Sun Drenched in Zanzibar

Zanzibar -the "Spice Island" famous for its spices such as cloves, cinnamon, vanilla, pepper and more, is located in the Indian ocean about 40km east of Tanzania and is part of an archipelago made up of Zanzibar (also known as Unguja, but more widely known as Zanzibar), Pemba Island (situated North-East from Zanzibar) and smaller islets surrounding Zanzibar.



Zanzibar is known for its beautiful white sand beaches filled with coconut palms and surrounding coral reefs, clear ocean water and rich history.


The east coast hosts the most popular resorts and hotels and great accommodation can also be found in the North in Nungwi.


Accommodation in Zanzibar can be divided into two categories namely hotels in historical Stone Town and the popular beach hotels/resorts. Some of the hotels or resorts have a more rustic feel to them, mostly built of local materials and thatched roofs and are generally the two star and three star properties while others are more modern and contemporary in style - usually the four and five star hotels. Most of the hotels are set in beautiful gardens by the beach and offer a range of activities to be enjoyed by guests.


The east coast's beaches are more beautiful but they face the prevailing winds and as a result the seas here are a bit rougher, but during low tide the water tend to draw back very far (sometimes as far as the coral reef surrounding the island).


Not far from the East coast are the Mnemba reefs which make for absolutely spectacular diving and many of the hotels are able to take you out to the reefs.


Zanzibar is a great destination for relaxing, diving, snorkeling, deep sea fishing, swimming with the dolphins and other water activities. A visit to the historic Stone Town with its narrow pathways and lively markets is an interesting cultural experience.


Zanzibar is also home to the rare Red Colobus Monkey, which is recognized as a distinct species.


Temperatures are ideal for for all year travel, but from April to June the monsoon rains fall but it usually does not rain every day during this time. December can be very hot as it is the peak summer month in Zanzibar and June the peak winter month with enjoyable mild temperatures.


The island is blessed with its beautiful nature and white sandy beaches, making it a haven for honeymooners and all people seeking the quiet nature away from life in the fast lane.

For more information, contact Travel Expeditions.

Indian Ocean Islands - Amazing Destinations:

The Indian Ocean Islands are some of the most amazing family, couple and honeymoon destinations in the world. You might ask the question, but why do people flock to these destinations in enormous numbers on an on-going basis – from all over the world, but especially from South-Africa?

The first point to consider is that all these islands have qualities and is beautiful in their own right, differing from the next, but offering its own exceptional qualities to its visitors.

The most popular islands include Mauritius, Zanzibar, the Seychelles and the Maldives islands.

Not only does each of these islands offer a magnificent island experience, they are all surrounded by coral reefs, which in turn ensure crystal clear, calm lagoons surrounding the land with idyllic sandy beaches. These coral reefs guarantee an excellent variety of ocean life in an underwater paradise and pose as strong magnets for divers and even snorkelers.

Each island’s beauty is exceptional in its own right. Not only can you combine a lovely beach holiday or honeymoon on an island, but also experience nature in its truest, cleanest manifestation. These destinations are also very safe to travel to and tourists are well looked after.

Most of these islands are quite accessible and flights range from daily flights to selected islands to twice weekly to others.

Honeymooners and couples are in for the time of their life. These tropical islands are some of the most romantic retreats in the world. Think about romantic dinners on the beach, or candlelight dinner in a quiet restaurant corner, lazing around on the perfect palm fringed beach or enjoying the calm clear waters.

Another point which makes these destinations so attractive is the vast array of sport and leisure activities or excursions which awaits visitors. The list is endless and the resorts typically include a variety of activities which are free of charge to its guests.

The above is only the tip of the iceberg, but to appreciate every aspect these stunning islands have to offer, you might just want to board that plane and make the experience yours. So next time you wonder upon a perfect getaway for your family, or be it a romantic treat for that special someone, or a celebration of love on your honeymoon, think Indian Ocean Islands…

For more information on these spectacular islands, visit Travel Expeditions.

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ZANZIBAR:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

MAURITIUS:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
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Zanzibar Honeymoon

I believe we made the perfect choice for our honeymoon. A honeymoon in Paradise – Zanzibar.

