Embracing Africa's Beauty in Zanzibar

I’m sure we’ve all heard about the Maldives, Fiji, and other popular destinations known for their stunning cabanas in beautiful waters. However, how many have considered looking beyond these famous locations to find similar beauty elsewhere?

Zanzibar is an archipelago off the east coast of Africa, surrounded by the Indian Ocean and considered part of the Tanzania region. It is a perfect example of Africa's beauty. The island is home to much marine life, some of the freshest food I've had, and beautiful people, both local and travelers.

Surrounding the island is crystal clear water, with turquoise blue water in the northern parts.

Zanzibar is filled with the beauty of all the wonderful hotspot destinations I mentioned earlier, but it is also rich in culture and history at every turn. It is home to the Maasai tribe, the birthplace of the famous singer Freddie Mercury, and was once the largest slave trade port in the region.

My journey to Zanzibar began in Zambia, and after 27 hours of travel, my arrival and rest were more than needed. I had layovers in the capital of Zambia, Lusaka, as well as in Kenya and mainland Tanzania before taking my final flight to the island.

Upon arriving in Tanzania, I experienced my first encounter with attempted scamming in Africa. I had heard from others that Tanzania was known for some interesting encounters. The airline attendant who checked my bag was kind enough not to charge me extra for it being slightly overweight.

While waiting for my flight, trying not to fall asleep with every blink, I was approached by the same woman. She claimed that the security guard had seen that she didn’t charge me, and he was requesting money from me or else he would report the situation.

I had already exchanged my money by this point and no longer had any U.S. dollars on me. I told her this, and then I woke up a bit more and continued explaining that I would be more than happy to speak to him, let him know that I would not be giving him any money, and that I would gladly report him to the airline for trying to scam a tourist.

This was the first time I had ever experienced something like this, and thankfully, I was aware that these situations can happen. A man sitting nearby, who was from Kenya, overheard the conversation and assured me that I had done the right thing. He said, "They will always try because eventually someone will fall for it." It's important to know that these things can happen and to stand up for yourself when they do!

At this point, I remembered that they had me check both of my bags, so I was hoping that all my belongings made it onto the plane!

At first, I was a little weary of my accommodation. I had stayed in Hostels many times, but this was the first one where the accommodation was made up of small huts, some showers located outside, and even some places with sand as the floor! This was definitely one of those moments where the risk was worth the reward. "Your Zanzibar Place," in the southern part of the island on Paje Beach, is one of the most incredible places I've stayed in my life!

The staff at the Hostel quickly becomes family, with such a welcoming, fun, and upbeat environment all the time! The kitchen at this hostel became one of my favorite places to eat while I was there. The food was so good that I almost didn't venture out to try other things too often!

Your Zanzibar Place felt like home almost immediately. While settling in so quickly is wonderful, it also makes saying goodbye after a short time very difficult. The other travelers were so friendly, making friends was easy, and the new adventures started quickly!

The hostel's common area is a great place to relax. It has hammocks, cozy tree houses with couches, and a lively bar. This setting is perfect for meeting other travelers. You can enjoy upbeat music during the day and join fun activities in the evening. It's a great starting point for a night at the island's clubs and parties. If you prefer to stay in, you can still enjoy drinks at the bar. The vibe in the evening is always a good time at Your Zanzibar Place and everyone seems to gather up there, so it was easy to meet other people not staying at the hostel and have a good time!

I had one goal in mind when arriving in Zanzibar: Dolphins.

After making a new friend the first night, I dove headfirst into the travel experience. We headed to the northern part of the island to Nungwi Beach, home to turquoise water, beautiful beaches, and swimming with dolphins in the Indian Ocean.

Swimming with dolphins had always been on my bucket list, so I prioritized making that experience happen. This wasn't my first time swimming with these beautiful animals, but it was my first time experiencing them out of captivity and in their natural environment.

My friend and I set off early in the morning, and to keep costs down, we decided to take the local transportation on the island, known as the Dala Dala. The Dala Dalas are definitely an interesting experience. With no set schedule, reaching your destination can take much longer, but that’s part of the experience, right? On the five-hour journey to the north, after several Dala Dalas, I felt like I was truly immersing myself in the life of Zanzibar.

All the drivers were extremely helpful, making sure that we were getting onto the right bus to reach our location. I never felt lost or concerned about going in the wrong direction. The chaos at bus stops can be overwhelming, so it was nice having the drivers go out of their way to make sure we got off at the correct stops and making sure that we found the correct bus to continue the journey.

When we arrived in Nungwi, we walked a short distance to our place to stay, which was also close to the beach. After settling in, we went to the beach to swim before sunset and to find guides for a dolphin experience.

We quickly found some people offering tours, and we started haggling for a good price. My friend, who is from Libya has traveled a lot over the last several years, so he handled the bargaining this time. We got the $60 Blue Safari tour for only $15!

After enjoying a swim as the sun got the things booked that we needed, we decided to leave our phones in the room, grab some food, and explore the area without the distraction of technology. I don’t often do this because I usually rely on my phone to take photos and use maps to navigate.

I've always been good at paying attention to my surroundings to help me find my way, but having my phone as a backup gives me peace of mind. It was wonderful to leave my phone behind for several hours. Not knowing what we would find, where we would end up eating, and just letting ourselves get lost was truly incredible.

We stumbled upon a fantastic restaurant near some markets, and I enjoyed some amazing kingfish for dinner. After leaving the restaurant, we tried to take a different route back to the hotel. We realized we were lost as we walked further down a pitch-black alley. We noticed a couple of men sitting on some chairs near a small art shop. Since we also both forgot the name of the place we were staying, we had to think about what we passed earlier in the night. We remembered passing a fish market on the beach and knew that once we reached there, we would know how to get back.

