Jan 22nd - 28th - Zanzibar (Spice Islands), Tanzania

Now time to recover!  We took a prop plane the short distance from the mainland of Tanzania to the Spice Islands: Zanzibar.  Zanzibar is still part of Tanzania, yet subtly different.  The most noticeable difference being the dominant religion.  On the mainland Christianity was prominent - for example the small buses that provide the public transport are typically painted with Christian slogans and messages.  In Zanzibar the majority of the women wore head coverings suggesting they were Muslim.  On the mainland there were many more pubs and bars; far fewer in Zanzibar.

Tanzania is not a wealthy country.  Main streets are paved, but side streets are still dirt tracks.  Sidewalks seem a luxury.  Along the road we saw single story breeze block homes topped with a patchwork of corrugated metal.  They did not have running water; water is sourced from a central point and carried by the women in plastic buckets on their heads.  However, market stalls were well stocked with a wide variety of food.  It was not uncommon to see children running around shoeless. Yet the people we met were all extremely friendly and helpful.  Of course we were meeting those working in the hospitality industry. They were all so happy to have visitors.  Covid has had a major impact on tourism in Tanzania; life is not easy to start with, then with no tourists things get even tougher.  Our hotel in Zanzibar of 127 rooms probably had an occupancy rate of 10%.  We never felt unsafe, but the hotels were generally surrounded with a wall and a security gate.

The hotel was about a 90 minute drive from the airport on the northern tip of the island. The plan was to relax for five days, which is what we did!  One curious thing we noticed in Zanzibar was whenever we got into a taxi the driver would make a stop at a nearby gas station. Everytime. Not too sure why, but it happened on every trip.

The hotel was on the coast, but the 'beach' was shallow so when the tide was high it came up to the rocky cliff edge, then would go out exposing volcanic rock for several hundred feet.  It was very beautiful, but not for those who like sand.

Swahili and English are both spoken in Tanzania which makes life easier since signs are in English. On our last morning we took a Swahili cooking class.  Surrounded by jars of all varieties of spices (we are in Zanzibar!) and herbs we were instructed on making octopus curry, chicken curry, spinach, beef samosas, and rice, then feasted on our creations.

Our plans were to travel east, but due to covid travel issues, we decided to return to London.  I have to confess to being excited to have access to a washing machine again.  Tanzania was very different, poor, yet Tanzania has banned single use plastic bags.  So, despite being underdeveloped, it is doing its part to help the world.  Now that is impressive.