Zanzibar Island | Unique-Kitecamps.com

KITEPARADISE ZANZIBAR

Zanzibar is a coral island which creates endless sandy lagoons along its shores. Cristal clear 27 degree water with white sandy bottom offer perfect kite conditions. The palm tree riddled coast line is a beautiful backdrop to the colorful kites.

There are a few different spots but some better then others and mainly along the South East Coast. Paje is one of the most popular lagoons with about 5 sqaure kilometers of perfect sandy bottom, kiteable even in the lowest spring tide. Neaptides in the quarter moons are generally the best teaching and training conditions and work well for the surf trips too. Spring low tides offer butter flat water for freestyle and choppy high tides for strapless riding. Paje is a great spot for kiters of all levels.

The wave spots run along the reef paralel to the coast line and offer a variety of different waves for different levels. The reef is generally safe over the right conditions and having a guide is highly recommended to maximize enjoyment and safety on the water.

THE ISLAND ITSELF

Zanzibar belongs to the United Republic of Tanzania and has a population of around 1.15 million friendly people.

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The capital of Zanzibar is Zanzibar Town. Zanzibar Town consists of the historic center of Stone Town and its many urban neighborhoods. The coast line of Zanzibar mainly consists of coral rocky shores with prestine white beaches. The west and south coast tend to be rockier but do have some stunning beaches, sand islands and amazing sunsets. The South East and North East Coast have the longest beaches with a barrier reef over a kilometer away that runs the length of the island. The South East Coast also has amazing sunsets from the peninsula known as Michamvi which then leads into Chwaka Bay and which continues up the North East Coast. Fishing villages are scattered along the shores of the island and with a “pole pole” way of life create a relaxed atmosphere. Coconuts and fresh fruits are sold on most of the beaches and are perfect for a snack inbetween kite sessions.

LANGUAGE

The official local language in Tanzania and in Zanzibar is Kiswahili. In addition to Swahili, English is also an official national language. Many schools teach in English and it is possible to get in touch with the local people in many situations if you can talk English. Nevertheless the locals are excited when tourists pick up some words in Kiswahili on their journey.

RELIGION

Religion is a central topic for many people in Zanzibar.

The island of Zanzibar is dominated by the Islam religion. Approximately 95% of the local population are Muslims. In Stone Town you can find a big number of mosques and also prayer sounds that echo through the streets are part of the cityscape. Besides the mosques there are also Christian institutions and Hindu temples in Zanzibar.

MONEY

The currency in Zanzibar is the Tanzania Shilling (TZS). U.S. Dollar (USD) are accepted in addition to the Tanzania shilling to pay . Usually you pay for small purchases in Tanzania shillings and such amounts as private hotel bills at the end of the trip in USD .

Current exchange rate (as of December 2023)

€ 1.00 = 2700 TZS = $ 1.09

USD 1.00 = 2500 TZS = 0.91 €

1000 TZS = 0.36 € = $ 0.4

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You can not change Tanzania Shilling before getting to Tanzania as it is only available in the country and also the export of currency is prohibited.

Be advised that you can not pay by card in all hotels and restaurants in Tanzania. We always recommend to bring enough Dollar which you can also easily change after your arrival in Tanzania. The amount should be sufficient to pay for the entry visa and first bills. Moreover, it is always advisable to also bring euro notes because you can change them as well on site in Tanzania shillings.

There is also the possibility to withdraw money from ATMs. Please note that you can only get Tanzania Shillings from the vending machines! ATM can nowadays be found all around Paje.

UPDATE: There is 3 ATM machines in Paje now. They are reliable on most days but can occasionally be found empty in busy tourist season. Of course if this happens it’s all at the same time.

VISA

When entering Zanzibar you will need a valid passport and a visa. The passport has to be valid for at least 6 months after arrival. The costs are 50 USD when buying your visa in the airport and can be paid via card or in cash (regulations and payment methods change regularly). A normal tourist visa is valid for 90 days and entitles single entry into the country. You can now also apply for your Tourist Visa online and we recommend if you choose this option to do this at least 2-3 weeks prior to your trip as it can take time.

VACCINATIONS

With direct entry from Europe compulsory vaccinations are not provided when entering from a yellow fever area (eg neighbors), the evidence of a valid yellow fever vaccination from the age of one is required – see www.who.int .

OTHER

Car rental

If you plan to rent a car during your trip you should know that you drive on the left side of the road in Tanzania and on Zanzibar. For self-driving an international driving license is required as well as a special Zanzibar Driving Permit. It is always best to have both documents to avoid trouble with the police in street controls. We are happy to provide you with a reliable agency where you can hire well-maintained cars with full insurance.

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Phone

It is easy and cheap to register a local SIM Card on Zanzibar. There are many small jobs offering this service. With the local providers such as Zantel you can use mobile data in your phone for a small price. Also international calls are much cheaper with the local SIM-Cards. Costs of SIM and registration is about 2 USD.

Code of Tanzania : 00255 / +255

Health

Pharmacies, doctors and hospitals are located in every major city. We recommend Urban Care (Jambiani and Fumba Town with a German Doctor in charge) or MedExpress Hospital (Paje).

Credit cards

MasterCard and VISA are accepted in larger hotels and more touristy facilities. Note that most places add a 5% banking charge to your invoice amount when paying via credit card

Time zone

GMT + 2 (GMT + 3)

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