Upon our arrival in Zanzibar, the first thing I felt was the atmosphere of a tropical island. This made me feel very excited! I could not wait to arrive at our hotel.


This was only the beginning of honeymoon memories that will last us a lifetime!
We were met by our transfer and taken to our hotel timeously. The most popular resorts are situated upon the North-East coastline of Zanzibar – upon a true paradise palm fringed stretch of beach. The beach is idyllic with powder-soft white sand and the water is crystal clear. Our hotel – 4* Ocean Paradise – was also located here.


The first thing that caught our attention was the large, stunning, modern reception area. We received a welcome drink upon our arrival and had a look around.


The resort is set within stunning gardens with thousands of palms throughout the resort - paradise!


I could not stop taking photos of all the palm trees towering far above the highest of buildings.


We were taken to our bungalow-style room, which was located in the hotel garden. The room was spacious and had a large bathroom with a shower.
All the bungalows are spread throughout the hotel gardens.


Everything about the resort was immaculate. We thoroughly enjoyed the resort cuisine. Breakfast and Dinners was buffet style – offering an enormous variety of food, all of excellent standards. We totally over-ate ourselves… We were on half-board basis as this specific resort does not have an all inclusive meal option. Guests can however upgrade to Full Board (breakfast, lunch and dinner), which might be a good idea as food and drinks are expensive (about 2-3 times as expensive as in SA).
This is a very nice resort for couples – and that is exactly why we chose it. There is however recently some other new resorts in the area, which might be a better value for money option in comparison to Ocean Paradise, which are standard All Inclusive.
Something we really enjoyed, was sitting in the pool-bar of the resort’s enormous swimming pool while enjoying our cocktails.
There are so many things to do in Zanzibar. The activities we chose to do were a snorkeling trip to the nearby Mnemba reef, which was really a stunning experience. We also took a half-day tour to visit Stone Town, which was a really interesting. The rest of our time was spent lazing around on the stunning beach, swimming and exploring.

We stayed a total of 7 nights and returned home with a good golden tan and loads of great memories.


I can highly recommend Zanzibar to anybody who is looking for a different, magical island experience!

If you too want to have a honeymoon of a lifetime, visit Travel Expeditions for some awesome Zanzibar packages.

Zanzibar - Truly Exotic

Zanzibar - Also known as Unguja - The Spice Island...

Zanzibar is an exotic island paradise comprising of miles of endless powder-white palm-fringed beaches.  The island is located a mere 40kilometers off the coast of Tanzania and measures 85kilometers in length and 30kilometers in width. 

The island is still very uncommercialized and if you are up for a break from the ordinary and in need of an escape from your daily chaotic lifestyle - Zanzibar is the island to escape to. 
Most resorts are located just off the stunning beach front and presents magnificent views over the Indian Ocean, while offering rustic charm and warm hospitality. 

Due to its close proximity to the equator, weather conditions are favourable almost all year round with warm to hot climate conditions.  It is advisable to avoid Zanzibar during the months of April - June, due to this being the monsoon period where the long rains fall. 

South-African passport holders require a visa for entry, which can be obtained upon your arrival at 50US$, as well as yellow-fever innoculations 10 days prior to departure from South-Africa.  Zanzibar is also a Malaria risk zone, thereofre Malaria precautions are highly recommended. 

Stone Town is the capital town of Zanzibar and is one of the only ancient cities functioning in East Africa and therefore a great attraction.  Stone Town is famous for its large doors and  they are called "Zanzibar doors."

There are a lot of activities to indulge in on your visit to Zanzibar - from an unforgettable experience of swimming with the Dolphins in the south, to visiting the famous indigenous Jozani Forest - home to the endangered Colubus monkey.  Be it diving the stunning reefs to discover the magnificent underwater world this island hides in the depths of its ocean, or snorkelling the stunning shallow reefs...Why not visit the spice and tea plantations or the ancient Stone Town for an interesting experience on the local life and culture of Zanzibar. 

If you are in need of an unforgettable island break-away, you cannot go wrong with this magnificent island - Zanzibar.

For more information on stunning Zanzibar, contact Travel Expeditions.