest spice markets. A walk in the Stonetown is a treat for all art & craft lovers. Each of the houses and shops have unique doors and you are suddenly teleported to the 17^th century. The designs and colours of these doors speak volumes about its history. Here you can find handcrafted bags, paintings, African prints, antiques, African-style beaded jewellery and much more. I spent a few hours here and still couldn’t get enough of it. I was suddenly overwhelmed with the historic influence that this place has.

Food

Stonetown has a lot of cosy cafes and restaurants to satisfy your tastebuds. You can either pick the Western cafes or the Indian restaurants. I had lunch at an Indian restaurant called ‘Silk Route’, which is at the heart of Stonetown. If you are a seafood lover, the Zanzibari fish curry is a must. They blend in the spices and make the delicacies it with a lot of love. So, if you are looking for some local food, this is the best place for you. There are many other restaurants which serve octopus and other seafood items. So, if you are an experimental eater, you have to try it!

Spice Market

While shopping for some spices to take back home, I came across local Zanzibaris who speak fluent Gujarati. Surprised? Well, it’s because Tanzania has a huge population of Gujaratis who have maintained their language and culture even in the far lands of East Africa. The locals are friendly here but you need to be careful with your bags while walking on the streets. And, don’t forget to shop for the cloves, black pepper and some raw vanilla sticks.

Most travellers don’t have Africa on their bucket list because it is perceived as a poor country with a high crime rate. But, you can easily travel in Tanzania and a few other countries as they are much travel-friendly. You will spot many Indians, Americans, Europeans and the Chinese walking around the streets of Stonetown and lazing on the beach. Make friends, enjoy the culture, relish the food, do some street shopping and take home some great memories, just like I did.

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