After a 17 hour flight, I arrived exhausted and starving around 8pm in Zanzibar. My driver was there for a swift pickup and we headed to my hotel in Stone Town. For the next 4 days I would call the Zanzibar Palace Hotel my home away from home. The hotel was small and quaint and the owner herself greeted me, asked about my travel, and got me checked in. My room was on the top floor which meant I had approximately 60 stairs to walk up and down everyday. The hotels are UNESCO protected, so if you need an elevator be sure to stay at one of the few hotels that has one. As I walked into my room, I was greeted by a sight straight out of a fairy tale. With its opulent décor and vibrant colors, it felt as though I had stumbled into a scene from the magical world of Aladdin. Every corner of the room exuded an air of majesty and mystery, from the intricately patterned rugs adorning the floor to the ornate tapestries that adorned the walls. This made for a great night of rest and relaxation fit for a sultan.

In The next morning, I found myself eagerly preparing for what promised to be one of the highlights of my trip. Prior to my arrival, I contacted Danny who’s a talented local photographer as I was interested in doing a flying dress photoshoot. By this point, I had seen so many pictures of women doing them in Santorini, but I wanted to try this in another location.. He was awesome from start to finish. He admitted it was something he hadn’t done yet, but was very interested in trying. So turns out it was a first for us both! He created magic against the backdrop of Zanzibar’s timeless beauty. The shoot started as we walked down Stone Town’s cobblestone streets. He captured some beautiful and candid shots while educating me on the areas we walked through and the history behind them. Next we took a small boat and headed to the tranquil Nakupenda Sandbank. I figured this would be easy, but what they don’t tell you is that a third party is needed to help maneuver the dress and you lol. This is where Danny’s awesome assistant came in and worked her magic behind the scenes. The powdery sand and clear blue water was like something out of a movie. I was amazed at the beautiful shots he captured and the drone video was a bonus. It was a dream come true, and Danny’s creative approach has since garnered much-deserved recognition. Most of these adventures require an early start because of the tide. What I can say from experience, is that you don’t want to be on a boat at high tide. The ride back to the city had me wondering if I could swim the distance if I needed to.

Danny D

Once the shoot was done, I decided to go jewelry shopping. After all, my birthstone is Tanzanite. I read that everyone in Stone Town gets lost at some point and I found it to be true. Engulfed in Zanzibar’s labyrinth filled streets, I was no exception. My phone died from all of the picture snapping and I thought my mental map was just as good as GPS. Boy was I wrong. I gave up for a while and decided to grab something to eat. Luckily, I found a place with a simple menu and this is where I fell in love with Masala fries. Now that I’m full, I bravely attempt to walk back to my hotel with no GPS (which was only 20 minutes, but took me an hour). With all of the lovely shops, architecture, and people at some point I didn’t care about being lost. I finally made it back to my room and heard the altar call which rings throughout the city daily. After a long, deserving nap I ventured out to have dinner on the waterfront where I witnessed Makachu. This is where people jump into the waters near Forodhani Gardens. As I sat and watched, I saw the joy and laughter on their faces as this was another Friday night for them.

Now it’s time for a tour with a drive to Jambo Spice Farm .I was overwhelmed with sweet, savory, and fragrant smells. My guide was awesome, making sure I sample every fruit and herb available. As a person with a green thumb, I was like a kid in a candy shop. The highlight was watching Mr. Butterfly climb the coconut tree which was pretty high up while singing and dancing throughout his journey. I even joined in with the occasional Hakaun Matata and Habari Gani. Now we headed to the city. I was starving as Kassim my tour offered to let me stop to have lunch, while he went to the Mosque for prayer. I ate at Lukmaan Swahili Cuisine and had white snapper which was new for me. I love red snapper so I figured it couldn’t be that different. It was just as tasty and I made a ton of feline friends along the way. Randomly, there’s an abundance of cats who roam the streets. They’re friendly and won’t be a nuisance, so just a heads up. We reconvened to finish the tour by visiting the Christ Church Cathedral and slave monument. It’s always a rough reminder of where the world once was, but necessary to see and remember. Although I was wearing a dress, it came right above my knees so I was offered a sarong to enter the church upon arrival. Prior to my visit, I did a lot of research on what’s appropriate as this was the first Muslim country I visited. I found the advice to be simple when it came to what not to wear, which are short shorts, spaghetti tops, and any other clothing that exposes too much skin.. Of course, in the resort towns clothing options were more flexible. The monument was good and the church was nice. This was about a seven hour day which still gave me time after to shop at some local markets and enjoy another dinner in the city.

Touring in Stone Town 

I head out for a cultural tour to get a feel of local villages in Nungwi. Mo was an awesome guide. We spent several hours walking throughout the village and getting glimpses of everyday life according to locals. I had the opportunity to speak with local villagers and observe fishermen and shipwrights hard at work. It was interesting to see this all firsthand. A local woman was weaving at her home and invited us to see her crafts. The weaving and colors are beautiful. It was such an authentic experience to say the least. My only regret is that I didn’t have enough space in my suitcase to take more of these local crafts back home.

Nungwi Cultural Tour