5 Days Zanzibar Experience

Upon completion of your climb or safari board your island-bound flight from either the Kilimanjaro or Arusha Airport. On arrival, you will be met for the 1-hour transfer by private van across the island, through sleepy tropical villages, to the far coast. On Zanzibar’s east coast, the Shooting Star Lodge is a relaxed and intimate resort nestled on a headland amidst lush tropical gardens with panoramic views across the Indian Ocean. Each sea view cottage has its own veranda overlooking the ocean. The restaurant maintains a longstanding reputation for fine food, a cozy, intimate atmosphere and warm friendly service. The Tanzanian chef specializes in seafood, grills and traditional Zanzibari cuisine, as well as a fine selection of vegetarian dishes. A variety of beach and water activities can be arranged, or just relax in the salt water infinity pool located on the cliff some ten meters above the beach. Shooting Star is a perfect destination for guests looking for peace, tranquility, and relaxation in a tropical paradise.

Day at your leisure at Shooting Star. Overnight: Shooting Star Lodge Meals: B, D

Breakfast and relaxing morning at the beach before transfer to Stone Town. Lunch at your leisure followed by an afternoon private guided Stone Town Walking Tour. Stone Town is rich with the history, culture, and architecture of the diverse peoples that have called the island home. A walking tour is the only way to truly experience this ancient city, which exists today much as it did when Zanzibar was a great trading center known the world over for spices, ivory, and slaves. The two and a half hour tour takes you through the streets and back alleys to Stone Town’s famous and infamous spots, including the location of the slave market, Sultans’ palaces, Beit el Ajaib (House of Wonders), the old Arab Fort, artists’ studios, and museums. Feel the rhythm of life in the main marketplace, alive with the chatter of locals bargaining in Swahili and the vibrant palette of colors from the fabrics, tropical fruits, spices, and intricately carved wooden handicrafts. The Zanzibar Coffee House provides a touch of magic and romance in the heart of Stone Town. The hotel is an exquisitely transformed mansion, originally built in 1885 in authentic Arab style by the Wazir to Sultan Said Bargash, containing harmonious interiors, antique furniture, rich fabrics and traditional Zanzibar four-poster beds. The day begins in the tower top teahouse for breakfast with fresh coffee and homebaked goods from the hotel’s cafe. At the end of the day, as you relax with the sunset and gaze across the minarets, there’s a feeling of timelessness that conjures up a bygone era. Overnight: Zanzibar Coffee House Meals: B

Day at your leisure to explore Stone Town until transfer to the Zanzibar airport for your short hop (20 minutes) flight to Dar es Salaam, where you can board your international flight home. Meals: B