In my previous post, I began telling the story of Zanzibar, an island off Africa's east coast. Here is the second part of this adventure.
After getting off the plane, I made my way to the airport. The airport itself is small, open, dilapidated, and without air conditioning. Visa was issued immediately at the airport and was paid by a credit card. At the airport, I found my guide and other tourists with whom I am going to spend the next few days. We changed money at a nearby exchange office. The currency is the Tanzanian shilling and it is best to use local money. It is not impossible to pay in dollars in some areas, but caution should be exercised to ensure that the banknotes are no older than 2009.
We got on the bus, and the adventure began! The airport is in Stone Town, the capital of Zanzibar, and our accommodation was on the other side of the island, on the east side. We arrived at the resort after 1.5 hours of driving, left our luggage, took our swimming suits, cream, slippers, and other beach necessities, and were already on our way to our first destination.
The first excursion was a visit to a sandbar that disappears and reappears in line with the tides. As we set off on a boat, a cute little one, probably the driver’s son, joined us. We managed to spend about half an hour on the sandbar before it vanished into the blue of the Indian Ocean.
Nature on the island is something I couldn’t imagine in my dreams, a real paradise on earth with infinite shades of blue all around us and tall palm trees swaying in the gentle breeze. What more could a person ask for? And, as Rudyard Kipling once said:
"One cannot resist the lure of Africa."
After visiting this piece of paradise, we continued our ride in search of the magnificent beaches.
This island is well-known for having lovely beaches, with some of them ranking in the top 25 most beautiful beaches in the world... We attempted to visit as many as possible in 12 days, including Nungwi, Dongwe, Paje, Kendwa, Jambiani (actually that's the name of the village where I stayed), and Kizimkazi. My favorite beach was and still is Kae Beach, Michamvi.
What's fascinating about Zanzibar is that just when you think it can't get any better, it does. We arrived at Kae Beach and spent the majority of the day there, awaiting the sunset.
Food and beverages are available at the Kae Beach Bar, but you'll probably have to wait up to 1.5 or 2 hours for a single serving. This in line with the "pole-pole" philosophy, the Zanzibar people are not in a rush. After a few days, the person completely gets used to that fact, and I quickly fell into that mindset.
Zanzibar, a coral island in the Indian Ocean, offers heavenly landscapes, endless blue and floury white sand that make every photo look like a postcard. Endorphin and serotonin rush into your veins as you gaze at the breathtaking scenery, and a smile never leaves your face.
The feeling of gratitude and happiness is what overwhelmed me and was present all the time during this magnificent journey.
I realized that this is a destination I should have visited much sooner and a place I will certainly return to. The island's enchantment is intoxicating.
However, Zanzibar is more than just a turquoise beach with a tropical climate and palm trees, it is also a place with a rich history, cultural heritage and very fascinating architecture. You'll learn more about it in the next chapter...
Until then stay safe!
Greetings from Belgrade!
