I admit it, I'm a true island girl, as from all my travels in the past 26 years I generally enjoy island trips most! There’s just something about those pearly white stretches of sand, lined with palm trees, surrounded by turquoise waters.
And in my opinion the locals are just a tad more friendly on islands as well!
I've seen many an island around the world already, and in March 2022 I was able to visit a very unique piece of paradise, this time along the coast of Tanzania.
African paradise island
I had the pleasure to explore Zanzibar, a tropical island just off the east coast of Africa, which turned out to be surprisingly beautiful and diverse.
If you like white beaches, bright blue sea, fresh sea food, boattrips, tropical landscapes dotted with authentic villages, super friendly locals and Unesco heritage, then Zanzibar should be on your holiday bucketlist for sure.
I saw all that and more during a 5 day trip to this African island with Corendon and 8 travel journalists/ tourism colleagues.
And not only did we explore almost every corner of the island with one of the best local tourguides, we traveled to Zanzibar in style too!
In my next blog I will share all authentic spots we saw and the fun things we did, but first:
How to get there?
From the Netherlands there are not many flights offered to Zanzibar yet and hardly any that fly directly, except KLM. That's why I feel that Corendon's Zanzibar trip packages are quite convenient and offer great value for money.
Corendon has 16 different hotels to choose from, ranging from small-scale with breakfast, to all inclusive 5 star hotels, like the Kiwengwa Beach Resort, where we stayed during our trip.
And to top it all off I flew there Business Class with Turkish Airlines, which was truly a unique experience, but also included a stopover in Istanbul. Starting from 2024 Corendon however offers packages with direct flights to Zanzibar with KLM, which is even more convenient, and of course you can also upgrade your seats to economy comfort.
Also nice is that with this package you don't have to stopover and it takes less than 9 hours on the way there. And from 3 November 2024 Corendon even offers combination packages of Zanzibar trips, including a 3 day safari in Tanzania, which is all-in and truly spectacular.
Find all info here: Zanzibar-Kiwengwa beach resort-Safari Tanzania
From the airport the transfer to Kiwenga Beach Resort will take you about an hour to get to the eastside of the island.
Also an important tip to save time upon arrival is to get your Visa online in advance through: Zanzibar-Evisa. This way you can check into the much shorter E-Visa queue upon arrival!
Where to stay?
Kiwengwa Beach Resort is located directly on the beach with all the facilities you might need:
3 pools, of which 1 with saltwater
Several bars and 3 restaurants to choose from
Kids club
Extensive wellness center with Spa facilities & fitness
182 different rooms, from family to sea view
And plenty of sunbeds, either by the pool or on the beach
Get an impression through this gallery (swipe):
Find out more, incl.the best package rates for your preferred dates on: Kiwengwa Beach Resort. Although I usually prefer smaller boutique hotels, the location and facilities of this hotel were very convenient and the beach white and spacious.
East Zanzibar
Due to its location on the eastside of the island you will be treated to a stunning sunrise every morning.
And because Kiwengwa is a public beach many locals pass by every day, providing interesting scenes and potential meetings with friendly Masai and other locals.
There are also plenty of hammocks, swings and other photogenic spots around the hotel, like the pier right next to it, for those Instagrammable shots.
There’s a themed buffet every night, and for a really unique dining experience I can recommend a dinner in the traditional dhow boat on the beach, housing a lobster & beef restaurant!
Or have your dinner served at one of the romantic private tables on the beach.
Northwest Zanzibar
On our last day we visited the northwest of the island, for a whole different vibe with several nice hotels as well. The beach is quite wide here with also many watersports facilities nearby.
When to visit?
The best time to visit Zanzibar really depends on your own preference, as high season is the same as our own summer months and of course it will be more busy then too. The temperatures on Zanzibar stay high throughout the year, ranging from 27- 35 degrees Celsius.
And although the winter months are great to catch some winter sun on this African island, do note that rainy season starts from September-November and from March-June, during which it will be more hot and humid.
We did not have any rain during our visit in March though, and when it does it will not rain all day.
I hope that I was able to inspire your next island visit and that you will put Zanzibar on your list, as it is certainly worth it! Especially if you want to combine a tropical holiday with an African safari visit, in Tanzania, which is easily arranged via Corendon's newest safari combo packages.
On the island itself there is however also plenty to see and do, if you want to stay a full week or 2, for which I will share plenty of tips!
For more info about this unique island destination find all details at: Corendon.nl-Zanzibar. And do check out my next blog for all the nicest sites to visit and most fun things to do around Zanzibar island.
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