Zanzibar Islands

Zanzibar Islands

Zanzibar Islands | Zanzibar Archipelago often referred to as the “the Spice Islands” is made up of a chain of islands that make their way down the shore of East Africa, off the Coast of Tanzania  and south of the Somalia Sea. Most of the archipelago belongs to the Zanzibar Semi-autonomous region of Tanzania.

Here are the slands making up the Zanzibar Archipelago

UNGUJA ISLAND

Unguja Island also referred to as Zanzibar is one of the major islands of Zanzibar Archipelago, this island is the largest and most populated Island of the archipelago in Tanzania. Unguja Island is located in the northern half of the Zanzibar Archipelago about 59 kilometers south of the Pemba – the second largest Island of Zanzibar Archipelago, Unguja is separated from the mainland of Tanzania by Zanzibar Channel.

Unguja Island is famously known for the historical Stone Town, its beautiful beaches with crystal white sand and vivid underwater world surrounding the Island. The Island is divided into 5 main sections that can be accessed between each other, these sections include  Zanzibar City, the northernmost tip, the North East, the East Coast and the South Coast.

Getting to and from Unguja Unguja Island is a hilly Island of about 85 kilometres long (north-south) and 30 kilometres wide  at its widest, the total size of the island is about 643 square miles (1,666 square kilometres). The island is surround by  a number of small islands and islets , only Tumbatu and Uzi being inhabited. The otguja Island include her minor islands surrounding Island  include  Bawe, Chapwani, Changuu, Chumbe, Kizingo, Kwale, Latham, Mautani, Miwi, Mnemba, Mwana wa Mwana, Nianembe, Popo, Pungume, and Ukanga

One can get to Unguja Island using air and water means of transport, by air there are some direct flights from Dar es Salaam or Kilimanjaro Airport to Zanzibar airport  also called Abeid Amani Karume International airport which serves Unguja Island  . These flights are offered by Condor, Jetfly, Ethiopian Airways, Kenyan Airways, Oman Air, Qatar Airlines, Arkia Israeli Airlines, KLM, FlyDubai, Meridian, Fasyjet, Mango and Turkish Airlines.

By water, there is a ferry operated from the harbor in the center of Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar city. On a ferry takes approximately 2 hours to get to Unguja, for travelers who are worried about sea sickness, the sea is often rather rough. For adventurous travelers, you can opt to cross the sea in a traditional dhow which takes half a day and is generally safe.

Weather and when to go to Zanzibar

Like the Mainland (Tanzania) Unguja Island experiences 2 rainy seasons (short and long rainy season), the long season is from March to May – this season often experiences monsoons which means beaches are crowd free and hotels offer the most affordable rates. However visiting in the long rain season means you might be sunbathing in torrential rain. The short season is from October to December.

Unguja Island also experiences two seasons of dry season from December to February with average temperatures of 30 -35 degrees and July to December with average temperature of 29-30 degrees. In this period the beaches can be very busy, this season is also perfect having a combine safari and beach holiday in Tanzania.

Unguja Island is generally hot and humid throughout the year, however remember to bring modest clothing for your visit and make sure you have body covering attires most especially women since Zanzibar is Muslim dominated.

Where to stay in Unguja Island

In Unguja Island, there is a huge diversity of accommodations options ranging from simple boutique hotels to all-inclusive resorts, honeymoon resorts and backpackers hostels. These accommodations are found in the 5 sections of the island and they include

Zanzibar City

• Flamingo guest house
• Chavda hotel
• Ten to Ten hostel
• Zazi Reosrt
• Serena Lodge among others.

The northernmost tip

• Dhow Palace Hotel
• Nugwi House
• Makofi Guest House

The North East

• Matemwe Retreat
• Morningstar Bungalows

The East Coast

• The Breezes Beach Club and Spa
• The Baraza Resort and Spa
• Zwadi Hotel
• The Zanzibar White Sand Luxury Villas

The South Coast.

• The Residence

PEMBA ISLAND

Pemba Island is the second major Island of Zanzibar Archipelago lying within the Swahili Coast in the Indian Ocean, Pemba Island is one of the largely undiscovered by travellers and it is often overshadowed by the larger Unguja  Island.

Unguja Island has an area of 988 square kilometres and is situated about 50 kilometres to the north of Unguja, the largest Island of the Archipelago and lies 50 kilometers east of Tanzania the mainland across the Pemba Channel. Pemba Island together with Mafia Island situated south of Unguja form the Spice Islands. The most part of Pemba Island is hillier and more fertile than Unguja and is dominated by small scale farming with large plantations of cash crops such as cloves.

