ENJOY NGORONGORO THE KUDU WAY!!

                  Kudu Lodge & Camp

Kudu Lodge & Camp are set in 11 acres of farmland approximately 2Kms from the main road through Karatu and leading to the famous National Parks of Northern Tanzania, among them The Serengeti, Lake Manyara, and The Ngorongoro Crater. The Lodge and Campsite are strategically situated for visiting these wonderlands, and for experiencing the safari adventure of a lifetime. Rich in big game, a multitude of birds species and other beautiful wildlife, these Parks are an absolute must.

 

Comfortable, well appointed en-suite bungalows, all free standing and set among verdant tropical gardens with sweeping views of the surrounding hills and farmland. The bungalows are simple but tastefully furnished and each one has a private verandah.

• Fully fitted en-suite.

• Private verandah.

• Mosquito nets as a precaution, although Kudu is fairly safe due to elevation.

• Electricity 24 Hrs per day.

• Constant hot running water.

Quite simply the best stepping-stone to the Ngorongoro crater, Manyara, Serengeti & other popular locations.!!

 TONYMANN SAFARIS STRATEGIC PARTNER IN NGORONGORO !

Our favourite animal of this week:ZEBRA

 Grazers of Grass: ZEBRA

Zebras are almost exclusively grazers, favoring short grasses. They are particularly fond of freshly sprouted grass on recently burnt ground and will move large distances in search of this nutritious fodder. They do feed on slightly longer grass than the wildebeest, however, and precede these gregarious antelope in the Great Migration of the Serengeti-Mara. Zebra are dependent upon water and this limits their range and movements.

 Zebras are social animals that spend time in herds. They graze together, primarily on grass, and even groom one another.

Why do zebras have stripes at all? 

 Scientists aren't sure, but many theories center on their utility as some form of camouflage. The patterns may make it difficult for predators to identify a single animal from a running herd and distort distance at dawn and dusk.

 Or they may dissuade insects that recognize only large areas of single-colored fur or act as a kind of natural sunscreen.

Because of their uniqueness, stripes may also help zebras recognize one another.No animal has a more distinctive coat than the zebra. Each animal's stripes are as unique as fingerprints—no two are exactly alike—although each of the three species has its own general pattern.

 'Harem' Family

Burchell's Zebra live in small family groups, usually consisting of between four and eight individuals led by a single dominant stallion - the true 'harem family'. The adult mares in a group are usually related, being sisters, or 'aunts, nieces and daughters'. Once they are able to fend for themselves, male offspring are evicted from the herd by the dominant stallion.

To prevent interbreeding between 'fathers and daughters', zebras have devised a rather clever strategy. When the young mares first come into oestrus, they adopt an inviting stance to attract nearby members of bachelor groups (adult mares do not show-off in this fashion). Fights often ensue between the stallions, but inevitably the 'father' cannot attend to the many advances, and loses each of his 'daughters' to her suitor.

The catch, however, is that the young males will not permit copulation during their first oestrus, and will wait until they are settled into a family before beginning to breed. The Burchell's Zebra has a gestation period of 12 months, with a single foal being born at any time of the year.

 Social Hierarchy

The adult males within the family have a social hierarchy which is clearly evident when they are on the move - the stallion at the rear, the dominant mare leading the group, and the lower-ranking members following in sequence. So, in effect, the dominant mare leads the family. Large congregations of zebra consist of numerous harem families which retain their identity within the big herd.

Social with Other Species

Zebras frequently associate with antelopes, gazelles, giraffe, and even ostrich. This activity is thought to be an anti-predator device. Nevertheless, zebras feature high on the list of lion and Spotted Hyena prey. Youngsters are particularly susceptible to these social predators which, hunting in groups, are able to separate the young from the adults. Stallions will defend their harem vigorously, sometimes badly mauling or even killing the attacker.

Caring for the Young

When a foal is born the mother keeps all other zebras (even the members of her family) away from it for 2 or 3 days, until it learns to recognize her by sight, voice and smell.

