Zanzibar, a captivating island nestled off the coast of Tanzania, had long held a prominent spot on my bucket list. Although under the control of Tanzania, this island operates autonomously with its own president. Prior to my visit, I had encountered various opinions about this destination, and now I am eager to share my own perspective.
Flight and Journey
My mom and I embarked on our adventure from Warsaw, with layovers in Amsterdam and Nairobi before reaching Zanzibar via Kenya Airways. Unfortunately, the flight experience was nothing extraordinary, as economy class tends to be uncomfortable regardless of the airline. It seems that the quality of service and food has declined across airlines in recent years, unless you opt for business class.
Opting to book our hotel and flight separately, as we usually do, not only offers potential cost savings but also allows us to explore different areas. While our Zanzibar trip did not involve much exploration, we did have the opportunity to experience two distinct hotels located on Kendwa Beach: Riu Jambo and Gold Zanzibar. I’ll explain why we chose that later in the blog.
Arrival in Zanzibar
After getting off the plane, the arrival process was relatively quick. We were required to complete some forms for the border control and purchase a visa. Initially, the officials assisted us with the paperwork, and the queue was relatively short, resulting in a smooth process. Following the completion of the necessary forms, we proceeded to pay for the visa. Having read online that card payments were rarely accepted, we arrived prepared with cash. However, it turned out that this information was not entirely accurate, as the visa counters displayed Visa and Mastercard logos, indicating the option to pay by card. Although I haven’t experienced any problems with card machines in Zanzibar myself, I’ve heard stories of occasional malfunctions, so it’s a good idea to be prepared. The visa fee amounted to 50 USD (and it’s essential to note that payment must be made in U.S. dollars). However, it’s worth mentioning that visa fees may vary, with certain countries. For example, U.S. citizens usually pay $100. Additionally, it’s worth noting that purchasing the visa online is also an option; unfortunately, I missed the application deadline . I did hear, however, that some individuals encountered difficulties with the online application process, because the website wasn’t functioning properly.
After paying for our visas, we proceeded to passport control and subsequently collected our baggage.
Transfer to the Hotel
Our transfer arrangements were made through Zanzitaxi. As soon as we stepped out of the airport, we easily spotted a representative holding a sign with my name. The transfer vehicle, a private and comfortable air-conditioned van, was equipped with a screen that allowed us to enjoy African music videos that added to the atmosphere. The driver took us to Kendwa, our chosen destination. Despite the estimated travel time of over an hour, the driver’s speed ensured we arrived earlier. We passed through different villages with lush greenery, palm trees, and wandering cows—a true tropical experience, despite the rain making it less picturesque. The scenery reminded me of my previous trip to Uganda.
We chose Kendwa due to its reputation as the only beach location in Zanzibar without low tides, allowing for uninterrupted swimming all day. I’ll talk more about that in my next post.
Arrival at the hotel: Riu Jambo
When we arrived at the hotel, we were disappointed to see a large group of people crowding the lobby, which meant our chances of early check-in were slim. It seemed like a big tour group from Germany, and we were certain that we wouldn’t get a room until much later. We were indeed informed that our room was not yet prepared, and the hotel staff advised us to return at 3 PM.
Despite the rain, we used this time to explore the hotel, enjoying drinks and lunch. Around one o’clock, two hours before the official check-in time, we were pleasantly surprised to learn that our room was not only available but had also been upgraded to a room with front sea view. It had a breathtaking sea view, and was conveniently located near the pool and restaurant. Despite the rainy weather, our initial impression of the hotel was overwhelmingly positive. The hotel made a great first impression with its friendly staff, beautiful and clean facilities, and stunning views. It was a huge hotel with beautiful grounds. We were delighted with our experience so far. In my next posts, I’ll share more about the hotel and Kendwa Beach.
Anyah Mroz 