This full-day trip to the ancient town of Bagamoyo starts by driving from Dar es Salaam city. The town was founded at the end of the 18th century. You will explore the footsteps of Arab traders and missionaries as well as slave traders. You will visit the Caravanserai Museum to learn of the Arab trade roots and slave caravans which headed to Zanzibar from Congo and other parts of Tanganyika. Visit the Catholic Church and learn the contribution of Europeans on the abolition of the slave trade. Also, our guide will take you to the port where you will experience the daily life of the Bagamoyo residents and see the dhows – traditional vessels used to transport cargo and slaves along the coastal region. Before having your own lunch in one of the best restaurants, you will get a chance to visit the German Fort and listen to the tales of German rulers during their colonial power in Tanganyika. After lunch, you will be taken to Kaole Village to visit the ruins of the ancient town built by the Shiraz Arabs from Iran in the 13th century. Nowadays a remaining part of a mosque and a large part of the graveyard can be vividly seen. You can be blessed by the water from a miracle well or increase your living days by circling an old baobab tree. After the tour, we will drive back to Dar es Salaam.
Exceeded high expectation! – We were met at our hotel by Hamza & Miram who the took us round the market to choose ingredients for our chosen recipes. Great going round market not being… read more hassled and able to look at everything.
We then walked to Miram’s house where we started to prepare vegetables. Grinding coconuts, chopping veg, once all prepared cooking started.
Such a wonderful experience, her family, friends popped in and out it felt so authentic.
Miram has her own restaurant too nearby Bobo Beach cafe which she showed us afterwards.
Our other 2 friends joined us for lunch which we ate with Miram, Hamza and a couple of her friends/ help.
Food was delicious,
We cooked – Pan fried king fish, vegetable curry, pilau rice, banana stew, sweet pumpkin, mango/passion fruit/avacado &lime smoothie and spiced tea!!
Their english was excellent and fun to be with. Would totally recommend and hope you enjoy as much as we did.
Y4545ADfionam March 3, 2020
Zanzibar is quite the honeymoon destination, and Halisi Africa tours mostly deal with private tours, so it is sometimes lonely. Having said that, Hamza my tour guide was fantastic throughout… read more the trip, offering competitive prices and accommodating my schedule. I would suggest contacting him through whatsapp and arranging your whole stay (other tours) with him too, he won’t disappoint.
852zakr July 30, 2021
This tour with Halisi Africa Tours is a must! It provides an in depth look at the variety of fruits and spices found in Zanzibar and our guide Hamza… read more was amazing in his knowledge and expertise on the vast array of flora grown. The knowledge we gained was unmatched as we dove deep into the numerous ways that these spices are utilized in herbal medicines and immunity enhancement. Additionally you also get to taste, smell, and experience a variety of fruits and spices, making it an integral part of the Zanzibar experience!
Michele R February 21, 2021
Hamza couldn’t have picked a better tour for us. He is incredibly knowledgeable about all the different spices, how to cook with them, & the traditional use- something you never… read more hear about. Hamza should really write a book about Zanzibar spices. The lunch was a great expérience, all the food was cooked with the spices from the farm. We got to taste most of the spices picked directly from the trees or bushes. And when I cook with the many spices I brought home, my food tasted really great.
F6290WRpamelad January 16, 2022
Hamza is an incredible tour guide. We recommend him 10/10! In fact, we had plans to use a different tour company on Wednesday and Friday, with Hamza’s Stone Town and… read more Spice Plantation tour landing on the Thursday in between. We ended up canceling with the other company for Friday and using Hamza instead because he was just that awesome. The other company wasn’t bad per say (they facilitated the things we hired them to arrange), but Hamza was much friendlier and enthusiastic about the work he is doing here.
He is from the islands and loves being Pemban/Zanzibari. It shows through the thorough tours that he gives and the way he interacts with all of the people around. It seems like he knows everyone! He bought us some local snacks to try (make sure you eat the Zanzibari Mix in Stone Town!!), gave us an incredible tour of Stone Town and then the Spice Farms.
We didn’t want just a facilitator, but we wanted a guide…someone who could answer our questions and really help us get to know the Zanzibari culture. His English is excellent!
We also went to the Nakupenda Sand Bar and then to Prison Island with him, as well. He built sand castles with our kids, showed us around and made us feel like family.
Book with him – you won’t regret it!!
hannaliv1122 August 1, 2022
Halisi Africa Tours: – Hamza and his team are awesome, me and my friend had a wonderful holiday in Zanzibar and Hamza he arrange everything. Transport was always on time, guides are knowledgeable and… read more very friendly. We learned some Swahili words, Jambo, Asante Sana, Karibu and Hakuna Matata. It was absolutely fun.
Alain25012 February 25, 2020
Great tours of Ston Town: – Our guider Juma is more than just a guider, he was punctual and very informative. He showed us around and told us a great history of Sultans, culture, and slave… read more trade. We visited an old fort, the slave market, and the spice market. The Zanzibar doors and the stone town architectures are fascinating.
shyguvamombe February 24, 2020
We wanted an authentic African experience in Zqnzibar and we decided to visit Tumbatu island. This was the best decision! We came accross Hamza and he organized everything really well.… read more He was flexible with our changing plans and has welcomed us warmly. Then we visited a local market and although we are experienced travelers we would never find small local spots Hamza and his guide have shown us. The journey to the island was pleasant and then visiting the village – OMG, we really recommend it. We ate local fruit and food, which is an important part for us. Drink home made mango juice rather then coke or fanta! I will keep some secrets so you can have an adventure as we had but you can trust Hamza as he will be right there with you, taking care and having fun at the same time. Enjoy!
spelcashantim March 2, 2022
Jozani is a must visit when traveling to Zanzibar, particularly with Halisi Tours (and Hamza is their top guide!). The monkeys were fascinating to watch and learn about, as was… read more the mango grove. An extraordinary nature experience close to Stone Town.
AimeeBugC February 20, 2021
We spent the day taking a boat out to Tumbatu Island and then took a tour of the old ruins, the school, beautiful trees, and were able to meet and… read more one of the several natural healers on the island. The healer shared how he is able to understand how chronic or acute your condition is through gathering some data about you. It was so interesting to learn about these wise healers on the island. First though, the boat ride out to the island was awesome. The water was a gorgeous turquoise and we were able to see fishermen catch octopus and many varieties of fish, from their hand-made nets, which we ended up buying for lunch right from the water after the fishermen just caught them. It was so amazing to see. Next, we were dropped off on a sandbank and were able to see so many beautiful marine life followed by beautiful snorkeling off of the sandbank. Then we walked around the island some seeing children at school studying or hearing them chant their Islamic prayers. We were then treated to our amazing vegetarian and non-vegetarian lunch after visiting some of the ruins from prior royalty. The trip was so special and Halisi tours was such a great operator. Halisi Tours attend to all the small details and are simply the best tours I have taken during my travels to Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia. I highly recommend them above all others!