While all foals have a close association with their mothers, the male foals are also close to their fathers. They leave their group on their own accord between the ages of 1 and 4 years to join an all-male bachelor group until they are strong enough to head a family.

VIDEO: Serengeti National Park / Ngorongoro Conservation Area

IKOMA SAFARI CAMP - One of the best safari camps in ikoma,Serengeti

Tonymann Safaris is happy to announce our exclusive partnership with one of the best safari camps in ikoma Serengeti. IKOMA SAFARI CAMP
http://www.ikomasafaricamp.com/home.html 

Northern Tanzania Safari and Zanzibar - 14 days Safari

Tonymann Tours&Safari -Northern Tanzania Safari and Zanzibar     14 days  Safari
   
     

Contact christian.goshashy@gmail.com to enquire about this safari or for booking

Prices 2012

      Per adult(USD)     0-1 yrs              2-3 yrs        4 yrs          5-11 yrs       12-15 yrs      16-18 yrs


        $3.690                    $0                     $290         $1.060       $1.185         $1.760         $2.070

(22.12.-6.1.):     10% discount for Christmas and New Year

 

For the months April and May we offer up to 25% discount on this safari!

This package combines some classic game viewing with some soft outdoor activities, designed to suit the needs of parents (or grandparents)and children alike. Emphasis has given on short distances between destinations and family/children friendly accommodations – all with family rooms or interconnecting rooms, and occasionally a swimming pool to freshen up after a long dusty day on game viewing!
Day     Location                             Lodge                                                                       Meal Basis

1           Arusha                         Mount Meru Game Lodge                                                   Dinner
2           Arusha                    Rivertrees Country Inn or Mount Meru Game Lodge                 FB
3           Lake Manyara               Kudu Lodge                                                                          FB
4           Ngorongoro                   Kudu Lodge                                                                          FB
5-6     Serengeti                          Mapito\Moivaro Tented Camp                                             FB
7-11     Zanzibar                  Kendwa Rocks\Sunset Beach                                 Breakfast and Dinner
12        Zanzibar                    Kendwa Rocks                                                    Breakfast and Lunch
13        Zanzibar                    Kendwa Rocks                                                                  Breakfast
14        Departure     -

Day 1: ARRIVAL

You will be met at the International Airport of Kilimanjaro by your driver/guide and our representative We will take you to the Rivertrees Country Inn, a charming  lodge situated at the banks of picturesque Usa River on an old German coffee estate, offering stunning views towards Mt. Meru and Mt Kilimanjaro.

Children can roam around in the park style garden and watch naughty vervet monkeys and wise owls in the old trees along the river. A small pool is very inviting during the warmer months of the year. Alternative accommodation is at Mount Meru Game Lodge, a fantastic and atmospheric lodge with its own adjacent wildlife sanctuary.  Animals such as zebra, ostrich and various antelope can be seen wandering by whilst you enjoy a tea or a soda on the lawn. Our safari manager will come to meet you and to provide you with a safari briefing.

Accommodation  will be in a family room where 3-4 persons can comfortably sleep.
Overnight at Mount Meru Game Lodge. Dinner included.

Day 2: Arusha

Today you will take an excursion in the nearby surroundings of your lodge, meaning you can relax a little, sleep in a bit if you want, and stay in your lodge without having to pack up again after just one night.
You have the choice between three different options. Please choose the one suiting the needs of your family best:

Arusha National Park

After breakfast drive to Arusha National Park, once the site of the action packed Hollywood movie Hatari, starring John Wayne and Hardy Kruger. You pass  by herds of zebra, buffalo, and giraffe on the savannah. Enjoy a picnic lunch at Momella Lake, famous for huge flocks of colorful flamingos and its views at majestic Mt. Kilimanjaro. You continue in the afternoon with a game drive around the different habitats in this truly beautiful national park.   There are black and white colobus monkeys (unique to this location northern Tanzania), Sykes’s and velvet monkeys, shy forest duikers, elusive leopards and substantial herds of antelope.
If you wish, you can hike at the slopes of Mt Meru in dense forest or at the Crater rim while an armed ranger escorts you to protect you from some of the larger animals.
Alternatively, you could do some cultural visits instead of visiting Arusha National Park. We offer as follows:

Mulala

Full day excursion to Mulala, a picturesque village located of the slopes of Mt Meru, to visit the people living here and to get a glimpse of the daily life of Meru farmers growing vegetables and crops. Together with a local guide you walk from Mama Anna’s farm,  crisscrossing coffee plantations and banana farms to the top of Lemeka Hill, and back down to the Marisha River, which is home of colorful birds and playful monkey. The village women will prepare some simple but tasty lunch for you before you return to Arusha.

