Makunduchi Swahili Culture Tour
Take a tour outside the ordinary tourist routes on Zanzibar and learn more about genuine Swahili culture. Makunduchi is a vibrant and lush village, alive with history, culture and art. See classical Swahili handicrafts and experience a unique and authentic African way of life. Some activities of the tour are presented below, but there are more exciting happenings during the Swahili Culture Tour.
LOCAL DOCTOR
The practice of traditional medicine in Mzuri Kaja village is very ancient and deep rooted. People from neighboring villages and as far as from mainland frequently flock to the village to get their unknown diseases given known cure. To know whether a person is possessed by spirit or not - Mr Mussa lets a person sniff his medicinal horn.
A visit to his residence not only opens a door into a mysterious world of herbs and roots but offers an opportunity to see how African medicines work better in some areas where Western medicine has failed to provide solutions.
The practice of traditional medicine in Mzuri Kaja village is very ancient and deep rooted. People from neighboring villages and as far as from mainland frequently flock to the village to get their unknown diseases given known cure. To know whether a person is possessed by spirit or not - Mr Mussa lets a person sniff his medicinal horn.
A visit to his residence not only opens a door into a mysterious world of herbs and roots but offers an opportunity to see how African medicines work better in some areas where Western medicine has failed to provide solutions.
SWAHILI HOUSE
A typical Swahili house is architecturally simple but it occupies a central part in Swahili culture. It is build with mud and makuti-roofed. Swahili people call it 'nyumba ya udongo' (a mud house) or 'nyumba ya makuti' (a coconut palm thatched roof house). The simplicity of the house is well explained in one of the Swahli sayings: "Nyumba ya udongo haihimili vishindo' which literally means a mud house doesn't resist throbs. However, in reality it can last for more than 10 years.
A typical Swahili house is architecturally simple but it occupies a central part in Swahili culture. It is build with mud and makuti-roofed. Swahili people call it 'nyumba ya udongo' (a mud house) or 'nyumba ya makuti' (a coconut palm thatched roof house). The simplicity of the house is well explained in one of the Swahli sayings: "Nyumba ya udongo haihimili vishindo' which literally means a mud house doesn't resist throbs. However, in reality it can last for more than 10 years.
KANGA SHOW
Kanga is a cloth worn by women in different styles carrying messages ranging from inviting men to bed to demonstrating one's modesty. Many Kanga styles are given Swahili names, including Ushungi, Kibwebwe, Miyabe and Kanga Kifua. The most popular style is Ushungi. As Ushungi is associated with modesty, women rarely go out into the public without it. Kibwebwe is another common style of wearing Kanga in Zanzibar. A woman is said to put on Kibebwe when she rolls the Kanga and wraps it around her bottom making it appear bigger.
Kanga is a cloth worn by women in different styles carrying messages ranging from inviting men to bed to demonstrating one's modesty. Many Kanga styles are given Swahili names, including Ushungi, Kibwebwe, Miyabe and Kanga Kifua. The most popular style is Ushungi. As Ushungi is associated with modesty, women rarely go out into the public without it. Kibwebwe is another common style of wearing Kanga in Zanzibar. A woman is said to put on Kibebwe when she rolls the Kanga and wraps it around her bottom making it appear bigger.
Makunduchi Lighthouse
Enjoy a sunrise or sunset from the top of the old lighthouse in Makunduchi.
The options to get there are manyfold, depending on where you are! We are leaving whenever you want and with the means you wish, either daladala, private hire or rented car. We also can walk along the beach where I can tell you more about the local "coconut banks" in the water!
The options to get there are manyfold, depending on where you are! We are leaving whenever you want and with the means you wish, either daladala, private hire or rented car. We also can walk along the beach where I can tell you more about the local "coconut banks" in the water!
Fishing tour on a Dhow
The fishermen in Makunduchi go out every day to catch fish and you can join them. We go out with high tide and stay as long as we need to catch something - sometimes up to 3 hours. Refreshments and water are provided on the trip.
Snorkeling Makunduchi Reef on a Dhow
We leave with the high tide and sail out to the reef. it takes about 30 min to reach the reef. We might even see dolphins on the way. We stay at the reef for about 2 hours, unless you want to stay shorter/longer - it's all up to you!
Blue Safari
If you love sun, snorkeling, sandbanks and sea-food you will not regret to join me for this full-day journey to the Menai Bay Conservation area.
In the morning we set down on one of the beautiful sandbanks where one can relax, swim or snorkel. After snorkeling we go to Kwale Island where we have our restaurant. The lunch includes fish, slipper lobster, calamari, rice and sauces all served hot from the grill. The crew also prepares and present a gastronomic fruits tasting with a large selection of delicious tropical fruits, ice cold sodas and mineral water. More relaxation and/or swimming, snorkeling, whatever you fancy. When the tide permits we explore the natural lagoon found on Kwale Island. The lagoon is surrounded by a mangrove forest and you might be able to swim in the lagoon for an unforgettable experience.
In the morning we set down on one of the beautiful sandbanks where one can relax, swim or snorkel. After snorkeling we go to Kwale Island where we have our restaurant. The lunch includes fish, slipper lobster, calamari, rice and sauces all served hot from the grill. The crew also prepares and present a gastronomic fruits tasting with a large selection of delicious tropical fruits, ice cold sodas and mineral water. More relaxation and/or swimming, snorkeling, whatever you fancy. When the tide permits we explore the natural lagoon found on Kwale Island. The lagoon is surrounded by a mangrove forest and you might be able to swim in the lagoon for an unforgettable experience.
City Tour/Stone Town
Let me lead you through the maze of Stone Town and show you the hidden treasures, such as amazing Zanzibar Doors, the Thermal Bath, a Hindu Temple and many more beautiful sights like the Old Fort, the former Slave Market or the House of Wonders. The tour takes about 1.5 hours.
Jozani National Park
The endemic Red Colobus monkey made Jozani National Park famous, yet there is so much more to see in the park - we walk through a dense tropical forest to see from Skye monkeys, Duikers, Genets, to Bush Babies, lots of butterflies and birds to the mangrove forest which forms one border to the park.
We are leaving whenever you want and with the means you wish, either daladala, private hire or rented car. The tour itself takes about 2 hours.
We are leaving whenever you want and with the means you wish, either daladala, private hire or rented car. The tour itself takes about 2 hours.
Butterfly Center
The butterfly centre is near Jozani National Park and can ideally visited together. It is an interactive exhibition. As one of Africa's largest butterfly exhibits it consists of a netted tropical garden with usually hundreds of butterflies, all native to Zanzibar - a life display of local butterflies to support local community projects! And on top of all that - a gem for photographers!
I love to combine the Park with the Center, but you as customer will decide!
I love to combine the Park with the Center, but you as customer will decide!
Spice Tour
This is one of my favourites! The place is about 30 min drive from Stone Town - it's a small farm and the food is the best!
We are leaving whenever you want and with the means you wish, either daladala, private hire or rented car. The tour itself takes about 1,5 hours and then you get a nice meal with lots of ingredients from the farm.
We are leaving whenever you want and with the means you wish, either daladala, private hire or rented car. The tour itself takes about 1,5 hours and then you get a nice meal with lots of ingredients from the farm.
Prison Island
Prison Island is a 30 min cruise on a dhow from Stone Town, also known as Chumbe Island, famous for its (never used) prison and the giant tortoises which were given as a present from the government of Seychelles.
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