About Zanzibar

Lying in the Indian Ocean, Zanzibar is the collective name for two islands situated 35 km off the coast of mainland Tanzania: Unguja (commonly known as Zanzibar) and Pemba.

The capital of the islands, located on the island of Unguja, is also known as Zanzibar. The city’s old quarter, known as Stone Town, was declared a World Heritage Site in 2000. It is a flat, low lying island, covering an area of 1,651 sq km (637 sq miles). It is about 85km (53 miles) long and 20km (12 miles) wide. The population of Zanzibar is around 1 million. Zanzibar’s main industries are tourism and spices (clove, pepper, nutmeg and cinnamon). The currency in Tanzania is the Tanzanian Shilling (Tsh). Currency Converter: www.xe.com/ucc/

Zanzibar’s history was influenced by the British, Persian, Indians, Portuguese, Arabs and the African mainland. In 1964, Zanzibar merged with Tanganyika after the Arab government was overthrown to create the United Republic of Tanzania. Although Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, it elects its own President who is head of the government for matters internal to the island.

The language of Zanzibar is Swahili (called Kiswahili locally.) Visitors with a basic grasp of the language will be understoon anywhere. Arabic is also spoken. English is widely used in the towns and tourist areas.

Zanzibar is an ideal tourist destination. It is fringed with pristine white sandy beaches for relaxing and a magnificent coral reef for snorkeling and diving. It is also steeped in a rich cultural and historical heritage that is a predominantly Islamic culture.

Stone Town is a fascinating and atmospheric old city, with its labyrinth of narrow twisting streets; bustling bazaars and markets; former palaces and grand Arab mansions; and buzzing internet cafes and delightful restaurants. It is a good base to explore the rest of the island.

If you are interested in rainforests and wildlife, then Jozani Forest is worth a visit, especially to see the indigenous Red Colobus monkeys. The island is the largest producer of clove, and is often referred to as ‘The Spice Island’. A spice tour is a must see for tourists visiting Zanzibar. To experience the tranquility of the Indian Ocean you could spend a ‘Safari Blue’ day sailing on a traditional dhow boat around the coastline.

Thomas and Lorena, Italy

For More Information

For more information about visas and passports contact the Tanzania High Commission:
Tanzania High Commission, UK
3 Stratford Place
London
W1C 1AA

Tel: 020 7569 1470
Email: tanzania@tanzania-online.gov.uk

http://www.tanzania-online.gov.uk

Visas and Passports

Visitors to Tanzania and Zanzibar must have a passport valid for six months from the date of travel as well as a tourist visa.

Visas can be obtained in advance of travel from Tanzania Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates worldwide.

The cost of the visa for UK nationals is £38.

UK nationals can get a visa in person at the High Commission in London. If you pay an additional £5 and submit your application before 12 noon, the visa will be issued to you the following afternoon.

It is also possible to obtain a visa on entry to Tanzania International Airport. The cost is $50 in cash. However, we recommend that you obtain the visa in advance.

Climate

Zanzibar’s weather is typically tropical. The islands are hot and humid for most of the year. The summer heat is cooled by the sea breeze, particularly on the north and east coast. Summer and winter peak in December and June respectively.

There are two rainy seasons. The “long” masika rains fall from March to May but it does not rain every day during that time. The “short” vuli rains, characterised by short showers come between October and December.

This is illustrated in the statistical weather information shown below. Zanzibar is blessed with an average of 7-8 hours of sunshine daily.

Average Temperature, °C	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC
Average Temperature, °C	28	28	28	27	25	25	24	25	25	26	27	27
Average High Temperature, °°C	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC
Average High Temperature, °°C	32	32	32	30	28	28	27	28	28	30	31	31
Average Low Temperature, °C	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC
Average Low Temperature, °C	24	24	25	25	23	23	22	22	22	22	23	24
Highest Recorded Temperature, °C	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC
Highest Recorded Temperature, °C	36	38	38	36	32	31	31	31	35	36	37	36
Lowest Recorded Temperature, °C	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC
Lowest Recorded Temperature, °C	21	22	22	22	21	20	19	19	19	20	21	21
Average Rainfall, cm	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC
Average Rainfall, cm	5	6	14	32	28	5	2	3	4	6	17	13
Average Number of Rainy Days	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC
Average Number of Rainy Days	5	5	8	11	10	4	2	2	3	4	9	8
Average Number of Days Above 32°C	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC
Average Number of Days Above 32°C	15	15	17	10	8	nil	nil	nil	7	10	14	14

For More Information

This medical advice was taken from the UK Government’s Department of Health website. www.doh.gov.uk

Medical Advice

Ensure that you get the following immunisations:

Hepatitis A
Polio
Typhoid Fever
Tetanus
Yellow Fever

You should consider getting these immunisations:

Diphtheria
Hepatitis B
Meningococcal Meningitis
Rabies
TB

Malaria
There is a high risk of contracting malaria in Tanzania and Zanzibar. Malaria is spread by the bites of infected mosquitoes and can be fatal. The symptoms include fever and, in some cases, complications affecting the kidneys, liver, brain and blood. People who spend a lot of time in malarial areas can develop some immunity, but this does not last long. If you are traveling or going back to a malarial region, you should take anti-malarial medication. You should consult your Doctor about which anti-malarial drug is best for you. Remember you might need to start taking medication some time before your trip. To prevent getting bitten by mosquitoes cover your arms and legs at night, apply Mosiguard or similar on exposed skin and sleep under a mosquito net.

What to Wear

The climate in Tanzania and especially Zanzibar is tropical. Clothes need to be light and modest as you will be mixing with Muslims. Local faiths do not look favourably on people wearing skimpy clothes. The usual swimming gear and shorts are acceptable on beaches, although topless sunbathing is not permitted.