Overnight in Dar and then to the ferry for a 10 a.m. departure. Our first few hours in Dar were just enough to get some sleep, meet a few people, attend chapel at The Salvation Army compound and find the ferry.
At 1.00pm we were on Zanzibar. Now Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, yet we filled out the obligatory immigration form (blue at the airport, yellow in Zanzibar) and showed our passports.
Tourism is a key industry on this island. Stonetown is the port of arrival and if you are not part of it officially you become part of it to survive. From the time you step past immigration you are offered goods, taxis, guides, or tours. We were quickly 'guided' to where we wanted to go. A tip for unprepared travellers - make sure you have some small denomination local currency on hand! I learned the hard way! Oh - and insist that accommodation places honour their bookings. Beth was very good at ensuring we got what had been promised, and our 'helpful guide' did not have opportunity to assist in finding alternative accommodation (and earning himself some 'commission' in the process).
Stonetown is a fascinating old city - the Venice of Africa (minus the canals). The people are very friendly - "Jambo" being the greeting most often exchanged. A walk around/through the city and many "Jambo's", offers of taxis, tours and sunglasses later we returned to St Monica's Guesthouse for a little respite and rest for our legs. Dinner was at Mercury's restaurant (Freddie Mercury, late of "Queen" circa 1970's had a home in Stonetown and started the restaurant) - a nice fish dish for only 11,000 Tsh - a little less than A$15 each.
Our next stop was Jambiani, a little fishing village on the east coast.
At 1.00pm we were on Zanzibar. Now Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, yet we filled out the obligatory immigration form (blue at the airport, yellow in Zanzibar) and showed our passports.
Tourism is a key industry on this island. Stonetown is the port of arrival and if you are not part of it officially you become part of it to survive. From the time you step past immigration you are offered goods, taxis, guides, or tours. We were quickly 'guided' to where we wanted to go. A tip for unprepared travellers - make sure you have some small denomination local currency on hand! I learned the hard way! Oh - and insist that accommodation places honour their bookings. Beth was very good at ensuring we got what had been promised, and our 'helpful guide' did not have opportunity to assist in finding alternative accommodation (and earning himself some 'commission' in the process).
Stonetown is a fascinating old city - the Venice of Africa (minus the canals). The people are very friendly - "Jambo" being the greeting most often exchanged. A walk around/through the city and many "Jambo's", offers of taxis, tours and sunglasses later we returned to St Monica's Guesthouse for a little respite and rest for our legs. Dinner was at Mercury's restaurant (Freddie Mercury, late of "Queen" circa 1970's had a home in Stonetown and started the restaurant) - a nice fish dish for only 11,000 Tsh - a little less than A$15 each.
Our next stop was Jambiani, a little fishing village on the east coast.
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