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Let me just start by saying that if you come to Zanzibar only for the beaches, you're kinda cheating yourself. I mean, yeah, the beaches are ridiculous. The kind where you lose track of time because the water’s that blue and the breeze just… resets your brain. But man, this island? It’s not just sand and seafood. It’s layered. Deep. Sometimes uncomfortable. But always, always real. I figured this out the weird way. It Was Supposed to Be a Chill Trip I landed in Zanzibar with zero plans beyond “eat, swim, nap, repeat.” Booked a spot in Paje, right near the water. The guesthouse guy, Bakari, asked me what I was planning to do. I told him, “Not much. Just beach things.” He shook his head and said, “That’s what tourists say when they miss the real thing.” Didn’t think much of it at the time. I just smiled, nodded, and went back to my grilled octopus. But a couple days later, after one too many beach naps and the same playlist looping in my ears, I started feeling an itch. Like, okay, t...

Last month, after a borderline mental breakdown at the Nairobi airport (don’t ask), I knew I had to hit pause. Like, real pause . Not just a long shower or a weekend nap. I needed something deeper. A reset, not a distraction. My cousin Jameela, who now lives in Dar (and suddenly eats gluten-free everything), swore by this place in Zanzibar. She called it "a full cleanse for your soul." I laughed. But now that I’m back? Bro. She wasn’t lying. When Holidays Stop Feeling Like Breaks You ever come back from a trip feeling... heavier? Not just from the food (though, shoutout to Cape Town's gatsby rolls), but mentally. Like you spent your money and time going somewhere , but your mind never left home? That was me after back-to-back trips. Loud cities, rushed excursions, hotel rooms with curtains that never quite close. All that movement and still no peace. That’s why this trip was different. I didn’t want noise. I wanted air. Not air-con. Not bus-window breeze. Real, sal...

  We Didn’t Know How Hungry We Were Until We Landed We stepped off the plane in Zanzibar thinking about beaches and naps. But by the time we reached the first roadside vendor we found a woman frying cassava chips in a pan balanced on bricks and immediately we forgot all about sleep. She handed us a paper cone full of golden, salty pieces. No words. Just a nod. We sat on our suitcases and ate it right there. That’s how our food tour began which was unplanned, unscripted and unforgettable. Stone Town: Where Every Turn Smells Like Dinner If you’ve never been to Stone Town, just imagine a maze with curry in the air and mango peels on the ground. Kids play football in alleys while their moms stir pots on charcoal stoves a few steps away. We didn’t follow a map. We followed smells. One street led us to fried octopus. Another to sugarcane juice. We turned a corner and landed in a tiny restaurant with no name and one table. That meal? Coconut rice with grilled barracuda and mango ...

  Notes from a Tired Dad: A Family Week in Zanzibar That Made Me Reconsider Everything I didn’t think I’d write about this trip. Not because it was bad ,far from it but because, honestly, I didn’t expect much to happen. I figured it’d be the usual: tantrums, sunscreen in the eye, running out of wet wipes mid-flight. You know. Parent travel mode. But this one hit different. Maybe because we weren’t chasing Wi-Fi. Maybe because no one was trying to make it a “perfect trip.” Maybe because for once… we just slowed down. The Lead-Up Was Messy We almost didn’t go. Thandi had work stuff piling, Nathi got a fever the week before, and I was deep in “maybe we should just stay home” mode. But we’d already told the kids. And you know what happens when you tell kids something. So we booked flights, found one of those Zanzibar packages for families that didn’t need ten spreadsheets to understand, and made peace with the fact that something probably several things  would go wrong.  Arr...

 The first time I flew to Zanzibar, I thought I knew what I was getting into. Beach. Hammock. Pineapple juice. The usual. But two days in, I was barefoot in a forest, following a guy named Musa who insisted he knew where a colobus monkey nest was. (He didn’t, but we found something better: silence. The deep kind.) Most tourists stick to the edges. They fly in, get their tan, maybe take a boat ride. Then they bounce. But if you want to really get into the bones of this place, you need to go off-script. This is for the ones who pack running shoes instead of flip-flops. If you're that kind of traveler, welcome. You’ve just found your adventure base for East Africa . Nungwi Mornings & Mnemba Magic There’s this guy in Nungwi, everyone calls him Captain Juma. He’s probably 60, wears a faded Arsenal jersey, and commands a dhow like it’s an extension of his arm. No GPS, no apps, just the wind and his instincts. We left at sunrise. The sky was orange, the sea calm like a mirror. By the ...

Zanzibar is having a moment—and it’s a moment wrapped in sunset colors, coconut-scented air, and barefoot luxury. For couples across South Africa, this island has quickly become a symbol of reconnection, retreat, and romance. Whether you’re newly married or just in need of a break from the routine, Zanzibar offers an experience that’s tailor-made for two. Why Zanzibar Works So Well for Couples There are a few reasons why Zanzibar stands out for romantic getaways. It’s close—just a short flight from Johannesburg or Cape Town. It’s visa-free for South Africans. And it’s far more affordable than many tropical destinations, without sacrificing beauty or comfort. More importantly, the vibe is perfect. It’s peaceful, intimate, and naturally beautiful. When you’re wondering how to plan a couple’s retreat , Zanzibar should be at the top of your list. The Island’s Secret? Simplicity Meets Magic Zanzibar doesn’t try too hard. You won’t find massive resorts or over-commercialized strips. Instead,...