Zanzibar - day tours/excursions

Dear All,
A friend and I are planning a trip to Tanzania this August/September, including 5 days in Zanzibar. We would like to stay both in Stone Town for a couple of nights (to visit the town, souvenir shop, etc), and at a small hotel on the beach somewhere up North or on the East coast. Our plan is to stay at a small hotel on the beach to enjoy the beauty of the ocean and the coast, yet we do not plan to stay at the beach all day. We would like to organise day visits like spice tour, a boat trip to snorkel, etc. My question relates to the feasibility of organising such day tours from a beach hotel (as opposed to Stone Town). In other words, is it possible to go on a spice tour for example from anywhere on the Island or do you necessarily have to leave from Stone Town to do so? Would a tour company typically pick up tourists at their hotel?
Please let me also emphasise that we do not intend to stay at one of the big all-inclusive resorts but rather at a smaller, more authentic beach hotel. Also, we do not intend to rent a car so will rely on public transportation, taxi, or tour company arranged transportation.
Many thanks in advance to those who will be able to reply to me!
Vanessa

I can inbox you a company that I used. Let me know

Thanks but I mostly need to know whether this is feasible or not. Thank you however for your reply.

It's very feasible. I've done it and I have referred another member on here on a similar situation. Make sure that you have a meal at The Rock

This post has been removed because it may not have met our community guidelines.

At Cathy

For one, I'm not a Tour Operator

Secondly, I only offered to private message the original poster because I'd rather not share my TRUSTED CONTACT openly for all eyes to send.

Thirdly, I reside right in the United States .

Fourth
As a recent traveller to Zanzibar I have made nothing but great relationships with persons on ground so with that I'm just trying to do my part on passing good karma.

I'm not looking for profit at all.

I wish that there was a tagging feature on here so I could have the ability of signaling the member that I helped ( She was a little nervous and unfamiliar what to expect ) but through my help she was was able to enjoy Zanzibar and have a memorable time quite recently. I know the area well as well as I have plenty of friends who reside in the country.

Thanks Cathy for your advice and tips, much appreciated. Any other tips welcome! Vanessa

I'd rather not share my TRUSTED CONTACT openly for all eyes to send.

Why the secrecy? If I was a tour operator, I'm sure I'd be more than happy to be recommended by a previous client on an open travel forum and would want as many eyes to see me as possible.

The LP rules don't allow advertising, but there's no problem with telling us the name of the company you used, what they provided for you and how much it cost.

Really..one day us enough in stone town...imo!...Arrive, see the place and head out....The main market is a hive of activity while the sea front food stalls are touristy...

Check ot air bnb to get some idea of prices...i stayed at malindi boutique hotel (not the lodge) and was pleasantly surprised

As for some tours..as said..spice anywhere.
if you do mnemba, its much cheaper via stonetown or even better nungwi as you must pay taxi
if you stay in paje, bwejuu, or jambiani beach...consider a place w a pool as winds and tide make swimming impossible much of the day...i am there NOW....

Consider Palm Inn or Indigo i bwejuu is your choice....Paje is FULL of kitesurfers

Thanks.

Thanks guys, we did book a hotel room, sounds like the best option!

Actually, doing things like spice tours from town is a better idea than doing it from the beach. Kizimbani, where the biggest spice plantation is located and where most tours will take you, is only about 15km from town, easily reached by public transport or on a tour. It will be a lot cheaper than doing it from the beach, not only because of the distance, but mainly because if you book it from the beach, it will be a private tour, including transfer to and from the beach, as compared to a minibus tour from town. A few years ago the going rate from town was $10 pp (I'm sure it's a bit more now) as compared to about $80 per car (at least).
I would stay in town for two days, spend one day exploring town, one day for spice tour etc., and then head to the beach.
If you are going to the east coast, there is Jozani forest on the way, where you could stop and do a guided walk to see the forest and the monkeys. That's also an excursion that can be easily done from one of the south-eastern beaches (Paje, Jambiani, Bwejuu), by public transport even.

Sorry I replied on the wrong thread here

Thanks Stefo, that's useful information!

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