Fun and Adventurous Activities That Won't Cost you an Arm or a Leg
Situated off the coast of Tanzania in the Indian Ocean, Zanzibar is a beautiful island with a variety of surprises up its sleeve. The island is blessed with a great weather and climate making it pretty hard to resist. It is edged with picturesque sandy beaches, which are perfect for soaking up some sun while you sip on a tasty cocktail.
Zanzibar is steeped in history and culture, and the Stone Town serves up a good slice of heritage for culture lovers. If you’re seeking serenity, you should head to the north coast, which is less crowded and more private.
With a wide range of fun things to do during your holiday, the island can be addictive. However, that doesn’t mean an exciting and relaxing holiday on the island will cost an arm or a leg. Thus, we present to you some things you can do in Zanzibar for $15 or less.
1. Spend your day at the beach
The beach is a great place to start your holiday. Zanzibar is home to miles of coastline with vast swathes of white sand. Spend a long sun-kissed day on the beach, enjoy a morning swim in the azure waters, indulge in barefoot walks and experience the sunsets – you will definitely have a blissful and relaxing day.
The island is dotted with waterfront hotels, and resorts and most of them often throw in a variety of adrenaline-pumping water activities. Thus, you can indulge in snorkelling, diving, scuba diving, sailing, water skiing, surfing and more.
Women sunbathing at the Zanzibar Beach
Hot Tip: Read our complete guide to diving in Zanzibar Archipelago here
2. Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site – The Stone Town
If you’re a culture lover, you will love this part of Zanzibar. The Stone Town, also known as the Old Town has a celebrated past that will interest you. The town is a mesmerising melting pot of different cultures including Swahili and Arab. Take a walk through the cobbled alleyways of the old town and discover ancient mosques, washed-out mansions, and limestone palaces that are falling apart. One of the most interesting parts of the walking tour is the ornately carved Zanzibari doors, which is the emblem of Stone Town. Most of these doors are decorated with brass spikes or rosettes, and they reflect an Arab influence.
3. Visit the Slave Market
If you’re tired of spending a whole day at the beach, you might as well explore the island. Visit the Slave Market in the Stone Town, which is now the site of the Anglican Cathedral. Learn about the history of the slave and ivory trade in East Africa, and take a tour of the underground slave chambers. Entrance fee is $5.
Slave Monument Old Slave Market
4. Visit the Zanzibar National Museum
The Zanzibar National Museum was formerly called the House of Wonders (Beit El-Ajaib), which was built as a ceremonial palace by Sultan Barghash. This is the best place to learn about the history of the archipelago and its islands. Entrance fee is $3
5. Enjoy Delicious foods at Forodhani Gardens
Forodhani Gardens is an open-air food market in Stone Town. It’s great place to eat affordable local food. Enjoy some delicious seafood, the famous Zanzibar pizza, and local sugar cane juice, but ensure you haggle well. At night, the food market comes alive with many vendors selling a variety of barbecued meat and seafood. You can order some seafood, sit on the seawall and enjoy the magnificent sea views while you eat.
6. Drink black coffee at Jaws Corner Coffee Shop
Spend your afternoon with the locals while you enjoy small cups of black coffee at Jaws Corner Coffee shop in Stone Town. This coffee shop is a place to chat and get to know the locals while you decide how you want to spend the rest of your day. A small cup of coffee costs less than $1.
7. Explore the Old Fort
The Old Fort is a popular attraction and the oldest building in Stone Town. It was built by the Omani Arabs after they took over the island from the Portuguese. The Old Fort is now a part of the Zanzibar Cultural Centre; it is adjacent to the Zanzibar National Museum and opposite the Forodhani Gardens. You will find several souvenir shops and a lovely cafe inside the fort walls.
Explore the Old Fort on Your Right and Zanzibar National Museum on Left. Image courtesy: by Tanzaniaonfoot
8.Changuu Island
Changuu Island is also known as the Prison Island, and it’s about 20-minute ferry ride from Stone Town. The island features many giant tortoises, and some of them are more than 200 years old. After exploring the island, you can indulge in some fun activities suchbeaches with translucent water. Entrance fee is $4.
9. Zanzibar Butterfly Center
Zanzibar Butterfly Center is a tropical garden that protects several island-native butterfly species. At this centre, you will have the opportunity to some cocoons and how the butterflies grow into adults as they go through several stages. Entrance fee for Adults is $6; children above 5 years is $3
10. Enjoy a Dala-Dala ride
Have a local taste of Zanzibar by taking a Dala-Dala ride around the island. Dala-Dala is a popular transportation option for locals travelling within the island. It is a truck or minibus with benches, and the passengers sit facing each other. This is an experience on its own, and it’s very cheap. It presents you with an opportunity to meet and get to know the locals. There are Dala-Dalas available for a trip to Kiwengwa, Jambiani, Paje, Michamwi, Bwejuu, Nungwi and Matemwe. A one-way trip costs $0.80.
Have a Great Time in Zanzibar on a Budget
So there you have it, Zanzibar can be enjoyed by all even if you on a tight budget. And if you looking to save a bit more, search and compare prices for local flights in and around Zanzibar on Tripindigo.com.
If you have any tips and tricks to get the most out of your Travel budget, drop us a line on social media!
