Activities in Zanzibar (Unguja)
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Mr Mitu's Office
Organise spice tours through your hotel, a travel agent, the Tourist Information Office or through the long-standing Mr Mitu's office, although the tours are no longer led by Mr Mitu, and don't differ significantly from those organised elsewhere, other than perhaps being more crowded. The office is signposted near Ciné Afrique. Costs for all tours include a lunch of local food seasoned with some of the spices you've just seen.
They depart about 09:30 and return by about 14:30 (later, if a stop at Mangapwani beach is included). It's best to book a day in advance (you will be collected from your hotel), though it's usually no trouble to just show up in the morning. If you …
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Safari Blue Menai Bay Dhow Tours
For something different, contact Safari Blue Menai Bay Dhow Tours, which organises day excursions on well-equipped dhows around Menai Bay. The excursions, which leave from Fumba, include a seafood and fruit lunch, plus snorkelling equipment, and time to relax on a sandbank. The dhows can also be privately chartered, for honeymoons or groups. Before booking, it's worth checking weather conditions, as some months - notably April/May and July/August - can get quite windy or rainy.
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Dhow Countries Music Academy
Near the port you'll find the Old Dispensary. Upstairs are the offices of the Dhow Countries Music Academy where you can organise dance and drumming lessons, and buy CDs with local and regional music.
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Freddie Mercury Tours
One of Zanzibar's most famous sons is Queen lead vocalist Freddie Mercury, born Faroukh Bulsara in 1946 in Stone Town to Parsee parents. He lived on the island until he was about eight years old, when he was sent off to India to boarding school. His family left Zanzibar in the wake of the 1964 revolution, never to return. There's no agreement as to which house or houses Freddie - he acquired the name while at school in India - and his family actually occupied, and several make the claim.
For anyone wanting to make a Mercury pilgrimage, two good places to start are the Zanzibar Gallery, with a gold plaque on the outside memorialising Mercury, and the popular Mercury's rest…
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Divers Alert Network Southern Africa
You can check the Divers Alert Network Southern Africa website for a list of Zanzibar and Pemba-based operators that are part of the DAN network. If you choose to dive with an operator that isn't affiliated with DAN, it's highly recommended to take out insurance coverage with DAN.
There's now a decompression chamber in Matemwe (otherwise the closest ones are in Mombasa, Kenya - an army facility and not necessarily available to the general public - and in Johannesburg, South Africa).
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Watching Local Football
Zanzibaris are passionate football fans, and watching a game is a good introduction to island life. Stroll by Mnazi Mmoja Sporting Grounds any weekend afternoon, and you're likely to catch a match. For early risers, there are also usually informal pick-up games most mornings at daybreak in the fields lining Kaunda Rd, diagonally opposite the Mnazi Mmoja grounds.
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