Travelogue Tanzania 2009
Programme Day 13 – Zanzibar

For the next day we had booked a snorkeling tour. We booked directly through the hotel, which was the cheapest price we got.

Zanzibar - a crab digging its cave in the light sand
crab or mole?

After boarding it took quite a while till our tour started but it was a very nice old wooden boat.

Zanzibar - traditional fishing boat
Zanzibar - View over the bow of the traditional fishing boat to the sea

On the way to the reef we went by motor but on the way back we sailed. The reef was on the other side of the south end of Zanzibar, close to a protected area with some little islands.

Zanzibar - eine kleine Insel in einem Naturschutzgebiet mit Riffen zum Schnorcheln
our snorkeling paradise

The water was almost tub warm and we snorkeled for at least one hour. It was wonderful, the best snorkeling I had in a long time. Lots of fish and a water depth between one and five meters.

When everybody had returned to the boat we sailed back to the shore of Zanzibar at a lonely sand beach where the crew prepared tasty food including a wonderfully spiced grilled tuna.

Zanzibar - white, endless sand beach
What a beach!
Zanzibar - a small pavilion with a thatched roof for picnics in the shade
snorkel tour picnic pavilion
Zanzibar - picnic buffet at the snorkeling excursion
snorkel tour picnic

Initially I thought that we would go snorkeling again after lunch but we went back directly. I was a bit disappointed but on the other hand I already had burnt my legs from the sun. One hour more and I could not have sit nor lied for a week 😉

Zanzibar - The sails of the traditional fishing boat are hoisted.
And with sails we go back.
Zanzibar - locals fishing in the turquoise blue water
locals fishing

In the evening I fished calamari again and they were then cooked for us. They tasted grate though the hotel owner had picked a recipe with many spices for us which masked the wonderful taste of the fresh calamari.

next travelogue