Nkoaranga Village

Full day excursion to the small village of Nkoaranga.  This is home to a local fair-trade coffee growers' cooperative, made up of a group of small-farm coffee growers working together to build a sustainable, naturally grown, fair trade coffee business. Visit the coffee plantations and see the different steps of coffee growing. Learn about how coffee beans are collected, processed, roasted, ground and carefully packed.  All proceeds from coffee sales return to the local farmers for reinvestment in the project, and to build their burgeoning organic farming project - with the first organic bean harvest scheduled within the next two years. Lunch is taken in the village before you return to Arusha. A walk through the village and at the local school or an orphanage is also included if desired.
Overnight at Rivertrees Country Inn or Mount Meru Game Lodge. All meals included.

Day 3: Lake Manyara

After breakfast we depart for Lake Manyara (driving time some 2.5 - 3 hours). Nestling at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment, the park is recognized for its incredible beauty. You can see many game animals such as Buffalo, Elephant, Giraffe, Impala, hippo and others. After spending most of the day in the car you might enjoy a leisurely stroll along Kirurumu River which has to be crossed on large rocks a couple of times. This is a great chance to get out your vehicle and explore this beautiful area on foot.  Note that wet muddy feet cannot entirely be avoided…!

You will make the short journey towards Ngorongoro directly after your day of game driving at Lake Manyara, meaning you can make it down to the crater floor early morning the following day.  Spend the  evening at Ngorongoro Farmhouse, an rustic old farmhouse at the outskirts of Ngorongoro Conservation Area with large rooms which comfortably sleep a family of 04.
Overnight at Kudu Lodge. All meals included.

Days 4: Ngorongoro

After breakfast you pass into Ngorongoro Conservation Area and descend into the crater for a wonderful game drive (with a picnic lunch) inside the Ngorongoro Crater often described as one of the wonders of the world.  It is the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera and a natural sanctuary for some of Africa’s densest animal populations. It is one of the few places where the rare black rhino can be observed in their natural setting. As very few animals migrate in and out of the crater with its 2000 ft. high walls, you can expect to see lions, elephants, zebras, hippos, flamingos, jackals, rhinos, antelopes, many birds and other species. With a bit of luck the ‘Big Five’ can be spotted during one game drive only.
Depending on the time you spend on the crater floor you might like to go on another bush walk at the rim of the crater, inhabited by playful monkeys and different species of birds, and occasionally bigger animals like buffalo and elephant!  Escorted by a ranger or Maasai Guide you follow animal paths through dense bush. Alternatively, you can return early to you lodge and attend a coffee grinding ceremony in the lodge’s own coffee factory.
Overnight at Kudu Lodge. All meals included.

Day 5: Ngorongoro-Serengeti

After breakfast you start on your way to Serengeti National Park (driving time some 4 hours, but with plenty to see on the way!) En route  you will see grazing zebras, antelopes and giraffes and sometimes some buffaloes hiding in the bush. You will visit a Maasai Boma (traditional village) where some Maasai Warriors will welcome you, show you around and explain their traditional life. They will also show you their famous jumping dance and invite you to join in if you like!  You can also see inside houses, meet children, ask questions and take photos!

After stopping for your picnic lunch on a kopje (rock outcropping) in Serengeti you will continue further into the park and go on a game drive in the afternoon. Depending on the time of year and the migration of the herds you can expect to see wildebeest, lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, monkeys, baboons, hippos, rhinos, antelopes and many birds and other species.
Tonight and the following night you spend in a comfortable tented camp at the edge of the famous Serengeto, with views over the endless savannah with some animals and typically African acacia trees. Enjoy some relaxing hours at the camp fire under open sky after dinner, chatting with other guests and the charismatic security guards.
Overnight at Mapito\ Moivaro Tented Camp. All meals included.

