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To get a ferry from Dar es Salaam
to Zanzibar is
not as difficult as many people think.
The ticket offices are found at the port and ferries leave regularly
from 7h30 to 15h45 – although times tend to change. There are three high speed ferries companies
to choose from and each has about two departures per day. No pre-booking is needed simply turn up and
buy a ticket for the next boat. Times change regularly, but there is usually a
boat ever hour or two.
The port is close to the centre of town in both Dar es Salaam and Stone Town. Tickets can be bought at the port but you
will have to brave the ticket touts who earn a living from commission from
ticket sales. As in any tourist
destination in the world keep a watch out for pickpockets.
The journey takes about an hour and a half and leaves The
mainland and heads for Stone Town the capital of Zanzibar, the port and entrance to these
spiced islands. Entering this small port by ferry from Dar es Salaam is certainly an unforgettable
experience, never failing to make the most weary traveler eager to explore this
ancient port.
As you step onto the wharf the smell of cloves is carried on
the breeze to greet you immediately you are aware Stone Town
is out of the ordinary. Arab dhows white-sails shaped like the crescent moon,
sail gently out of the harbor and pass along the miles of palm fringed beaches.
Stone Town transports you into the past. The
whole atmosphere is of medieval times, veiled women, their hands and feet
hennaed with elaborate patterns, haggle in the markets and small shops which
cluster on the peripheries of the town.
The spice islands of Zanzibar
refers to an archipelago of fifty or so islands with Unquia and Pemba being the largest. The main island is more commonly
referred to simply as Zanzibar and to all
intents and purposes Unquia is Zanzibar.
The Return journey to the mainland has the option of the
night ferry and as the name suggests sails overnight. It is a slow journey taking literally the
whole night – however – it is cheaper than the high speed ferries.
The site http://www.tanzania-info.co.uk
has full details and timetables for
Zanzibar Ferries – and http://www.betheladventure.co.uk
has safari information. Use responsible
tourism to make a difference.
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