Tanzania, Part 3: Zanzibar

After saying good bye to the Selous we flew to Zanzibar. I could not wait to get here! I have wanted to visit Zanzibar for many years and every time I have visited East Africa I have missed it. Upon arrival we were transferred to the 30-room Mbweni Ruins Hotel (Adventure Camps). The hotel’s clients are primarily European. The hotel sits on the beach and has a nice dining area with a bar overlooking the ocean and the pool. The rooms were in desperate need of new linens and the towels had holes in them. The hotel would be a good choice for students or travelers on a tight budget.

We also paid a visit to the Serena and had dinner there our first evening. Beautiful hotel on the ocean and the food was excellent. A better choice for American clients.

A tour of stone town and the morning market is a must! Zanzibar is exotic and one shouldn’t miss any of it. The history of the area is fascinating: from the slave market, spice trade and the stone towns famous doors.

After two nights in Zanzibar we flew back to Dar and transferred to Rus Kutani (Selous Safari Camps) on the east coast of Tanzania. I have wanted to see this property for some time because a number of friends have been telling me about it. This is the best way to start or end your safari in Tanzania. They urge you to be lazy and enjoy the property. It is the perfect couple getaway with 5-star accommodations and some of the best food and service we had in Africa. The “”chalets”” are huge with a lounge and two hammocks on the verandah to relax, read or take a siesta. The beach has beautiful white sand set against the turquoise water. I enjoyed reading on the beach and watching the dows sail by.