Day 6: Serengeti

Early start today  for an early morning game drive to see also nocturnal  predators returning from hunting and animals waking up in early morning light. You can take breakfast boxes with you and have a bush breakfast when the sun is up before you visit the interesting documentation center about Serengeti at Seronera. Return to your lodge for a relaxed lunch under the shade of an old acacia tree.
In the afternoon you can go out again on game drives or undertake a nature walk around the camp with some resident tribesmen. They are happy to share their knowledge of plants and animals surrounding them and introduce you into their use of traditional bow and arrow for hunting.
Overnight at Mapito\Moivaro Tented Camp. All meals included.

Days 7: Serengeti-Zanzibar

After last bush breakfast at your camp we take you to Seronera Airstrip in the Serengeti, for your flight to Zanzibar (departure at around 11:05 with arrival around 14:30) . Transfer to your beach resort at Zanzibar east or north coast.

Days 8-11: Beach Extension

Relax and enjoy the beaches of Zanzibar. Breakfast and dinner included. You can choose any hotel among the following three:
- SunSet Beach Resort
- Kendwa Rocks
- Mnemba Beach Resort

Day 12: Spice Tour

After breakfast transfer to Stone Town. On the way we will do the famous Spice Tour. We have developed a special Spice Tour with information not only about spices, but also organically grown herbs and a detailed description about their traditional uses in medicine cosmetics and cooking.  After the tour we invite for an sumptuous and filling lunch at the Spice Restaurant, where you can taste the spices and fruits you have just learned about and seen growing fresh.
In the afternoon you have some time at leisure.
Overnight at Kendwa Rocks. Breakfast and lunch included.

Day 13: Zanzibar Town

In the morning we will show you Zanzibar’s fabled old town on our Historical Stone Town Tour. Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a beautiful and interesting place where history appears to stand still. With visits to the House of Wonders, the Palace Museum (People's Palace) and the Arab Fort amongst others, it is a fascinating look at the essence of Zanzibar.
You will see Zanzibar's bustling market, winding alleyways, ornately carved and studded doors, two cathedrals and countless mosques!  Rest in the afternoon, explore the many curio shops at leisure, enjoy a cold beer at a beach side bar, or go on a boat trip to the neighboring islands (extra cost).
Overnight at Kendwa Rocks. Breakfast included.

Day 14: DEPARTURE

Departure transfer to Zanzibar Airport or Seaport for your departure.
NB –if you depart from another airport than Zanzibar  we’ll arrange flight  connections to your departure airport (to Dar Es Salaam also ferry boats possible).

Package Includes

 -All airport transfers in private car
 -06 days private safari
-Transport and wildlife drives in modified 4WD Land Cruiser or Land Rover with photographic roof hatch
-Services of a professional English speaking safari guide
-All wildlife reserve entry fees
-All game drives as mentioned
-2 x 1,5 l mineral water per person / day during game drives
-Coffee/Tea with picnic lunches
-Domestic flight Serengeti-Zanzibar
-Meals and accommodation as per itinerary
-Private tours on Zanzibar as per itinerary
-Flying doctor insurance (first aid on the spot and rescue flights

Package does not Include:

 - International Flights
  -All items of a personal nature
-Gratuities for safari guide
-Travel insurance
-Visa fee (50 US$ /100 US$ for Americans & Irish Passport Holders- to be paid upon arrival)
-Drinks and beverages in lodges
-Hot Air Ballon Safari at Serengeti (499 USD per person)

Contact our Safari Manager: christian.goshashy@gmail.com for more personalized packages.

OUR FAVOURITE ANIMAL OF THE WEEK: AFRICAN ELEPHANT

THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT - Gardeners of the Savannah

The African Elephant is the largest land mammal and perhaps the continent's most charismatic creature. Few animals are as closely linked to the welfare of mankind - for elephants have the potential to greatly modify the vegetation of landscapes, destroy the crops of subsistence farmers as well as create wealth through their valuable ivory tusks. There is little doubt that elephants have played a vital role in the economic history of the continent.