Pemba Island is also referred to as The Clove Island and it is still the predominant global producer of cloves yielding around 70% of all the World’s cloves

Pemba Island is a magical Island, the island is generally hilly, gentle, undulating hills and deep verdant valleys that are covered with a dense cover of clove, coconut, mango and crop plantations.

Activities on Pemba Island

Pemba Island offers exciting activities to do during your visit to the Island and these include

• Visiting Archaeological sites
• Visiting the spie farms
• Kidike Flying fox sanctuary
• Scuba diving
• Deep-sea fishing

Where to stay in Pemba Island

There is a few accommodation facilities in Pemba Island, the available accommodations are secluded and line the coast, these accommodations include

• Fundu Lagoon
• The Aiyana Resort
• The Manta Resort among others

When to Visit Pemba Island

Pemba Island experiences 2 rainy seasons that is long and short season, long/heavy rain season runs from April to May. When visiting Pemba Island, this time should be avoided as many of the resorts are closed. The advantage of this period, the monsoons give the island its mangrove forests and swamps.

Pemba Island’s short or smaller rainy season lies between November and December, in this period visibility for diving is much lower and a fewer malaria carrying mosquitoes.

The rest of the year is a dry season with favourable conditions for water sports such as diving and snorkelling, sun bathing, kite surfing among others.

Pemba Island sits on the equator so the average temperature is a balmy 26 degrees Celsius year-round.

Getting to get Pemba Island

Pemba Island is a secluded Island and can be accessed by air or water, by air-chartered flights from Dar es Salaam and Unguja Island. These flights are offered by Coastal Air and Auric Air, the flight takes about 30 minutes.

There is a ferry from Zanzibar via ferry, however the crossing is rough and it can be unsafe.  Zazm Marine is the most reliable ferry.

Mnemba ISLAND

Mnemba Island is a single small island located about 3 kilometres off the northeast coast of Unguja, the largest Island of the Zanzibar Archipelago, Mnemba Island is an exclusive island sitting within a halo of coral reef and is adorned with pristine white sand beaches and a casuarine pine forest.

Mnemba Island is roughly triangular in shape about 500 kilometers in diamenter and about 1.5 meters in circumference and it is surrounded by an oval reef seven by four kilometres in extent. These reefs have been recognised and declared a marine conservation area, the Island and its reef are often referred to as Mnemba Atoll.  The conservation area comprises of four distinct habitats which are a home to a diverse array of the Indian Ocean wildlife

• It is a nesting place of threatened green sea turtles, these turtles can be seen laying their eggs on the beaches between February and September
• Humpbacks whales present from July to September
• 3 species of dolphins
• Whale sharks
• Migratory and resident shore birds feeding and roosting on the island
• About species of coral reef fish.

Mnemba Island is renowned as one of the most romantic ocean destination in the world offering privacy and rustic exclusivity unparalleled on the African coastline, the island is famous for its celebrity guest and being a great post-safari getaway for families.

Mnemba Island is owned by &beyond, the company offers the one and only luxurious beach resort on the Island. This beach resort offers 12 luxurious beachside bandas which accommodate 24 guests and their attentive staff outnumber the guests by 2 to 1. Mnemba Island is a private island and non-guests are not permitted on the island.

The island is a popular scuba diving site with a wide variety of corals, associated species and occasional sightings of larger species such as turtles and dolphins.

Activities to do in Mnemba Island

Mnemba Island offers exciting water sports and these include

• Snorkelling
• Deep sea fishing
• Sun bathing
• Kayaking
• Windsurfing and cycling

How to get to Mnemba Island

Like stated before, only guests are permitted on Mnemba Island. So to get to island, One of &Beyond’s private chauffeurs will collect you from Zanzibar’s main airport Abeid Amani Karume International Airport or from Stone Town the main city of Zanzibar. Abeid Amani Karume International Airport receives flights from East Africa, Middle East and Europe.

Cross Unguja, it is a journey of about 1.5 hours and the final 20 minutes is on a bumpy, unpaved road. For teh rest of the journey you will take a 15 minute boat cruise in an open top boat across crystal waters, at Mnemba Island there is no jetties so your landing will involves a little wading but still the staff will ensure that you have a comfortable landing.

Other Islands situated in Zanzibar Archipelago include

• Thanda Island
• Chumbe Island
• Mafia Island