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This is a fantastic tour which will cost guests $75 and it is a whole day story, the charge includes return transfers from hotel, drinks, lunch, and snorkeling.
We were collected at the hotel at approx 08h30, and made our way to town. Quite close to the harbour. Here we were met by our guide who gathered us on a park bench and went through a brief history of Zanzibar, very well done, long enough to give you an overview of the island from the early sultans to the present day Tanzania, but short enough to hold the attention of even kiddies. This was followed by a walk through parts of stone town, along the windy narrow passage ways, stopping (often) to browse in the many shops that are in town. A highlight for me was learning about the history and meanings behind the famous Zanzibar doors.
The walk through and shopping lasted about 2 hours, but could be longer or shorter depending on how much time folk spend browsing and shopping. The tour ends back close to the harbour and it is here that we climbed aboard a fantastic motorized / sailing dow. We head out towards a tiny island and here a theme out of an Arabian Nights movie unfolds. Refreshments, snacks under a bedoiun style tent, before we are fitted with fins and masks and then its back on the dhow and off a little way to the edge of the reef. At this point the group is divided into two and we are led by a really competent snorkeling guide, and away we go into a wonder world of marine life as we drift effortlessly with the gentle current. The guides are fantastic and occasionally dive down to point out a lion fish or two.
The snorkeling will last for as long as you like and then it is back on the dhow and back to the island for a traditional Swahili lunch, this is outstanding. All that is left is laze around in shallow waters or under the tent before heading back to stone town.
The return transfer gets guests back to the hotel at about 17h00.
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