  Important Statistics

There are two sub-species of African elephant

The (or bush) form

The forest (or dwarf) form.

Male elephants (bulls) are far larger than females (cows) and weigh up to 6300kg. Mature females range between 2000 and 3500kg. There is much less sexual dimorphism among forest elephants which range between 900 and 3500kg in weight.

The longest tusks on record for a elephant are 3.5 metres, at a weight of 130kg! Forest elephants are often tusk less. The two forms interbreed where forest and ecosystems meet. Elephants have four toes on their front feet,and three on their hind feet. Their thick hide sports sparse bristles and sensory hairs.

 The male's penis is invisible when retracted but extends for up to a metre when erect; his testicles are internal. The two teats are situated high on the underside, between the forelegs.

Born to Eat

Elephants feed for up to 16 hours each day and consume a huge amount of plant material. Individuals eat up to 300 kilograms of leaves, grass, bark, pods and roots per day. Over half of the food consumed is not properly digested and is deposited as fibrous dung within 24 hours. In this way, elephants break down and consume plant material, but also promote regeneration through seed dispersal, soil fertilization and the "opening-up" of previously shaded areas to the light. Along with the minuscule but equally crucial termites, elephants are the "landscape gardeners of Africa".

 Although elephants may appear to be indiscriminate feeders, they are, in fact, very selective and favor particular plants at certain times of the year.

In general, elephants eat a higher percentage of grass during the wet season, with foliage, roots and bark predominating in the dry months. The tusks and trunk are used to good effect when feeding, the former as stripping and excavating tools, and the latter as a prehensile grasper.

Elephant Society

It is most unusual to see an elephant alone. Mature females and their offspring (up to 14 years in the case of males) live in so-called breeding herds which have intimate knowledge of a home range in which they may move randomly, or in synch with the seasons. Adult males - and "teenagers" of 12 and older - typically range in pairs, threesomes or groups of a dozen or more. The main purpose of living in groups for these long-lived pachyderms may be to pass on individual experience and knowledge (where the best feeding areas are at certain times of the year, for example), as well as to defend the newborn young. A single mother elephant is quite capable of defending her young 120kg calf from a lone lion or hyena, but these super-predators hunt in groups and would have little difficulty in seizing newborns which were not protected within a herd. Elephants can live up to 60 years, with females surviving long past their reproductive age.

The old matriarchs make decisions on a daily basis as to where the herd will forage or move. Adult cows give birth to a single youngster (twins are a rare phenomenon) after a gestation period of 650-660 days, once every four or five years. She comes on heat again soon after weaning her calf at four years (although young can eat "solids" after two years), and is sexually receptive for only about a week. Male suitors are typically in a state of musth - a condition of high testosterone levels characterized by leaking temporal glands and dribbling urine - and often intimidate other bulls with their head held high and swaggering gait.

 Only if two musth bulls come together will a physical fight ensue. Mating - when it eventually happens - is extremely brief. Contrary to popular thought, copulation takes place on dry land, not in deep water.

Communication

Elephants "talk" to one another through various growls, snorts, squeals, trumpets and rumbles which convey a host of emotions and signals.

 Sub-sonic infra sound - inaudible to the human ear - was discovered only in 1987 and may be the most important means of communication.

Elephants in Ngorongoro crater!

- Elephants eat between 149 and 169 kg (330-375 lb.) of vegetation daily.

- Sixteen to eighteen hours, or nearly 80% of an elephant’s day is spent feeding. Elephants consume grasses, small plants, bushes, fruit, twigs, tree bark, and roots.

	Elephants require about 68.4 to 98.8 L (18 to 26 gal.) of water daily, but may consume up to 152 L (40 gal.). An adult male elephant can drink up to 212 L (55 gal.) of water in less than five minutes.

Tonymann: Ngorongoro lions sorrounding a tourist 4X4

WELCOME TO NGORONGORO CRATER!