We weren't far away and were told to walk down a sketchy-looking alley. We said a quick "Hakuna Matata" (Take it easy) and on we went.

Yes, "Hakuna Matata" is a real phrase used in Swahili-speaking countries in Africa! Swahili is the most widely spoken native language In Africa, alongside English. The excitement of using this phrase never wore off throughout my time there.

Thankfully, the directions were accurate, and the path led us right to the fish market, close to home. By now, I should have known not to doubt the kindness of the locals and to have no fear.

The next morning, we woke up early to watch the sunrise on the North side of the island. After breakfast at our hotel, we met our friend Aluli at his tour company. I was absolutely thrilled to see the dolphins and dive into those gorgeous waters! Honestly, all morning, I couldn’t believe I was actually there! I kept stepping back to soak it all in, appreciating every amazing moment of this unforgettable experience I couldn't believe I was fortunate to be having.

MarWansh - Travels Digital Nomad - YouTube

The first time we saw the dolphins, I won’t lie, it was a bit overwhelming. Before I knew it, people were yelling, "GOGGLES! JUMP! JUMP!" It was quite intense. However, things became much more exciting after the initial jump and knowing what to expect. It's hard not to think about how this experience might be inhumane. Chasing these animals and jumping in to see them made me think to myself, "I can only imagine what the dolphins feel like."

Some girls on the boat with us mentioned that they had much worse experiences in other countries, and this wasn't as intense or forced as other places they had visited. We didn't overstay our welcome once we had jumped in a few times. We went on to snorkel among the reefs, took in the view of Menemba Island, and enjoyed a break to eat some food and relax on a nearby island. After leaving the island to head back to Nungwi Beach, we stopped at some nearby sandbars to check out the incredible starfish native to the area. I’ve never seen such amazing starfish before, nor did I know they existed! Their colors were vibrant shades of orange, red, yellow, and blue!

The day was incredible; the video above was sent to me from my Libyan friend of our day, capturing every moment from start to finish.

PSA: There are jellyfish, or, as the locals call them, "medusas." So, watch out!

Our time in Nungwi was brief but filled with amazing moments. We took the Dala Dala's back to Paje in the south, leaving behind new friends, incredible memories, and many ideas to explore on my hopeful return.

After a long day traveling on the Dala Dala, we arrived back at the roundabout in town and looked for food. I researched local dishes and found something called "Zanzibar Pizza." This dish is not like traditional pizza. As an American, I would compare it to Crunchwrap from Taco Bell. It is a tortilla filled with beef, onion, pepper, egg, and spices. It comes with garlic sauce for dipping and was absolutely amazing! These are often found as street food that is common in the main city, Stone Town, so I was so excited when I found it at a local restaurant in Paje.

The week was flying by WAY too fast! Nearing the end of my trip, I met a few girls from Germany and another American. They had been there for a couple of weeks and got close during their time, so I was excited to be added to the group. In the short time, I spent with them, I met so many people that they had become friends with during their stay, and just when I felt like I was really settling in, we all only had a couple of days left before we were all leaving.

Speaking with another American who has been traveling consistently and experiencing Africa for the first time was something I needed more than I realized. I always make wonderful connections with people everywhere, and we often share very similar mindsets, which is refreshing! Talking to someone from my country and hearing her opinions on various topics, her struggles, and how she has learned to deal with those challenges was truly comforting and refreshing.

Our final night of fun at the end of the week included a big party that's held weekly. Everyone is welcome to a large venue on the beach to party and come together. Drinks, music, entertainment, and after only a small amount of time in Zanzibar so many new friends and familiar faces. All of us girls were going out for the night! What we didn't realize was unconsciously we all had decided to match for the night!

As the night went on, everything was going great, and then things took a bit of a turn for a few of us. Some things aren't my story to tell... I think I can speak for us all that this was a reminder to us that we found each other for a reason. Once strangers grouped together, supported each other, cared for each other, and didn't abandon one another. Traveling this last year has shown and proved to me that we are truly placed in locations and lives that, at the time, we might not understand but are given those opportunities for a reason. Arriving back at the hostel and getting into bed about 3 a.m. to call it a night.

The next morning, I took the time to walk the beach, grab a coffee, and enjoy the kite surfers that are popular in Paje. Later in the day, I met up with the girls to regroup from the night before, relax, and spend our last day together.

The last couple of days in Zanzibar were very relaxed. I enjoyed the beach and did not rush to see everything that I had hoped to during my time. It was a good reminder that a week is not very long, and it's also not worth stressing about seeing every little thing a place offers if you're short on time. Slowing down when traveling is complicated when you want to see so many things while you can, but I have my whole life to go back and do some more! Having slow moments to enjoy with people and places is the true prize. The countries and what they have to offer will often remain, but those people aren't guaranteed the next time I might find myself in a specific place

The night ended with tears and hard goodbyes. A few were off to Germany, I was heading back to America the next morning, and Hannah was off to continue traveling for the next several months.

There are always many positives, fears, new ideas, and enlightenment gained from each place I go. Zanzibar gave me a reminder of how I feel when traveling solo. Landing in a place completely alone, leaving another piece of my heart in a place that felt like home. I was told the first day I arrived that I was completely safe to walk about the island, and I was always told I was welcome by many of the local's time and time again. I felt that quickly and was assured of it the more time I was in Zanzibar.

With a heavy heart, I said my goodbyes and began my journey home after spending a month in Africa. Once I arrived home, my friend from Germany reached out to see how I was doing and to check on how I was adapting back to life in America. Reading a post from my friend Hannah, she shared some conversations with our friend in Germany, and I had to do the same.