Sign In
Blogs from Zanzibar, Tanzania, Africa
Advertisement
April 30th 2013
It's becoming clear to me on this trip, that I am basing most of my knowledge about Africa on the Lion King. But hey, a lot of the locals have been referencing it, so why not? One even told me thought he thought the Lion King really was the best representation of the 'circle of life' in the animal kingdom. At the moment I'm back in Stone Town. I spent three days at Jambiani, which was plenty of time to relax and do nothing. I don't intend to do much in Stone Town either, except try to learn my way around more of the old town and find some more good local restaurants (found a great one today, for about $3 I got a drink and huge plate of curry and rice). Can I just say, ... read more
April 28th 2013
The last couple of weeks feel like a bit of a blur. After Uganda, we stopped for a couple of nights at Lake Nakuru (it was pouring with rain when we arrived, so five of us upgraded to a cottage where we ended up cooking as well, because of the weather). There was a cute little jack russell there called Buster, who was good company when I wasn't feeling too well the next day. The others went off on a game drive, but I stayed in to rest and give my body some time to catch up on the trip. After Nakuru we spent a night at Lake Naivasha. It was much drier and sunnier there, so it was actually fun to stay in/put up the tents. In the morning one of the other girls and ... read more
Days 30-37: White sands and snorkelling in Zanzibar, African slave trade history, game driving in the Serengeti and the surreal Ngorongoro Crater
Published: March 13th 2013Africa » Tanzania » Zanzibar » Nungwi
March 13th 2013
Days 30-37: White sands and snorkelling in Zanzibar, African slave trade history, game driving in the Serengeti and the surreal Ngorongoro Crater Jambo everyone, Apologies again for those who have been waiting for the next post we know it’s been awhile… T.I.A. Rocking up to our accommodation in Zanzibar in our van with little to no expectations we strolled into what you could only describe as paradise. The whiteness and softness of the sand was stunning, not to mention the breathtakingly turquoise colour of the sparkling water in which little local boats floated close to the shore. The sun was shining strongly (Simon keeps questioning whether the sun is really this hot in Australia- the answer that I’m sure his mum Chris would agree with at the moment, is yes). We enjoyed a lovely ... read more
January 21st 2013
So we finally made it to Zanzibar after nearly missing our flight. I decided we would leave at 2pm from the hotel in order to catch our 6:30pm flight. When we got there we were told the flight had been changed to leave at 3pm (at this point it was 2:50) and they had just closed the cabin doors, and we should have received an email telling us of the change. Needless to say, we had received no email. They called the captain and held the plane, telling us if we didn't get there by running we would be locked out of the flight and that it was our fault. We ran, fueled by our animosity towards nairobi and the disasters it had dopped upon us. We made the flight wheezing and coughing and received some ... read more
January 20th 2013
My Friend Dayna arrived on Januray 7th at 3:30AM. She and I worked together at Citytv in Toronto and she decided to pay me a two week visit. It was great to see someone from home who knows me, has history with me, and understands my sense of humour. After a two hour nap, we were up and heading to the 9:30AM ferry for Zanzibar. With such a tight schedule, we had to make the most of our time together. We arrived in Stone Town and checked into our hotel and hit the streets. Being exhausted from her 20+ hour flights, we wandered aimlessly through the streets. The heat and humidity on Zanzibar is far worse than Dar, so needless to say we stopped several times for breaks before heading for a nap. After the nap, ... read more
Advertisement
January 2nd 2013
For the last 4 days we've been living large in Zanzibar - the Tanzanian equivalent of the Caribbean. In a bout of deja-vu we were forgotten at the airport by our tour group and had to make a few phone calls before we were eventually picked up. When we made it to the hotel there was only one room remaining which had a twin bed. Yay... After sorting out the room, we were free to explore Stone Town, which has remained relatively untouched since it's founding. The town is well named, as there isn't a wooden structure to be found - wood being used only for intricately carved doors to important buildings and landmarks. Another suitable name could have been 'Maze Town', as there isn't a rhyme or reason to the layout of the town - ... read more
African Trails Overland Tour
Published: December 11th 2012Africa » Tanzania » Zanzibar » Zanzibar City
December 11th 2012
Jambo!! I have now been on my overland tour with African Trail's for just over a week. We are travelling from Nairobi down to Livingstone in Zambia. It has been incredible to say the least. After leaving Brackenhurst Conference Centre in Limuru I made my way to Karen Camp in Nairobi where the tour started. Before too long Jay arrived from Sydney (a friend from school). We were introduced to the rest of the tour group who had been travelling through Uganda. Our group is reasonably small due to the low season at the moment but they are all great people, mainly aussies too. There is Jasmine and Dylan who are on their honeymoon (the coolest honeymoon and the coolest couple!), Nora from Germany, Nicky from Aus, Jay and I and then Harley and Rachel from ... read more
Zanzibar Oct. 27 - Nov. 2 (4 doors down from Freddy's house)
Published: November 2nd 2012Africa » Tanzania » Zanzibar » Zanzibar City
November 2nd 2012
Day 19 - 25 Thinking of the wee ones and Halloween! Here we are at gorgeous North Beach in Zanzibar...lately, we just keep moving from one amazing beach to another! After two long, bumpy and hot days we camped on the beach ....water 30C plus . Next day onto a small ferry to the city and then the very modern catamaran for the 2 hr ride to Stone Town Zanzibar...what a great old city...a real convergence of Asia, Africa and Europe. Stayed at a lovely old hotel after so many nights of tents! All of us went to dinner at a great roof top Indian restaurant then to the Stone Town city night market for a feast of food smells and dancing! On the 31st, off for the spice farm tour and fruit sampling en route ... read more
October 25th 2012
There is a magic to Zanzibar. This is an island that has so many different facets and so many secrets and little gems- both from its past and from its present. Its perhaps the spice in the air that intoxicates its inhabitants and turns it into a kind of a science fiction dream like " Dune"- another planet- another world... ... and as you begin to learn more about it ... it never ceases to show a completely new side of its multifaceted diamond...or at least in this case... the deep safari blue of its purply rainbowy sapphire tanzanite. Like this beautiful stone... the deepness of its character transcends many different cultures and traditions ... and resonates its rustic history in the archaic delapidated architecture of Stone Town...another mystery of mazes and incense... mess and mayhem... ... read more
October 22nd 2012
A Passion for Passion !- The best Frutijuice treat in Zanzibar I've had some time to taste the different fruit juices in Stonetown and elsewhere on the island of Zanzibar- on my wanderings through the maze of Stonetown and in different places around - north-south-east west- Kizimkazi- Ngwe- Mtembwe-Jambiani... I discovered the Baboo Cafe owned and run by Miriam… and her husband. I've tried even the juices in Lazuli restaurant- Tembo Hotel- a four star hotel overlooking the seafront - and a great place for watching the sunset... but all of them pale in comparison to Miriam’s passion fruit juice on the terrace overlooking the sea in her specially constructed Zanzibari cushioned chairs.- and I'm not the only one. I went with a juice and dairy expert from South Africa- Frik Grobler of Dewfresh. ... read more