Ngorongoro Crater is one of the largest inactive unbroken calderas in the world which is unflooded. It has a mean diameter of 16-19 km, a crater floor of 26,400 ha, and a rim soaring to 400-610 m above the crater floor. The formation of the crater and other highlands are associated with the massive rifting which occurred to the west of the Gregory Rift Valley. The conservation area also includes Empakaai Crater and Olduvai Gorge, famous for geology and associated palaeontological studies.

A variable climate and diverse landforms and altitudes have resulted in several distinct habitats. Scrub heath and the remains of dense montane forests cover the steep slopes. The crater floor is mainly open grassy plains with alternating fresh and brackish water lakes, swamps and two patches of acacia woodland; Lerai Forest, comprising dominant tree species Acacia xanthonhloea and Rauvolfia caffra .

A population of about 25,000 large animals lives in the crater, mainly ungulates, along with the highest density of mammalian predators in Africa. They include the critically endangered black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis , which have declined from about 108 in 1964-66 to between 11-14 in 1995, and hippopotamus, which are very uncommon in the area. There are also many other ungulates: wildebeest (7,000 estimated in 1994), Burchell's zebra (4,000), eland, Grant's and Thomson's gazelles (3,000). The crater has the densest known population of lion, which are classed as vulnerable, numbering only 62 in 2001. On the crater rim are leopard and the endangered African elephant, numbering 42 in 1987 but only 29 in 1992, mountain reedbuck and buffalo (4,000 in 1994). However, since the 1980s the crater's wildebeest population has fallen by a quarter to about 19,000 and the numbers of eland and Thomson's gazelle have also declined whereas buffalos increased greatly, probably due to the prevention of fire which favours high fibrous grasses over shorter, less fibrous types.

In summer enormous numbers of Serengeti migrants pass through the plains of the reserve, including 1.7 million wildebeest, 260,000 zebra and 470,000 gazelle.

 Waterbuck mainly occur mainly near Lerai Forest; serval widely in the crater and on the plains to the west. Common in the reserve are lion, hartebeest, spotted hyena and jackal. Cheetah, classed as vulnerable although common in the reserve, are scarce in the crater itself. The endangered wild dog Lycaon pictus has recently disappeared from the crater and may have declined elsewhere in the Conservation Area as well. The golden cat has recently been seen in the Ngorongoro forest.




Ngorongoro has palaeontological and archaeological sites over a wide range of dates. The four major sites are Olduvai Gorge, Laetoli site, Lake Ndutu site and the Nasera Rock Shelter. The variety and richness of the fossil remains, including those of early hominids, has made this one of the major areas in the world for research on the human evolution. Olduvai Gorge has produced valuable remains of early hominids including Australopithecus and Homo habilis as well as fossil bones of many extinct animals. Nearby, at Laetoli, are fossil hominid footprints from the Pliocene age.

Welcome to Mount Kilimanjaro,,the roof of AFRIKA

Since its official opening in 1977, Kilimanjaro National Park has become one of Tanzania’s most visited parks. Unlike the other northern parks, this isn’t for the wildlife – although wildlife is there. Rather, it’s to gaze in awe at a mountain on the equator capped with snow, and to take advantage of the chance to climb to the top of Africa.

At the heart of the park is the 5896m Mt Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak and one of the continent’s magnificent sights. It’s also one of the highest volcanoes and among the highest freestanding mountains in the world, rising from cultivated farmlands on the lower levels, through lush rainforest to alpine meadows, and finally across a barren lunar landscape to the twin summits of Kibo and Mawenzi. The lower rainforest is home to many animals, including buffaloes, leopards and monkeys, and elands are occasionally seen in the saddle area between Kibo and Mawenzi peaks.
A trek up Kili lures hundreds of trekkers each year, in part because it’s possible to walk to the summit without ropes or technical climbing experience. Yet, the climb is a serious (and expensive) undertaking, and only worth doing with the right preparation. There are also plenty of excellent options for exploring the mountain’s lower slopes and learning about the Maasai and the Chagga, the main tribes in the area.

