Safari and Zanzibar Tour Diaries – Second Week Recap

Our Tanzanian holiday has come to an end and we are very happy to be back home. We spent the entire second week in Zanzibar. After days of roughing it up on safari, waking up super early and dealing with cold mornings, it was nice to relax and enjoy the sunny beach weather in Zanzibar.

Here’s an overview of week 2

Day One: Arusha – Zanzibar
We flew out of Arusha (with Precision Air) and arrived Zanzibar pretty early. It took us about an hour and some minutes to get to our hotel in Jambiani. The rest of the day was spent around the resort.
Day Two: Eat, Sleep, Repeat
DSC 0277

We spent the entire day lazying around. We had breakfast, walked around the resort a little. By morning, the water level had been pushed back, so we were able to walk further into the sea. We had lunch later and got free mocktails from the bar. Wasn’t a bad day at all…

Day Three: Spice Tour, Prison Island & Stone Town

spice%2Btour%2Bzanzibar

This day was spent day-tripping from Jambaini to Stone Town. We also did a Spice Tour of Zanzibar and took a boat to Prison Island. We left the hotel at exactly 8:30 am and rode for about an hour to a farm for the spice tour.

A guide took us around the farm showing us different spices and fruits locals use in their foods and cosmetics. Can I just say that I like the way tourism is packaged here? For me, it felt like I was walking through my grandmother’s farm back home, yet, I paid to do this.

After the tour, we had a Zanzibar-style lunch that managed to involve most of the spices we had just seen. The entire thing was quite interesting, a bit tiring in some parts but I would definitely recommend it.

Our next stop was Stone Town.

boats

There, we hopped on a boat to Changuu Island (aka. Prison Island). Before getting on, I was pretty confident but once I was inside the boat, fear crept in. There were life jackets inside but we weren’t offered them. I’m usually extremely safety conscious but I didn’t ask for one either.

We rode on this boat for about 30mins before getting to the Island. We were riding against the waves on our return leg and that was a bit terrifying for me. To be honest, I’d have been very happy to pass this part of the tour up. I didn’t quite enjoy visiting this Island. I know a lot of people do though and they have good things to say about the turquoise waters and nice beach.

Anyway, we did a brief tour of the Island, spent some time viewing and feeding the giant tortoises before heading back to the mainland for a walking tour of Stone Town.

stonetown
Day Four: Butty Chronicles
I had to go to the clinic today because my sister’s reacting to something. We don’t know what but it probably has to do with something she touched or ate during the spice tour yesterday. We got her some meds and she’s fine now. All is well that ends well.
Day Five: Lobsters & Homeward Bound
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Last night in Zanzibar and we treated ourselves to a lobster dinner. The four-course dinner was served on our bungalow balcony, romantic setting and all. It was certainly a pleasant end to a remarkable holiday in Tanzania.
I’ll be writing in details about the different places we visited (and what we missed) and will also be breaking down costs to help you plan your own trip. If you have never considered Tanzania as a holiday destination option, you totally should!
 
I hope you enjoyed reading. If you did, please leave a comment below and don’t forget to share!

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19 hours ago
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This is me - well a part of 😊

Tell me about you 💬
This is me - well a part of 😊 Tell me about you 💬
20 hours ago
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2/9
Eat. Sleep. Repeat! ☕️🌥 - Loved every second if it!
Eat. Sleep. Repeat! ☕️🌥 - Loved every second if it!
20 hours ago
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Should we be friends? Is the algorithm right this time? 👀
Should we be friends? Is the algorithm right this time? 👀
1 day ago
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Luxury travel doesn’t have to break the bank 💸✨

Here are 3 ways to enjoy 5-star experiences on a budget:

1️⃣ Can’t afford the $600/night price tag? Some hotels offer day passes - you’ll still enjoy the pool, spa, restaurant, and atmosphere for a fraction of the cost.

2️⃣ Contact the hotel directly - they often have lower rates or seasonal discounts you won’t find online.

3️⃣ Travel during shoulder season - fewer crowds, better weather, and way cheaper luxury stays.

Because you also deserve the soft life! 😉💅🏽
Luxury travel doesn’t have to break the bank 💸✨ Here are 3 ways to enjoy 5-star experiences on a budget: 1️⃣ Can’t afford the $600/night price tag? Some hotels offer day passes - you’ll still enjoy the pool, spa, restaurant, and atmosphere for a fraction of the cost. 2️⃣ Contact the hotel directly - they often have lower rates or seasonal discounts you won’t find online. 3️⃣ Travel during shoulder season - fewer crowds, better weather, and way cheaper luxury stays. Because you also deserve the soft life! 😉💅🏽
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Looks like the beach is calling my name again! 😍😍

I think one of the best parts of living in Kenya is the weather! It's always summer somewhere in Kenya!
Looks like the beach is calling my name again! 😍😍 I think one of the best parts of living in Kenya is the weather! It's always summer somewhere in Kenya!
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There's no doubt that seeing Mt. Fuji is a trip highlight for visitors to Japan. But I can't count the number of times I've read about people making the trip down, only to find the mountain hidden in the clouds. 😟

So let me tell you the not-so-hidden secret to *almost* guaranteeing a CLEAR view of Mount Fuji.

1. Timing matters ⏰️
The best times to see Mount Fuji: Winter ❄️, Spring 🌸, Autumn 🍂 AND best time of day? Early morning and late afternoon.

Mount Fuji often shows itself in the summer as well (don't be discouraged) - with a bit of planning and luck, you can also get a great view of this stunning mountain..

2. Ditch the day trip 🏃🏽‍♀️
If you want to increase your chances of seeing Mount Fuji, consider staying at least one night in the area. This way, you can have clear sunrise and sunset views

That's it really! Not so difficult right? Let me know if you want to a list of some of the best places to view Mount Fuji too!
There's no doubt that seeing Mt. Fuji is a trip highlight for visitors to Japan. But I can't count the number of times I've read about people making the trip down, only to find the mountain hidden in the clouds. 😟 So let me tell you the not-so-hidden secret to *almost* guaranteeing a CLEAR view of Mount Fuji. 1. Timing matters ⏰️ The best times to see Mount Fuji: Winter ❄️, Spring 🌸, Autumn 🍂 AND best time of day? Early morning and late afternoon. Mount Fuji often shows itself in the summer as well (don't be discouraged) - with a bit of planning and luck, you can also get a great view of this stunning mountain.. 2. Ditch the day trip 🏃🏽‍♀️ If you want to increase your chances of seeing Mount Fuji, consider staying at least one night in the area. This way, you can have clear sunrise and sunset views That's it really! Not so difficult right? Let me know if you want to a list of some of the best places to view Mount Fuji too!
2 days ago
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I went back to South Korea and slowed down... 🐌 Suwon was one of my favourite stops! I spent 2 nights here and had the best time!
I went back to South Korea and slowed down... 🐌 Suwon was one of my favourite stops! I spent 2 nights here and had the best time!
2 days ago
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If this is your vibe, leave a blue heart 🩵💙, check out my profile and say hello, see if you resonate with my content too!

This Instagram page is another outlet of my travel blog - Travel with a Pen. And here, I share my curated travel stories with all the info to help plan your trip too!
If this is your vibe, leave a blue heart 🩵💙, check out my profile and say hello, see if you resonate with my content too! This Instagram page is another outlet of my travel blog - Travel with a Pen. And here, I share my curated travel stories with all the info to help plan your trip too!
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