TROPICAL beaches, culture and
proximity have seen Zanzibar
become a firm favourite
amongst South African travellers
over the years and, according to
destination experts, there’s no sign
of this slowing down in the future.
Steve Cooke, sales and marketing
manager for AfricaStay, says
Zanzibar continues to grow in
popularity due to the “exceptionally
good value for money” it offers SA
travellers. In particular, honeymoon
and destination weddings are
showing positive growth, he adds.
“Zanzibar’s ease of access,
affordability and incredible
weather all play a role in making
it an attractive destination for
honeymoons and weddings.”
Food tours
Zanzibar is called the Spice Island
for good reason, and Steve says
spice tours are very popular
amongst SA travellers. One of the
popular sites to visit is Tangawizi
Spice Farm, where guests can
take walks through the plantation
and learn more about the various
spices grown there, along with the
medicinal values of each.
Also popular is the Malindi Fish
Market, which specialises in
seafood caught by local fishermen,
including kingfish, tuna, squid and
octopus.
Steve says another niche that is
gaining traction is shopping tours
in Stone Town. “In addition, Safari
Blue is an absolute must-do
snorkelling and beach barbecue
excursion.”
Room for growth
Steve says forward bookings
are exceeding numbers seen
in previous years, and says
Mango’s decision to add an extra
flight to Zanzibar on Thursdays
has helped to contribute to the
positive performance of the
destination. “AfricaStay has
a very good relationship with
Mango,” but, he says, long term
for any destination, it would be
beneficial for there to be more
competition as this would help
to keep pricing competitive.
He believes there is definitely
sufficient demand to warrant
additional services on the route.
New in the luxury market
UNTIL recently, travellers had limited
choice when it came to luxury
options in Zanzibar, but a spate of
new openings has increased those
available to high-end clientele.
One of the newest luxury hotels to
open is the Zuri Zanzibar Hotel and
Resort, located on the sunset-facing
side of Unguja Island. The hotel is
the first Design Hotel to open in
Tanzania.
The resort has 46 bungalows,
six suites and three villas set
in landscaped gardens. The
bungalows can accommodate
two adults and an extra bed for
one child on request. The suites
can accommodate up to three
adults. Two of the suites have two
bedrooms, semi-private bathrooms
and can accommodate up to four
adults and two children. The third
villa has three bedrooms with a
lounge, kitchen, 12m pool, terraces,
games room, ocean-front location,
private beach access and can
accommodate up to six adults.
Other offerings at Zuri Zanzibar
include a spice garden, infinity pool,
salon, gym, library, three restaurants
and four bars.
Another new opening is the
Hotel Verde Zanzibar – Azam
Luxury Resort and Spa, which
claims to be ‘East Africa’s greenest
hotel’. It features 106 rooms,
and some of the sustainable
developments included during the
construction are renewable energy
generation, reticulated grey- and
black-water recycling systems,
waste management, a heating
ventilation air-conditioning
system and regenerative drive
elevators.
Situated 2km from Stone Town
and within walking distance of
the beach, Hotel Verde Zanzibar
offers a spa, gym (equipped with
energy-generating equipment),
three restaurants, conference
facilities, games room, kids’ club,
entertainment, jet skis and water
sports. Future plans include the
construction of a marina and
waterpark.
Coming soon...
Next year will see the opening of
the Swiss-Belresort Zanzibar. The
hotel will feature 125 rooms with
views of the Indian Ocean, along
with a wide range of facilities and
entertainment facilities. On site
will be an all-day-dining restaurant,
a speciality restaurant, a banquet
hall, a beach lounge, kids’ pool
and kids’ club, swimming pool,
spa and health club and a variety
of water sports. The resort will be
just 3km from Abedi Amani Karume
International Airport, 7km from the
Wonders Palace, Stone Town and
Forodhani Gardens.
...and further down the line
In two years’ time, the Zanzibar
Amber Resort is expected to open,
set across 1 520 hectares and
eventually featuring five international
hotels, an 18-hole Ernie Els-designed
golf course, deep water marina, aqua
park, underwater restaurant, polo
club and super yacht facility.
The first phase will include the
first hotel, the Anantara Zanzibar,
golf course, water marina and
infrastructure and will be completed
by 2020. The hotel is under
construction and will feature 100
rooms alongside 50 one- and twobedroom
pool villas. Leisure facilities
will include a spa and wellness
centre, gym, kids’ club and three
restaurants and bars. There are also
plans to introduce marine life and
coral to restore and re-create a reef
ecosystem.
In 2021, the second hotel will
open, the Ritz-Carlton Zanzibar, which
will feature over-water villas, each
with a private pool, four restaurants
and bars, spa, meeting facilities,
pool, beach club and kids’ club.
Six great specials
AfricaStay is offering
Moja Tuu packages from
R10 635 for four nights
and R14 495, for seven
nights, both pps. Rates
include accommodation
on an all-inclusive
basis, return airfare
from Johannesburg to
Zanzibar, taxes and return
airport transfers (seat-incoach).
Valid September
1-October 30.
Zanzibar Serena Hotel
is offering an ‘Indian
Ocean Explorer’ air safari
package from Nairobi
priced at US$800pps
(R11 630). It includes
return airfare from Nairobi
with Kenya Airways or
Safarilink, two nights’
accommodation on
a bed-and-breakfast
basis, airport transfers
in Zanzibar and guided
Stone Town tour. The
package excludes the
departure tax payable at
Zanzibar Airport. Valid
until October 31.
Thompsons Holidays’
seven-night package,
from R30 559pps,
includes villa club room
accommodation at
the five-star Diamonds
Gemma Dell’Est. Rates
also include return flights
from Johannesburg to
Zanzibar (incl. levy), return
airport-hotel transfers,
breakfast, lunch, dinner
and selected drinks
daily. Added bonuses
include a welcome drink,
complimentary mini bar in
rooms, snacks and fruit at
the beach bar throughout
the day, selected water
activities and WiFi in
public areas. Valid from
January 8-February 28 for
bookings and payment
made 30 days prior to
arrival.
AfricaStay is also
offering special rates on
seven-night packages
at the four-star Karafuu
Beach, starting from
R14 375pps. Rates
include return flights
between Johannesburg
and Zanzibar, taxes,
return airport transfers
(seat-in-coach) and seven
nights’ all-inclusive
accommodation in a
Bondeni Room. Valid
October 1- November 30.
Gallivanter Holidays’
Mermaids Cove Resort
and Spa special starts
from R9 850pps and
includes flights from
Johannesburg to Zanzibar
(on Kenya Airways or
Mango), departure airport
taxes, car transfers
between the airport and
hotel and five nights’
accommodation in a
double bungalow on an
all-inclusive basis.
Valid from September
9-18 and September 26-
October 19.
The Holiday Factory’s
early-bird special
packages start from
R23 930pps, which is
a 20% discount on the
normal rates.
Packages include seven
nights’ accommodation
at the five-star Gold
Zanzibar, return flights,
airport taxes, return
transfer, as well as
breakfast, lunch, dinner
and selected drinks
daily. Bookings and
payment must be
made 60 days prior to
departure.
Valid from November 1-
December 12.
