Zanzibar!...

Our last week in Tanzania was spend on Zanzibar. We took the ferry from Dar to Stone Town which was quite an adventure, although not really a good one! We bought tickets for the New Happy which was supposed to leave at noon (on wednesday the 18th of June) and take 2½ hours. But no, it left at 1.30 pm and took 5 hours and was loaded with tons of goods. But we saved 10$!!


When we finally arrived in Stone Town, we find the nearest hotel and went out to get some dinner, once again, chipsi mayai!
We spent 3 nights in Stone Town, shopping, walking around the amazing city centre and enjoying sunset drinks at the Sunset bar while watching the locals practise Capoeira on the grass infront of the bar. After sunset drinks we went to the street food area and had some really nice, local and cheap dinner.
We went on a halfday tour to Prison Island on friday which included some really nice snorkeling and a visit to the islands giant turtoises. They were huge and made weird sounds while they moved around looking for tourists who would feed them...


The view from the island towards Stone Town was pretty nice. The water was SO clear and the colour of it spectacular!


Saturday morning we went on a tourist dalladalla to Kendwa. Or we were supposed to go to Kendwa but all the hotels were full (due to the full moon party the same night) so after arguing with the guys on the bus we finally ended up in Nungwi on the far north of Zanzibar at a place called Casa Umoja recommended by one of the nicer bus guys (Mansour).

Our first priority was to get some food so be went to the local chipsi mayai restaurant in downtown Nungwi. And it was good! Although the first impression of the kitchen was doubtful...
But we ended up eating here a few times during our 4 days in Nungwi.

Saturday night we went to our local beach bar (Cholo's) and had a few drinks. Mansour joined us and spent a few hours talking us in to going to the full moon party. He succeeded... Around midnight the tide was low enough for us to walk alonf the beach to Kendwa, and we were joined with all the remaining guest+ the staff from the bar.

It took around ½ hour and was a really nice walk. We danced and drank until 6am, got on a bus back to Nungwi and went to bed.

Needless to describe how I was feeling Sunday morning when I woke up... And the rest of the day...

Monday and Tuesday were spent on following activities: sunbathing, swimming, eating, and then some more sunbathing, swimming and eating, before heading for Cholo's Bar in the evening. They made the best Pina Colada's ever! And so cheap! And even though I many times have sworn not to ever drink Tequila again we did get a few shots... We also fund out that Malibu and Sprite is not a good combination unless you REALLY like sugar... Nice people, good drinks, the best Bongo Flava music ever (I can recommend Professor Jay!) and a lot of dancing on the sand with bare feet!

So apart from severe sleep deprivation I had the time of my life on Zanzibar. We ended our stay on the island with a night in Stone Town where Mansour showed us a few local clubs with good music! So more drinking, dancing and enjoying Bongo Flava!

Thursday was the day we left Zanzibar for Dar. This time we made sure to buy tickets for the right boat which took a little more than 2 hours. When we finally came back to the house in Dar I collapsed on my bed and slept for 14 hours!!

Friday we went to Mwenge market to buy the last souvenirs before heading to the airport.

Conclusion: Tanzania is an amazing place! There is so much to see and do, people to meet and learn from, and we both can't wait to go back!

What I've written on this blog is only the highlights...

Lise: thank you for the best time ever! I miss you already!