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Visas and Passports (Info provided for SA
passport holders only):
A valid passport (must be valid for at least 6
months from return date) is required to enter
Zanzibar and a return or onward ticket. All
visitors will be required to have proof of their
accommodation for the duration of stay, as well as a
valid return air ticket at hand when entering
Zanzibar.
Visas are obtainable on arrival and cost US$50.
The above requirements are subject to change at any
time without prior notice. It is therefore very
important that you contact the relevant consulate
before you travel, to confirm all relevant
requirements to enter Zanzibar.
Health Precautions (Info provided for SA passport
holders only):
Vaccinations: A yellow fever vaccination
certificate is required and an International
Certificate of Vaccination as proof. Yellow fever
inoculations are available at travel clinics around
the country. This vaccination must be obtained 2
weeks (a minimum of 10 days) prior to departing to
Zanzibar.
Malaria: Zanzibar is a Malaria Risk area, so it is
recommended that you consult your physician 6 weeks
prior to departure for the prophylactics right for
you. It is also a good idea to bring a good
mosquito repellent for use in the evenings and wear
long sleeved clothes in the evenings.
The above information is subject to change at any
time without prior notice. It is therefore very
important that you contact a travel clinic before
you travel to confirm all relevant requirements to
enter Zanzibar.
Travel Insurance:
It is extremely important that you have adequate
travel insurance.
Travel Expeditions offers adequate travel insurance
for your international travel. If you receive free
travel insurance by paying with your credit card,
please make sure that the cover is adequate. Travel
Expeditions make use of TIC travel insurance which
covers up to R50 000 000 in medical and related
expenses (depending on the policy chosen) as well as
up to R25 000 baggage insurance (depending on the
policy chosen). A valuable insurance cover can come
in very handy when needed. The free travel
insurance your credit card company provides when you
pay for your flight tickets with your credit card,
might be very basic. Travel Expeditions can top-up
your free credit card travel insurance for a small
fee so that your cover is more comprehensive if you
feel that the free credit card insurance is too
basic.
No one expects a confirmed trip to be cancelled,
having to pay extra amounts when a sudden emergency
situation [Medical Expenses, Assistant Services,
Hospitalisation, Accidental Death or Disability,
Trip Cancellation or Curtailment, Hijacking, Baggage
Loss, Baggage Delay, Travel Delay, Stolen cash or
travel documents, Loss of cash or travel documents
and Personal Liability Law Suits] occurs. However,
unfortunately these situations do arise – make sure
that you will not be caught off-guard.
Security and general Airline Regulations:
Due to all destinations enforcing security
restrictions and altering these restrictions from
time to time we strongly suggest that you check with
the applicable airline a few days prior to your
departure to ensure that the information below is
correct and no additional requirements have been
enforced.
Permitted items in hand luggage:
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All liquids shall be required to be carried in
containers with a capacity not greater than
100ml (or the equivalent in other volumetric
measurements, e.g. fluid ounces). Other
liquids, aerosols and gels that are considered
liquid, shaving lotion and other foams, creams
and lotions, pastes including toothpaste,
mascara, lipsticks, perfumes, sprays, and gels
including hair and shower gels.
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Liquids carried in containers larger than 100ml
are not to be accepted, even if the container is
only partly-filled.
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Containers shall be placed in a transparent
re-sealable plastic bag of a maximum capacity
not exceeding 1 litre. The containers must fit
comfortably within the transparent plastic bag,
which should be completely closed.
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The plastic bag shall be presented by the
departing passenger for visual examination and
subsequent screening through x-ray at the
screening point.
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Only one transparent plastic bag per passenger
shall be permitted.
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Any item that does not fit into a transparent
re-sealable plastic bag as described above, the
item will not be permitted beyond the security
screening point.
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Examples of LAGS include, but are not limited
to: Water and other drinks, soups, syrups,
creams, lotions and oils, perfumes, sprays,
gels, including hair and shower gels, contents
of pressured containers, including shaving foam,
other foams and deodorants, pastes including
toothpaste, liquid-solid mixtures, mascara, any
other items of similar consistency.
There are a few exemptions where the above
restrictions are not to be applied to:
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In respect of liquids purchased by departing
passengers either at airport duty free shops, or
on board aircraft, such liquids must be packed
in a sealed plastic bag that is both tamper
evident and displays satisfactory proof of
purchase at airport duty free shops or on board
the aircraft, on the day of the journey. This
also applies to transfer passengers.
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Medications, Baby Mild/Foods and Special Dietary
Requirements, provided the genuineness of these
items is verified through prescriptions.
Physical Checks and visual inspection will be
made by screening staff.
Please note, the airlines will no longer accept any
item of baggage exceeding 32kg in weight or size
exceeding 900mm x 720mm x 450mm. This is enforced
to comply with Health and Safety laws.
Sport equipment can be transported at additional
charges. (Weight limits might apply).
If you are taking any sporting equipment to
Zanzibar, please notify us so that we can ensure the
airline is informed and that adequate transportation
to and from the hotel has been booked to accommodate
the additional requirements. Please note that
surcharges may apply.
Import Allowances:
If a passenger is of 16 years of age or over he/she
may bring in the following goods, free of customs
duty:
Climate:
The peak tourist months are December to February and
July to August.
The rainy season is from April to June (long rains)
and October to December (short rains).
