swahili coast safari with private guide

Transcription

1 Matemwe - Zanzibar DAY BY DAY ITINERARY swahili coast safari with private guide info@deeperafrica.com OVERVIEW: MATEMWE - ZANZIBAR Zanzibar is an exotic mix of tropical beaches and unique culture. Stone Town s harbor bustles with yachts, ocean going vessels, and sailing dhows. In ancient times, intrepid mariners came from the farthest reaches of the Indian Ocean into this harbor. They came for island spices and exotic treasures from the heart of the African continent. Those who stayed brought languages, ideas, and lore from all across the world, blending into the culture of Swahili. This journey begins on the beaches of Matemwe, on the northeast shore of the island, allowing you to ease into the rhythm of island life, where you plan your day around the tides. Matemwe beaches have white sand, great snorkeling at the nearby Mnemba Atoll, and a close relationship with their neighboring fishing village. After you ve enjoyed Zanzibar s beaches you ll explore the twisting streets and bustling bazaars of the ancient trading city of Stone Town. Swahili Coast Safaris with Deeper Africa Our Swahili Coast adventures get you off the beaten path and onto the secluded, beautiful beaches of the tropical Indian Ocean. Warm breezes, warm water, and warm Swahili people will be there to welcome you. Explore Swahili culture as you navigate narrow, winding streets in town, indulge your senses at exotic spice farms, or sail in traditional dhows that local fisherman have used for centuries. Dive or snorkel in crystalline waters or experience indigenous Swahili fishing practices and see master artisans at work.

2 DAY 1 MATEMWE LODGE ZANZIBAR Arrive at the Zanzibar airport. A Deeper Africa guide will be waiting for you. After you clear customs, look for him holding a sign with your name on it. He will transport you to the northwest shore of the island, to the beautiful white sand beaches at Matemwe Lodge and its neighbor, the fishing village of Kigomani. Ease into the rhythm of relaxed island life, planning your day around the tides At Matemwe, your secluded beach bungalow opens onto the ocean so you awaken to the sounds of crashing waves on the shore. The menus feature dishes and cuisine influenced by local products and spices. You can enjoy traditional Zanzibari coffee and tea each evening, along with Swahili lessons. Swahili dinners are held every Sunday evening with traditional food and the village band is the featured entertainment. Wearing kanga, a colorful traditional garment, is highly encouraged. Alcohol & Beverages Swimming Pool Laundry Settle in to island life with a walk along the sandy shore or a dip in the ocean. To begin your adventure with some ultimate relaxation, Matemwe spa offers massage, facial, manicure, and even henna tattoos.

3 DAY 2 MATEMWE LODGE ZANZIBAR Spend your time unwinding with some of Matemwe s many water activities. For those who have an appreciation of marine life, Zanzibar does not disappoint. While at Matemwe, you can reef walk through the shallow lagoon up to the fringing reef during low tide to see octopus, sea stars, and sea cucumbers. Go snorkeling in the Mnemba Atoll to view angel fish, butterfly fish, moorish idols, lion fish, trumpet fish, eels, and more. If you are very lucky, you might encounter a pod of bottlenose dolphins. Zanzibar boasts 150 species of coral and some of the best snorkeling and diving off the Swahili Coast. For those who want to dive a little deeper, scuba is also available. Kayaks are also available. Take a scenic kayak trip along the reef to admire the gorgeous Indian Ocean coastlines to the west and the azure waters stretching out across the horizon to the east. Alcohol & Beverages Swimming Pool Laundry LEGENDS OF LAMU - SWAHILI COAST

4 DAY 3 MATEMWE LODGE ZANZIBAR The best way to view Zanzibar s tropical sunset is from the deck of the sailing dhow. You ll cruise past the lighthouse and the fishing fleets. Watch the horizon light up in vivid pinks, oranges, and purples as you sip a sundowner cocktail. Dhow boat design has changed very little over the centuries. The dhows signature feature is a single triangular sail made from heavy canvas. These sails, called lateen sails, date to the 2nd century and are said to have originated in ancient Egypt. The sail, its free corner secured near the stern, is capable of taking the wind on either side, enabling the vessel to tack into the wind. It was the mythical Sinbad s sail of choice. Alcohol & Beverages Swimming Pool Laundry

