Practical guide going to Zanzibar

 

Advice when traveling to Zanzibar

When traveling to foreign countries and cultures it is always a good idea to learn some essential things about the country you are visiting. Some things that are good to are: Is there any particular religious rules you should follow, are there foods you should stay away from, places you should avoid, is there internet access etc. Here is a list of things to know before traveling to Zanzibar.

Health

  • Do not drink the water from the faucet, always buy bottled water.
  • Only eat fruit and vegetables that you yourself have thoroughly rinsed in water.
  • If you need medicine while in Zanzibar, make sure you bring enough from home for your entire stay. Even if you have a prescription, you cannot be sure that the local pharmacy will give you the correct medicine – or if it comes in familiar packaging.
  • Avoid syringes at the local hospitals.
  • Bring medicine in case of diarrhea.

 

Money

  • The local currency is the Tanzanian shilling. 1000 shillings is about 1 dollar. But bring some American dollars as well as this currency sometimes gets you further.
  • Tipping is normal in Zanzibar because many of the locals employed in the service industry are poorly paid. In a bar or a restaurant you should add around 10% to the total amount as a tip. Others that you should tip are bellboys, maids and guides.
  • There are not a lot of ATMs in Zanzibar – there are a few located in Stone Town. Therefore, it is a good idea to carry some cash while on the island.

 

Religion and good behaviour

  • Be aware of the fact that the dominant religion in Zanzibar is Islam. That means that you should dress appropriately while moving around the island and needless to say, skinny dipping is strictly forbidden.
  • Even though Islam is the predominant religion on the island, you can still buy alcohol in most restaurants – but do not get drunk.
  • You should not walk around the streets alone.
  • Take your precautions because there are people who are poor and might take advantage of a situation BUT people are generally friendly, open and smiling and like to chat! (the same goes for many places in the world)

 

Telephone, internet and electricity

  • It is no problem calling home from Zanzibar using your cell phone – you can buy a local sim card or phone card to make your calls less expensive.
  •  The electricity in the outlets is 240 volts AC so you may need a converter so you do not ruin your blow dryer or other electrical devices.  The electricity on the island is cut off on a daily basis however; the hotels have backup generators so you as a guest will not be affected by this.
  • There is internet access on the island so you can email. The connection is pretty slow so you should limit your internet activities to a bit of surfing.
  • If you go to Zanzibar Dolphin Bay Resort there is good internet facilities