Zanzibar and East Africa coast area?

[jbudgie]

Anyone been to Zanzibar,Mombassa or Dar es salaam--good idea for a holiday destination or not?

What are prices like ---hotels,food etc?

Any reccomendations ?

[oyster]

Zanzibar is ok. Not as exotic as you might imagine, but the diving is very good and the weather during the right season is beautiful.

There aren't many beaches on Zanzibar either and swimming can be restricted to mid-tide at many resorts.

Dar es Salaam is just a big bustling African city with a lot of Omani heritage - great for a bit of culture.

Can't help with Mombasa, but I hear it's a bit of a crime-pit.

[Rapid rental]

Dont bother with Mombassa, its crime ridden and only beaten by Nairobi which is even worse, we felt like we were holidaying at Rorkes drift when we went.

[jbudgie]

Thanks guys.

[JimboM3]

I spent my Gap year (10 years ago yikes!) in the south of Tanzania. I went back last summer to the village lived in and stayed at the hotel that is part of the charity project I worked with.

http://www.mikindani.com/

Had an excellent time and worth a visit if you are there long enough to justify the internal flight to the south of the country.

Zanzibar is OK, the night food market is fun (if crowded) and the spice tours are worth a go.

Dar is a place to stay whilst going somewhere else and thats the only good thing I can think of about the place!

[soprano]

Mombasa is supposed to be nice - contrary to what is said above, have driven through but not stopped there myself so can't really comment. Dar is pleasant enough but not a great deal to do there.

What do you want from your holiday? Beaches? Wildlife? Diving? Hiking?

[Fezant Pluckah]

I have a mate who runs the Rising Sun Dive Centre at The Breezes Beahc Club in Zanzibar, if that's of any help? I may be able to strike you a deal

[v15ben]

I really liked Zanzibar, some good beaches and reasonably quiet when I went in 2005. Diving and snorkelling are good and it's reasonably decent value.

[madbadger]

v15ben said:

I really liked Zanzibar, some good beaches and reasonably quiet when I went in 2005. Diving and snorkelling are good and it's reasonably decent value.

I went in 97 and you could get lunch for 12p!

[v15ben]

You certainly couldn't in 2005
Having said that we stayed in a village just outside Arusha for 5 weeks and we could buy rounds for five people for about 50p

[havoc]

We're off there in October (4 days in the north of the island after a safari). What sort of living costs (food and drink) should we be budgeting for?

And where is there good snorkelling (not diving - not got my PADI and not overly confident in deep water)?

[v15ben]

Prison Island or the island off Paje Beach (name escapes me) are both good snorkelling spots. I'm not too good in the deep water and I enjoyed both of those!

[tango2]

Pemba, north of Zanzibar's said to be extremely nice.

We stayed South, on the Mafia Archipelago - on Chole Island, then Mafia Island - fabulous places, great beaches and sandbanks, great food and accomodation. A little more remote, and not with any bustling nightlife - just open bars in the lodges.