5 DAY 4 MATEMWE LODGE ZANZIBAR Matemwe has a close relationship with its neighbor, the Kigomani fishing village. It s easy for you to explore Swahili culture and interact with local people. On a visit to Kigomani village you can stop by the local fish market, visit the school, and meet a village family to learn more about the intricacies of daily life on the island. You can go out with village fisherman on a traditional Ngalawa to experience Swahili sailing with the fees for your adventure going directly to the fisherman and the local school. Ngalawa s are made from the trunk of a mango tree. A Matemwe staff member accompanies to assist with translation. The Ngalawa sails for about two hours up and down the coastline, staying close to shore on the inside of the fringing reef. You can also try your luck fishing on one of the larger dhow village fishing boats. No expensive state of the art equipment is used, just traditional fishing line, hooks, and nets. This fishing excursion can last up to five hours because of fluctuating tides, as well as the larger distances covered to access the deeper fishing waters towards Mnemba Island. Again, the fees go to the local owner of the boat and a Matemwe staff member accompanies to assist with translations. Alcohol & Beverages Swimming Pool Laundry Manda Bay LEGENDS OF LAMU - SWAHILI COAST

6 DAY 5 MATEMWE LODGE ZANZIBAR Matemwe is on the leading edge of conservation stewardship. The lodge itself features environmentally friendly design. Candles and paraffin lamps are used for lighting in the evening rather than electricity. Solar panels are relied upon for essential electricity. Lodge operations are focused on reducing, reusing, and recycling waste to lessen impacts on the environment. The lodge has an impressive recycling program. Plastic is avoided as much as possible with flasks filled with drinking water, both in the rooms and the restaurant. Organic waste is composted and used in the gardens. Matemwe also sponsors a turtle conservation project, which protects endangered green sea turtles on Muyuni Beach, which is about 25 minutes north of Matemwe. The lodge employs a local villager to guard the turtle eggs, take a census of the hatched baby turtles, and make sure the baby turtles return safely to the sea. The egg locations are secret, known only to the turtle watcher and the Matemwe managers. There are currently between 200 and 250 eggs that have been buried. Hatching season is between August and September and guests traveling during these two months may have the chance to watch the new hatchlings make their way to the waters of the Indian Ocean. Alcohol & Beverages Swimming Pool Laundry

7 DAY 6 KISIWA HOUSE ZANZIBAR Your Deeper Africa guide will pick you up after lunch and get your luggage loaded in our transport van. You ll be visiting the Kaldichi Spice Farms this afternoon. Here farmers produce cloves, star fruit, cinnamon, lemon grass, tangerines, pepper, cardamom, nutmeg, mangosteen, vanilla, and paprika. As you walk through the farms, you ll savor the fresh aromas and vibrant colors of classic spices and fruits you know and love. You might even make some new discoveries. In Zanzibar, spices are just as important to the economy and the culture today as they were a thousand years ago. After you leave the spice farm, we ll take you up to see the ruins at the Kidichi Persian Baths. Tonight you ll be staying in Stone Town, an ancient city with narrow streets just wide enough for a donkey cart or two. Kisiwa House is a beautifully restored Swahili house with gracious hospitality. After you settle in, you ll be guided through Stone Town s maze of streets, to climb up to the beautiful roof top deck at Maru Maru. View the old city under the sunset and enjoy a cool drink. UNESCO includes Stone Town on its list of 100 most important towns and cities in the world, an important example of cultural fusion and harmonization. LEGENDS OF LAMU - SWAHILI COAST

