Discover the secret of Swahili dishes with a mixture of oriental influences and the role of spices that grow in Zanzibar. The tour begins with a visit to the market to buy the ingredients, then, under the guidance of an experienced Zanzibar chef, we prepare the various dishes. The chef will lead you to use the ingredients and the spices, and what the cultural or regional specifics of the dishes are. When the food is ready you will enjoy your dishes together with your chef and discussing your day and the merits of the Swahili foods.
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
Hamza was our go-to guy on Zanzibar. He was super professional and helped us organize all our activities including transfers, fishing trip and spice tour. The spice tour was especially… read more memorable and Hamza is a very knowledgeable and good guide! We learned a lot about the various spices on Zanzibar. He went out of his way to make sure our trip was fantastic and he succeeded so many many thanks to Hamza. Highly recommend!
alexander1990S January 7, 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.
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
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
Nature Lovers Forest Excursion – Halisi Africa Tours is the best company I have found on the island of Zanzibar. We visited Jozani Forest and mangrove with our guide Hamza for a half day… read more tour and loved it. The company goes beyond normal tour agencies and makes you feel like family. We loved seeing the Red Colobus monkeys, walking through the beautiful forests of mahogany, strangler fig, and Eucalyptus and dropping early seedlings into the mangrove. Highly recommend this lovely visit with Halisi Tours!
Michele R February 18, 2021
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
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.