A popular and affordable leisure getaway
ZANZIBAR has become
an overwhelmingly
popular destination
for South African travellers
since the introduction
of LCC flights last year,
according to travel agents
and tour operators.
Alexis Bekker, who is
responsible for sales and
marketing for the Emerald
Collection, says Zanzibar
has seen a continuous
flow of new and first-time
travellers to the island,
and believes the market is
still growing.
Zanzibar’s affordability is
also a major draw card for
South Africans. Margaret
Park, senior product
manager of The Holiday
Factory, has noted a great
interest from more budgetconscious
travellers. “It
is easily accessible, the
airlift is now stable, SA
passport holders no longer
require a visa and most
resorts offer all-inclusive
options, which makes for
an affordable holiday.”
“I think Zanzibar has
some of the best-priced
fully inclusive packages
out there, with great valuefor-money
four- and five-star
resorts,” comments Juan
Nel, marketing manager of
AfricaStay. “It’s also only
a three-and-half-hour flight
away, so shorter stays are
possible for clients who do
not have time to go on long
holidays.”
Mango reports that the
route has been a great
success. Spokesperson
Hein Kaiser, says: “As
our first international
destination, Zanzibar has
proved to be a gem. It is
a very popular destination
and we have seen
substantial growth since
the launch of our service
between Johannesburg and
Zanzibar. In fact, South
Africans now constitute
approximately 10% of all
inbound tourism to the
island.”
The destination appeals
to a wide range of age
groups. Says Juan:
“Zanzibar offers smaller
bed and breakfast facilities
that are ideal for groups of
students and has fantastic
honeymoon offers for
newlyweds. There are also
good family specials at the
hotels where kids either
stay free or at very reduced
costs. Zanzibar is also a
good add-on to migration
safaris, which normally
attract older clients. So
the demographic mix is
anything between 18 and
60 years.”
Alexis believes the
destination has begun to
distinguish itself as an
adventure hotspot. “South
Africans are adventure
seekers, so the water
sports are always a firm
favourite. They like a good
combination of beach and
relaxation with a few days
of adventure and exploring.”
The cultural aspect of
the island also appeals to
South African travellers.
Chantelle Brown, Holiday
Tours product manager for
the Indian Ocean Islands,
says visitors increasingly
want to experience
authenticity. “In our mission
to bring back the real
Zanzibar we have shifted
our focus away from only
direct flights and more
towards making the journey
part of the experience. We
have a great partnership
with fastjet, which offers
flights into Dar es Salaam,
and we are then marrying
those with a ferry onwards
to Zanzibar,” she says.
Johann Strydom, md of
World Leisure Holidays,
says: “Zanzibar is the spice
island. People go to the
plantations and they love
to visit the historical Stone
Town, still full of colonial
influences – but ultimately
it is a beach destination.”
With no visa requirements,
affordable flights and
proximity to South Africa,
there seem to be no
obstacles for travel to the
island. Alexis says the
only concerns at present
are the malaria threat and
need for inoculation against
yellow fever, the latter being
a particular deterrent.
“There has not been a
case of the illness in years,
however South Africa still
requests that all travellers
to Zanzibar require the
vaccination, and this is an
issue. We’d like to see the
requirement revisited and
hopefully dropped,” she
says.
Angela Wood, marketing
manager of Cullinan
Outbound Tourism, agrees,
saying malaria and yellow
fever requirements have
impacted on the popularity
of the destination for
families. “Although we
do see families travelling,
it is not quite as popular
with this market. Although
malaria has been
eradicated here to a large
extent, precautions are
still advised.”
Did you know?
The Holiday Factory has
launched a new hotel in
Zanzibar – a four-star Indigo
Beach Zanzibar on Bwejuu
Beach on the east coast.
The opening special includes
discounted rates and a
complimentary upgrade to
half board from September 1
to December 23. The resort
also offers full board and
all-inclusive options. Prices
start from R12 310pp for
seven nights in an ocean-front
bungalow – valid September 1
to October 31.
Book it
The Holiday Factory is offering a
seven-night Hideaway of Nungwi
special from R25 100pps. The rate
includes return flights on Mango,
all airport taxes and levies, return
transfers and accommodation in
a junior suite on an all-inclusive
basis. This special is valid from
October 15 to December 5.