8 DAY 7 KISIWA HOUSE ZANZIBAR Kisiwa House You ll be picked up at 8:30 am for a morning walking tour of Stone Town. Stone Town is a magical labyrinth of narrow twisting streets and bustling bazaars. Bazaar stalls and street vendors can be found in all but the quietest spots. There are fresh vegetables for sale, baskets of tropical fruits, and an amazing seafood market with some exotic catches. The houses are whitewashed stucco rising up unevenly three to four stories above the street. Lights and shadows dance across the alleys. Its unique architecture includes brass studded and carved wooden doors. Ornately carved doors belong to an ancient tradition originating from the countries of the Persian Gulf. Oral tradition tells us that the custom in Stone Town was to carve, then erect, the frame of the door before building the walls around it. Explorer Richard Burton commented in 1857: [T]he higher the tenement, the bigger the gateway, the heavier the padlock and the huger the iron studs that nail the door to the heavy timber, the greater is the owner s dignity. During your walking tour of Stone Town you ll visit the Anglican Cathedral built in 1874 on the site of the former slave market. Slavery was abolished in 1873 by decree of the Sultan of Zanzibar. The somber Slavery Monument stands outside. You ll be able to visit the palace of the Sultan of Zanzibar, Tippu Tip s House (an infamous slave trader), the Old Fort, the House of Wonders, and the home of David Livingstone.

9 DAY 8 KISIWA HOUSE ZANZIBAR You ll have the morning to freely wander the maze of streets and alleyways in Stone Town. Stone Town s architecture is a blend of the Arab, Indian, European, and African influences on the island. Arab traders came to Zanzibar in the 8th century. For centuries, the Arabs sailed with the monsoon winds trading in ivory, spices, and slaves. The Portuguese established a permanent settlement on the site of Stone Town in the 16th century originally for provisioning and repairs on voyages to the Far East. The first English ships sailed into the harbor in Soon, more European ships were calling at Zanzibar on their way to and from the Indian subcontinent and islands of the East Indies. But, over time the Portuguese position began to weaken. In 1890 Zanzibar became a British protectorate. For lunch you ll be the guest of a local Stone Town family, for a traditional Zanzibari meal served Zanzibar style. At mid-afternoon your guide will join you to enjoy a traditional spiced coffee at the Zanzibar Coffee House in Stone Town. Stephanie Sales LEGENDS OF LAMU - SWAHILI COAST

10 DAY 9 INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT Enjoy breakfast on Kisiwa s rooftop terrace before transferring to Zanzibar s airport for your international departure home. Flight #1 Departs: Zanzibar, Tanzania Arrives TBD DAY 10 INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT Flight #2 Depart: TBD Arrives: TBD

11 ADDITIONAL SAFARI INFORMATION IN YOUR SAFARI Full board accommodations All meals as specified in itinerary All in-country transportation, including to and from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar 2018 pricing $3,699 - $4,299 Enrollment with Flying Doctors Evacuation Service Alcohol & beverages at some lodges Bottled or filtered water available at all times Extensive pre-departure briefing and materials including health information, reading list and map 2017 CUSTOM DEPARTURE DATES & PRICING June & November - December 19 Best Value $3,699 USD per person Single Supplement: $1,999-$2,149 USD EXCLUDED FROM YOUR SAFARI Gratuities Alcohol & beverages at some lodges Laundry Deeper Africa uses best efforts to provide the lodging set out in this itinerary, but occasionally there are circumstances that occur in Africa that require lodging substitutions. We reserve the right to make comparable lodging substitutions whenever necessary. July, September - October $3,999 USD per person Single Supplement: $999 USD January 6 - March, August, December 20-31, $4,299 USD per person Single Supplement: $1,199 USD Matemwe Beach is closed April - May. All pricing is in US dollars. All international arrivals and departures are through Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. All itineraries and prices are subject to change. Deeper Africa 5353 Manhattan Circle, Suite 202 Boulder, Colorado fx swahili coast