Looking for something exotic?
Nicknamed the "Spice Island" for good reason, this beautiful archipelago off the coast of Tanzania is a hotbed of spices and fruit. Take a tour with Zanzibar locals to see and experience first-hand the unique farming culture.
Know
Spices found growing on Zanzibar include cardamon, ginger, nutmeg, anise, cinnamon, jack fruit, kukurma, vanilla, tamarind, and menthol, in addition to henna and soap berry trees, and much more.
The island once produced 3/4 of the world’s cloves, the clove industry being the foundation of the golden age of development in Zanzibar. Cloves are still cultivated today. The island is also one of the few places in the world that saffron - long the world’s most expensive spice by weight - is produced.
Guides will describe in detail uses for the various plants. While some are for flavoring, others are curative: the neem tree, once used as a cure for malaria and indigestion, and the iodine tree, that produces red sap used to fight infection.
Tour
Tours are about $10-$15 USD/CAD. Visit plantations, private gardens, and forests, where you have the opportunity to visit local farmers and speak with them about traditional spices and fruits.
Most tours are by dala-dala - pick-up trucks converted into buses.
Other places of interest include the old Sultan Rest House to view the Persian Baths built in 1850 by Seyyid Said bin Sultan (the first Sultan of Zanzibar) for his wife Princess Shehzard, as well as the Maruhubi Palace Ruins.
Most tours provide lunches of seafood or Zanzibar curry, coconut milk and fresh fruit.
Be Careful
Avoid buying a spice tour on the street. The “guide” may very well just take your money without a booking. Another common scam is when “guides” act like club promoters, meaning they follow you into (or give you directions to) the office, and the tour price changes from $10 to $15, with you paying the commission.
Check Out
Zanzibar Magic Spice Tour: Spices and Fruits of Zanzibar
Remember
No matter how exotic your next trip is, we can take care of all of the arrangements. Our knowledgable and experienced staff loves adventure and can make your dream trip a reality. Just contact us for more information.
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