Zanzibar experiences ideal holiday weather for most
of the year, but it is most expensive to travel to
Zanzibar between July and October, due to the good
weather and dry season.
Money:
US$ are widely accepted in most establishments.
There are foreign exchange facilities available at
most hotels and banks.
Credit cards are accepted at most of the major
hotels, restaurants and resorts. There are currently
no ATMs (cash machines) in Zanzibar - the nearest
one can be found in Dar es Salaam.
Best is to travel with hard cash in US$, but this is
not the safest. Traveller’s cheques are the safest,
but cannot be exchanged everywhere.
Consult the Bureau de change where you change your
currency before you leave SA for the best
recommendations on how to carry your money to your
destination.
USD notes printed prior to 2001, with the 'small
heads' on them, are NOT being accepted by airport,
immigration officials and many other vendors. Only
the newer notes, with the 'large heads' will be
accepted.
What to pack:
Pack lightweight casual wear and beach attire. Take
a lightweight sweater for
the evenings, especially in the cooler season. Pack
an umbrella, suntan lotion, sunglasses and rubber
sole shoes to protect you from the coral.
What Things Cost - Guideline only:
The cost of meals, snacks and drinks at the hotels
of Zanzibar are generally more expensive than in
South Africa. You might find a local café or
restaurant in town that offers more affordable
prices. A guideline is that meals and drinks are
usually 2 to 3 times more expensive than in
South-Africa. Occasionally goods can even be more
expensive, especially imported alcoholic wines and
drinks. Taking this into consideration, it is
important to budget enough spending money for your
proposed trip, taking into consideration your chosen
meal plan of the package booked.
Rough Guide:
Budget minimum between R250 to R300 (Rand Value) per
person per day (for a light lunch and roughly 2 to 3
drinks per person per day as most packages includes
breakfast and dinner).
Bottled water – US$3 to US$5
Beer – US$5
Cold drinks – US$4 to US$5
Fruit juice – US$4 to US$5
Toasted sandwiches – US$6 to US$10
Light lunches – US$8 to US$15
Evening flavour:
Most hotels offer evening entertainment and at most
hotels you will experience cultural shows.
Divers:
The island of Zanzibar brings images of idyllic
tropical holidays to mind. It has for many years
been a favourite travel destination for those in the
know, but has only recently become known as a superb
diving destination. The reefs are generally shallow
with clean and calm water. The coral is mostly
unspoiled and teeming with large numbers of tropical
marine inhabitants. The diving around Mnemba island
is exceptional, but there are also some good wreck
dives in Stone Town. The average diving depth is
approximately 20m and the average water temperature
is 27 degrees Celsius with water visibility between
15 m to 40m.
Best time for diving: September to March.
Most popular diving spots Nungwi – North Coast:
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Hunga Reef - One of the best dive sites is made
up of a series of interconnected bommies
consisting of hard and soft corals at 18 m.
Large shoals of barracuda, tuna and shappers can
be seen and the occasional reef shark. You can
also expect to see parrot fish, unicorn fish and
schools of sweetlips.
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Nankivell Reef - This reef of 15m consists of
giant plate corals in fascinating formations.
This reef is home to rays, napoleon wrasse,
giant remoras and groupers.
Most popular diving spots Mnemba – East Coast:
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Kichawani - A Steep coral bank with a number of
small crevices hiding lion fish and porcupine
fish. This reef includes large coral species
such as Mushroom, Honeycombe, Brain and Stagorn
coral. Below 30m a vertical wall of reef fish,
Trumpetfish, large Napoleon Wrasse, Reef sharks
and Manta Rays can be seen. You may be lucky to
see the occasional pod of dolphins or school of
kingfish and grouper swimming by. Visibility
can reach up to 20m.
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Wattabomi - Excellent for snorkeling and novice
divers. The reef includes small reef fish,
Regal Angelfish, Bluestreak, Cleaner Wrasse,
Eels and Blue Spotted Rays. Look for Flounders
and Soles who lie buried on their sides in the
sand. Most of the year you will find
Bottlenosed, spinner and Common Dolpins.
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Aquarium - The name speaks for itself; it is
like swimming in an aquarium. There is a very
slight current and you should see Surgeionfish,
Moorish Idols, Large Hawkesbill, Green Turtles
and Whilte Tip Reef Sharks.
Most popular diving spots Stone Town – West Coast:
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Pegasus Wreck - This is a 50m long wreck thought
to be the remains of Pegasus which was sunk in
1916 by the German gunship Koensigsberg. It is
for experienced divers only and you will be able
to see tuna, trevally, barracuda, jack fish,
lionfish and giant stingrays.
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Bahari Wreck - This is a 50 year old wreck which
would have been used for transport of spares and
heavy equipment from the quayside to Royal Navy
ships anchored in the harbour. It is the home
of sweepers and fusiliers and resident Silver
Sweetlips. Other fish that you might see
include Guinea fowl Blaasops, Large Stingray,
Scorpoin Fish and Cobia. It is located about 20
minutes out of Stone Town.
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Panga Reef - This reef is ideal for Open Water
Dive courses as it is calm and shallow. An
enormous array of coral and tropical fish can be
found such as clown fish, parrot fish, Moorish
idol and many others. Many people do night
dives on the reef where you can see cuttlefish,
squid, crab and many other night dwellers.
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