Zanzibar: Island living in Africa

Allie and Nelson enjoying the sunset on Thanksgiving Day.

Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous island off the coast of Tanzania. Even though it is a part of Tanzania, it felt a world away at times. Zanzibar is known for its white soft sand beaches and beautiful weather. We experienced so much more than a relaxing island visit. We truly felt like we were living with locals, trying new foods, 'embracing' the slow life, and the 'simplicity' of living on a somewhat under developed island. When we arrived in Stone Town, the island's capital city, we were greeted with a very touristy feel. However, after leaving the town and heading to Jambiani, a beach with a very local feel, we felt like we had made a great choice for a stay.  We were forced to slow down. Pole! Pole! As they say in Swahili. To give an idea of how 'remote' our paradise was, let's just say most businesses did not accept credit cards, and the nearest ATMs were 1.5 hrs away in Stone Town! The electricity and water worked when it wanted to, along with the wifi as well. These minor inconveniences were appreciated as we gained perspective.

We learned that the island depended on the tides. Jambiani's economy revolves around fishing and seaweed harvesting. With the tide changing drastically throughout the day, it truly dictated life on the island. Many fishermen would depart at different times daily from right in front of our guesthouse. Naturally Nelson ventured out fishing with them one day. He also obtained his PADI license for scuba diving. We explored local life, interacting with them and asking questions. From their stories we tried to understand the social and economic challenges and balances needed in a location that is up and coming in the tourism world.

Lastly, we met incredible people in Zanzibar! Tourists and locals alike. We felt like when we left, we had made new friends from around the world! Likeminded travelers (many from Germany!) but we got to know much of the staff from our guesthouse. We stayed at Mango Beach Guest House in Jambiani. A 4 room ocean facing guesthouse with tranquility and also the local feel. We would recommend a trip to Zanzibar to anyone! Enjoy the pictures!

Tanzania- Our Safari

Nelson and Allie on safari in the Serengeti

We traveled to Tanzania in plans to hike Kilimanjaro. Unfortunately Allie's feet weren't up for the task, and after careful consideration we opted for a safari instead. What a surprise we encountered from this 'spontaneous' change in plans. It was like nothing we had experienced and we ran into a bit of luck with the things we saw. Not many get to see the 'great migration' of wildebeest, 6 'rare to see' leopards, 4 of the big 5 (lion, elephant, leopard, and buffalo.. still looking for that rhino!) and a standoff between a herd of buffalo and a pride of lions! We also visited a Maasai village and somehow ended up in a luxury tent in the middle of the Serengeti! All and all it was an incredible experience!

First, we need to give kudos to our trek/safari company. Chief's Tours was excellent, professional, and very willing to accommodate our change in plans from a trek up Kilimanjaro to a 5 day/4 night safari. The company is based out of Moshi, Tanzania and owned by Adidas, a local of Moshi. He was very communicative and willing to make our experience a great one. But truly, the safari would not have been as amazing as it was without our driver Sharima! He was incredibly knowledgable and wanted to ensure we had a nice time, but also a genuinely nice guy! We became friends with him. After interacting with some other tourists and seeing their guides, I think we truly lucked out. If anyone is interested in a safari in Tanzania, go with Sharima!

We toured 4 major parks in the 5 days. Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara. If we could do it again we would spend even more than two days in Serengeti. We enjoyed it so much!

The experience brought us face to face with nature but also gave us an appreciation for the wild and for mother nature's influence on the world. Please enjoy our photos of a truly incredible experience! We would recommend to anyone!