There are entry gates at Machame: Marangu, which is also the site of park headquarters, Londorosi and several other points. Trekkers using the Rongai Route should pay their fees at Marangu Gate.

WELCOME TO CLIMB MOUNT KILIMANJARO,,THE ROOF OF AFRIKA!!

Welcome to Zanzibar!

We are happy to announce our strategic partnership with 5 hotels in Zanzibar, where our customers will enjoy a 15% discount on more than 3 night stays.

Zanzibar is an archipelago made up of Zanzibar and Pemba Islands, and several islets. It is located in the Indian Ocean, about 25 miles from the Tanzanian coast, and 6° south of the equator. Zanzibar Island (known locally as Unguja, but as Zanzibar internationally) is 60 miles long and 20 miles wide, occupying a total area of approximately 650 square miles. It is characterized by beautiful sandy beaches with fringing coral reefs, and the magic of historic Stone Town - said to be the only functioning ancient town in East Africa.

What to do in Zanzibar??

Tours of Zanzibar island are a rewarding experience with cultural sights and natural beauty on the itinerary. . Popular tours of Zanzibar Island include:

Stone Town

This tour takes you through fabled Stone Town, where history appears to stand still. With visits to the House of Wonders, the Palace Museum (People's Palace), Dr Livingstone's House and the Arab Fort amongst others, it is a fascinating look at the essence of Zanzibar. You will see Zanzibar's bustling market, winding alleyways, ornately carved and studded doors, two cathedrals and countless mosques! A trip to the site of Sultan Barghash's harem at Marahubi should also be included and rounds off an insight into Zanzibar's huge history and vibrant culture. Stone Town has some excellent gifts shops with plenty of souvenirs and handicrafts to choose from.

Spice Plantations

The history of Zanzibar would be incomplete without the cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, pepper and many other spices which brought the Sultans of Oman and the beginnings of the infamous slave trade. They can be seen in the plantations just outside Zanzibar town, and a good tour includes opportunities to dazzle the senses with fresh spices. A detailed description is given about a variety of spices, and their uses in cooking and cosmetics. Visitors will be fascinated by the sheer number of spices produced and their incredible value for many ailments. This is also the cheapest place to purchase spices and spice oils.

Jozani Forest

The Jozani Natural Forest Reserve is located in the central east region of Zanzibar island and is home to the rare Red Colobus Monkey (pictured opposite), which is endemic to Zanzibar. These monkeys are full of character, and roam freely. They can also be seen at very close quarters just outside the reserve's perimeter and are incredibly photogenic. Jozani is home to other species including Syke's monkey's, small buck and bushpigs. The elusive Zanzibar leopard (last sited several years ago) is said to feed here at night - perhaps this is why the reserve is only open during the day?! Jozani has an excellent nature trail and the guides are well trained and informative.

North Coast

Tours to the unspoilt north coast always end up at Ras Nungwi, a sleepy fishing village on the northern tip of Zanzibar island. It is the dhow building capital of Zanzibar, so you will be able to see the traditional methods of dhow construction in action. This area of Zanzibar has some fantastic beaches and nearby coral reefs which are ideal for diving and snorkelling. The local villagers have built a turtle sanctuary where injured turtles and other marine animals are nursed back to health before being released back into the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.

Kizimkazi Mosque & Dolphin Tour

Situated on the southern point of the island, Kizimkazi fishing village is home to several schools of bottle-nosed dolphins which can often be sighted following a short boat trip from the village. If you are lucky, you may be able to swim quite close to the dolphins which can be a very rewarding experience. Kizimkazi is also the site of a 12th century mosque, the earliest evidence of Islam in East Africa, and is thus worth a visit for both natural and cultural reasons.

Prison Island

Once the site of a gaol for misbehaving slaves, the island lies just off the old stone town. It is fringed with a beautiful coral reef, ideal for snorkelling, and has a lovely white beach for sun-bathing.

It is also home to a family of giant tortoises, imported from the Seychelles in the late 19th century. This island is ideal for a day-trip with refreshments available throughout the day. It also has a small restaurant where you can enjoy freshly caught fish.

Relaxing on the beach