Zanzibar - Off The Beaten Track

All tours are in English (with a bit of Kiswahili thrown in). All the profit goes to locals and stays in Zanzibar, so you can have fun with a happy conscience! Prices are available on request and are always as affordable as we can make them for you while making sure staff all get a fair salary – just send us an email with your ideas and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible with a trip tailored just for you. Or call us. Or visit our facebook page. Or pop in if you are already in Jambiani.

Uzi island

Uzi is a peaceful, magical place. This island is reached by a causeway from the southern village of Unguja Ukuu and is rarely visited by tourists. We can take you there, according to the tide timetable, and show you around the mangrove canals and visit the local turtle conservation project. You will be one of the few visitors to make it here – maybe we will even make some ‘I Visited Uzi Island’ t-shirts!

Alternative Zanzibar

Have you ever checked out sites like www.abandoned-places.com? Zanzibar doesn’t have a big industrial history, but we do have some abandoned buildings, such as a deserted hotel at the beach at Mtende, which has become the Mambo Poa Signature Tour (read this review). We can drive you through the bush, take you on a bike ride and you can explore the abandoned buildings, where there are sometimes impromptu parties held by Zanzibaris. We can have lunch prepared for you on the beach before returning to Jambiani. This trip may not be for the typical Zanzibar tourist, but if you want to see another aspect of the island and love atmosphere, then we can take you. Or if you wish to see any other ‘alternative’ spaces in Zanzibar, such as the 100 Steps near Stone Town where there is a Hindu cremation space that when not in use is employed as an informal beach gym by health conscious Zanzibari youths.

Explore the mysterious atmosphere of an abandoned beach hotel in Mtende

This tour has been featured on www.mambomagazine.com - The Resort That Time Forgot

Michamvi Sunset BBQ

Michamvi sunset

A tour that is ideal for anyone – whether you are a group of friends or a couple on honeymoon, it doesn’t matter. From Jambiani, we take you up the south- east coast to Michamvi, the only place on this stretch of the coast where you can see sun set from the beach. If you only need transport there – no problem, we’ll organise. Or if you are up for a BBQ dinner on the beach during sunset, we can organise this for you as well. Michamvi is very quiet and beautiful and you will fall in love with the relaxing vibe of this deserted beach area.

Swahili cooking

Zanzibar has a unique cuisine and the food is delicious – flavoured with the amazing aromatic spices that have made our islands famous. Instead of going to one of the many restaurants (which do offer lovely food, don’t get us wrong!), why don’t we show you how we cook in Zanzibar and you can make your own lunch or dinner? We have been trained in food production – both at home and during our studies; let us show you how to cook kachumbari (Zanzibari salad), chapati, ugali (maizemeal) and Swahili curry. Once you’ve cooked your authentic meal, you can sit down and enjoy it Swahili-style. Read about ’10 Foods To Try Before You Fly’

Kiswahili lessons

All our tours have a bit of Kiswahili thrown in so you will pick up a couple of words naturally on any of our tours. However, if you have a couple of days free in Jambiani, we are happy to teach you a bit more than just the “Jambo!” that every kid will shout at you when you walk on the beach or through the village. Depending on how long you stay, we can give you a good introduction to our language – but if you want to learn more specifics, we can do that as well: translating Swahili music (be that traditional Taarab or modern Bongo Flava), or translating the sayings on a khanga that you have just purchased as a souvenir. Let us know your pace – whether you want to learn a lot intensively, or just a few words over some relaxing days.

Village tours

These tours are not to be missed! As we live in the lovely village of Jambiani, where tourism has become a major part of the economy but has managed to keep its local charm, we would be proud to show you around our village and invite you to get an insight into local life. We can offer you a village tour that will show you about local life – seaweed farming, holy forests, coconut rope production, local schools, or we can arrange a themed tour for you. If you are interested in education, we can take you to local nurseries, schools and training facilities. If you would like to learn about how locals earn their living, we can show you seaweed farms, agricultural farms and the production of coconut rope, used in furniture making and more. The tours are flexible – let us know what you are interested in, and we will put together a fascinating tour that will leave you feeling part of the local community.

Dhow sailing

Or call it water taxi. We use local dhow boats on our snorkelling trips, but if you are not a fan of swimming, we can arrange a totally relaxing excursion on the boat. Sit back and enjoy the sun, sea and stunning views while the dhow takes you wherever the waves go, or where you want to go, for as long as you want. While you are on the boat, why not catch the fish for dinner? A dhow sail makes meditation look stressful

Zala Park

Some people love monkeys and head straight for Jozani forest, but if you are more of a reptile lover, we have something special for you. Zala Park is a special local zoo that features snakes, lizards, chameleons and more. Guides there will introduce you to all these local species, and even teach you a little about local ‘juju’ (witchcraft). They like to be a bit cheeky, but actually this zoo is a great project, teaching local children about Zanzibari wildlife and how to preserve it.