Safari Blue is a full day excursion on traditional sailing dhows. The trip starts from the fishing village of Fumba, on the southwest corner of the Island, 30 minutes’ drive from Stone Town. Fumba is part of the Menai Bay conservation area since 1998. The bay has a number of beautiful uninhabited islands and sandbanks. We board the dhows and set off to explore the bay, later we drop anchor by a sandbank where beginners or less confident swimmers can enjoy the Indian Ocean while enjoying tropical fruits, soft drinks, and sunbathing. The next stop is snorkeling in beautiful corals where you can see different colorful tropical fishes, with the help of life jackets and a guide for beginners or less confident swimmers. On Kwale Island a traditional seafood buffet lunch will be served and it includes grilled fish, slipper lobster, calamari, prawns, French Fries, rice, and vegetable sauces – all served hot from the grill. A visit to the beautiful mangrove lagoon to swim through a mangrove forest (tide-permitting). We will return to main Island by sail if the weather allows.
Loved learning about all the spices grown on the island, tour had fun interactive tasting of spices, tour guides made beautiful jewelry and baskets to carry samples out of banana… read more leaves and hibiscus flowers. Very authentic tour of history of spice use and practical cooking and medicinal application of the spices, including how the spices spice up your relationship haha!
Kira G December 22, 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!
Michele R May 17, 2021
I did more than one activity. I went for Kilimanjaro climb, Safari,snorkeling ,Beach on Zanzibar and spices tour.they we’re all well organized
Riomkn1943 February 19, 2022
Swahili cooking experience: – Hamza and Mariam took us to the market to collect the ingredients.
We choose and collect fresh vegetables this was a great experience. At Marium house in the middle of… read more Stone town, we cooked varieties of dishes including pilau, fish curry, chapati, and coconut ripe plantain with different spices. The food was very delicious and healthy and it was a great experience.
Bassti1902 February 24, 2020
This class was such a delight in so many ways. Hamza met us at the hotel and took us to the local market with Miriam to buy all the… read more ingredients for the meals. We were given a myriad of choices on what we wanted to cook that day. Miriam is such a is such a joy to spend time with and she hand Hamza not only explained the recipes and how to cook, but also gave us historical and cultural perspective on food, Stonetown, and anything else we wanted to ask about regarding their experiences in Zanzibar. We chose pumpkin soup, rice pilau, chicken curry, and coconut/cinnamon/cardamom/banana dessert. It was one of the best meals we ate in Zanzibar. Looking forward to receiving the recipes to try to recreate the island at home. It was all so much fun and so delicious all rolled up into one authentic and perfect experience. We also went to Miriam’s Baboo Beach Cafe for dinner that night. We would highly recommend you put this on your Zanzibar list of things to do!
katierA2557SH December 17, 2022
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
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
What an enjoyable and informative experience! It far surpassed my expectations, providing a fun interactive guide and loads of Zanzibarian spices to learn about. Not only was I able to… read more see the numberous spices, but I was able to taste them as well! Not to mention the bountiful fruit that was served at the end. This is definatly a must go to tour, if you’re in the area or not. Make your way over to this little slice of Zanzibar culture.
allysonbeb May 1, 2021
I wish I can check more than one activity because Hamza was our go-to for all things while we were in Zanzibar. From the great Stone Town tour walking, to… read more the Sandbank and Prison Island Tour, and much more. He was always timely, super knowledgeable, very professional and made our trip fun! We can’t wait to be back and explore mainland activities. Thank you so much, Hamza!!
Savichach5 May 6, 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.