Three great conference options
1. Hideaway of nungwi
As part of the luxury Emerald
Collection, Hideaway of
Nungwi Resort & Spa offers
oceanfront settings. On
the north-west coast of the
island, Nungwi is considered
to be the most beautiful
beach in Zanzibar, where
the absence of strong tides
guarantees the pleasures of
swimming and snorkelling.
The Conference Room
at Hideaway of Nungwi
Resort & Spa is used for
business groups. There are
two executive boardrooms,
ideal for business meetings,
training sessions or small
private gatherings of 10-16
people. The hotel also has
a ballroom, which is ideal
for every kind of event
and accommodates up to
140 seats.
2.Sandi Mapenzi Beach club
Set on the east coast of
Zanzibar on the Kiwengwa
shoreline, Sandies Mapenzi
Beach Club blends into the
surrounding landscape.
The resort provides a
conference room with a
capacity for small meetings
of 20 people. Up to 100
people can be hosted in a
theatre style set-up at the
hotel amphitheatre. Audio
and video equipment are
available.
After a day’s meeting,
guests can enjoy the
relaxed atmosphere of
the resort or participate
in activities offered by
the animation team and
the water sports centre.
There are excursions to
book, such as a snorkelling
excursion to the protected
marine area of Mnemba
Island. An entertainment
programme with shows and
theme nights can be built
into any conference
or meeting.
3. Zanzibar Serena Hotel
Situated on the seafront
of ancient Stone Town, the
Zanzibar Serena Hotel is
a haven of tranquility. A
member of the prestigious
Small Luxury Hotels of the
World, the hotel has been
decorated in Swahili style
and ethnic elegance.
Its conference suite can
accommodate up to 40
participants in a range of
different layouts. It offers
all the latest technologies
as well as modern,
modular events furniture,
which can be tailored to
specifications.
Some good culture options
Although beach, sun and
relaxation remain the major
draw cards for Zanzibar,
South African travellers are
discovering the appeal of the
island’s cultural heritage.
“More travellers are looking
for an experiential holiday
and want to learn more
about the destination and
culture. They are keen on
inter-acting with the locals
and learning more about
their way of life,” says
Cullinan Outbound Tourism’s
Angela Wood.
According to Chantelle
Browne of Holiday Tours, the
type of traveller to Zanzibar
has changed somewhat.
She says: “More people are
going to Zanzibar to see the
sights and sounds of the
island, not just to stay within
the resorts for their entire
holiday.”
Juan Nel of AfricaStay,
has also seen an increased
demand for cultural
excursions. He notes clients
like to throw in a day or two
of activities to experience
the island’s culture.
1. Stone Town
Tours of Stone Town have
increased in popularity
with South African travellers,
allowing them to get in touch
with the ‘authentic’ Zanzibar
says Juan.
A Stone Town tour, he
says, takes travellers to
the historical town, which
is a Unesco site, where
travellers can experience
history and culture and see
the world-famous Zanzibar
wooden doors. Travellers
experience the bustling
bazaars, mosques and
the remains of grand Arab
palaces. They also visit
the House of Wonders, the
former slave market for East
African Slave trade and the
Arab Fort.
2. Spice Tour
The Spice Tour is a hit with
South African travellers,
too. Juan says: “Tropical
fruits, spices and other
rare species of plants
are among the different
vegetation to be seen on
this guided tour.”
Travellers see how the
spices, herbs and fruits are
cultivated. They smell and
taste cloves, lemongrass,
nutmeg, cinnamon,
turmeric, vanilla, coconuts,
papaya, chilli, black pepper,
jackfruit, cardamom,
cassava and oranges.
3. Safaari Blue
For those who would like
to explore the islands’
marine life, Juan suggests
the Safari Blue Tour, which
takes travellers to the
fishing village of Fumba for
a day of adventure among
the dolphins, sandbanks
and coral reefs of the Menai
Bay conservation area.
Menai Bay has
been designated as a
conservation area since
1998 thanks to its
natural beauty. The bay
has a number of pristine
sandbanks, naturally carved
by the sea, wind and waves.
