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Zanzibar Tanzania Cruise Port Guide
Location:
The ship is scheduled to dock at the Port of Zanzibar. The town center can be reached in approximately 15 minutes on foot, or via a short taxi ride. If you are considering walking, keep in mind that the climate is hot and humid. Taxis are generally available at the pier.
Printable map to take along.
Cruise calendar for this port.
Watch a destination video.
Live Nautical Chart with Wikipedia Markers
Monthly Climate Averages for Sansibar Tanzania
Sightseeing:
Local Market A stroll through the market truly reveals local color. An incredible display of fruits, vegetables, spices, animals and various daily necessities are a sight to be remembered.
Stone Town Walk through the maze of narrow streets and take in the exotic ambiance. Small workshops and stores invite to explore.
Tours Excursions Transportation:
The taxi is the best mode of transportation here on Zanzibar island. They are easy to access and will take you anywhere you want to go. However, they do not have meters, so it is important to negotiate a price before entering the taxi.
It pays to compare your cruise line shore excursions here.
Nearby Places:
Jozani Forest Reserve About a 25-mile drive from Stone Town, this nature preserve is home to the rare Colobus monkey. The best time to see the animals is during the morning. There is an entrance fee to the monkeys' favorite gathering place. Private arrangements for independent sightseeing may be requested through the Tour Office on board, subject to the availability of vehicles and guides.
Today there are still plantations that cultivate a variety of spices, but the island's economy depends ever more on tourism. The warm waters of the Indian Ocean are a major draw for vacationers, encouraging such holiday activities as swimming, sailing and exploring beneath the ocean in unspoiled underwater parks.
Shopping and Food
Spices, leather work, gold and silver jewelry, local crafts, colorful fabric and Zanzibar wooden chests are popular. Small shops can be found along the narrow streets in the center of Stone Town. When buying wooden articles be sure to check whether the wood has been treated for termites.
Currency:
The currency of Tanzania is known as the Tanzanian Shilling (TSH, /=). One US dollar is worth about 1100 Tsh.
In general, stores, restaurants, and hotels in Tanzania expect payment in Tsh. Exceptions include payment for travel visas, entry fees to national parks (which must be paid in US dollars by non-residents), and payments for safaris and Kilimanjaro treks, which are generally priced in US dollars (though payment will be also accepted in other currencies). On Zanzibar, prices are generally in US dollars (including the ferry fare from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar), and non-residents are required to pay for hotels with foreign currency (although the hotel will change Tsh for you).
Credit Cards can only be used in large hotels, resorts, and with certain travel agents. In short, Tanzania is still a cash society.
Communication:
Tanzanians speak Kiswahili and, to some extent, English. (As elsewhere, English is more commonly spoken in larger cities and tourist destinations.)
Internet cafés are more and more common throughout Tanzania. They are easy to find in major urban areas, like Dar es Salaam and Arusha.
Emergency Services: 112
Opening Hours and Holidays:
Shopping hours Mon-Fri 0830-1200 and 1400-1800, Sat 0830-1230. Some shops open on Sunday.
1 Jan New Year's Day.
12 Jan Zanzibar Revolution Day.
Mar Birth of the Prophet.
Good Friday.
Easter Monday.
26 Apr Union Day.
1 May International Labour Day.
7 Jul Saba Saba (Industry's Day).
8 Aug Nane Nane (Farmer's Day).
Eid al-Fitr (Ramadan).
14 Oct Nyerere Day.
Eid al-Adha.
9 Dec Independence and Republic Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day
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