Hi. I'll be in Tanzania for a month in December, with maybe 10-14 days diving, lying on the beach and generally lazing about around Zanzibar at the end.
I'm a backpacker, so looking for advice from like-minded travellers (hint: I'm a New Zealander who loved Thailand) about the best dive spots, and the best place to relax with a few other yound backpackers before I head back to London. I'm more about the company than the quality of amenities, so perfectly happy to sleep in a one-room hut to save some money.
Help me out guys. Cheers, Scott
2006-10-29 20:07:31 · 4 answers · asked by Scott C 1 in Travel ➔ Africa & Middle East ➔ Other - Africa & Middle East
good luck, happy trip
2006-10-29 20:10:43 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, if you plan to backpack make sure you have some company with you, at least a fellow backpacker coz it gets kind of lonely sometimes without someone of like mindedness. There is a lot of advice you can get from websites on tourist attractions in Tanzania and how to manouveor your way around.
www.tanzaniatouristboard.com
www.discovertanzania.org
take the following pointers,
1. There are modest place that you can stay in when you get to Dar es salaam try Landmark Hotel ($50-$75 outskirts of dar and very safe) it has its smaller lodgings for $20 called Pattaya Inns very clean and safe There are other places that you could get a room at $30 Deluxe hotel, Sleep Inn, Lion Hotel (all in Sinza area)
2.When in Zanzibar, try out Paradise inn its around $25 and very convinient when it comes to getting around town
3. Dive sites are available on the tourist board website
4. You can get maps of dar es salaam, Arusha and Zanzibar and if you get lost and need assistance alot of the people around you will help you. Do not be surprised if a parent asks his son/daugthter to take you all the way to the place, thats how we are. Alot of people will do anything to help you get where you want to go. If you find their directions confusing go into the nearest store and ask for directions or household.
5. Taxi drivers are the best but you should be weary of the, some claim they know the city well which is not always true. A reasonable fare around DSM would be $5-$10, you normally pay that for a one way trip.
5. Buses are all over the cities and all have name tags of the directions that they go and back. The fare is 25 cents per trip which is fairly cheap try this means of transport you will get to know the city faster, both in Zanzibar and Arusha. Normally conductors call out the stops so you should make sure you know your stop.
6. Most stuff are sold at 'tourist' prices always bargain at least 40% lower and you will get the item.
Make sure you know how to count in Kiswahili that would be an added advantage.
2006-10-30 14:02:05 · answer #2 · answered by Mwajuma 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there are sharks in those waters the beaches at zanibar are on one side of the island from stonetown the waters go out at low tide for a mile from shore not a great place top swim all day.the beach is wide and lots of horsebacking and windcar surfing on the beach ,i didnt see bqck baqckers there its a resort type place in stone town there are lowly cheap places to stay if you arent worried about your safety in dar es the capital the beach is north of the town you can hang out on the beach there to relax only peopel you will see are some peddlers and groups of locals picinicing
2006-10-30 00:26:23 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the best places to dive are in pemba island not so much Zanzibar. and the dive centers in Zanzibar, are adjacent to big hotels or in stone town. so it is not very easy. you'r asking much
2006-10-30 00:54:55 · answer #4 · answered by zilber 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