It is home to unique historical and cultural sites. Once there, you get to see the Makusurani graveyard, where many of the islands’ previous Arab rulers are buried. There is ‘House of Wonders’, a four-storey building that was the first place on the island with electrical lights.
It also hosts Hamamni and Kidichi Persian Baths, the first public baths on the island, and Dunga Ruins, the ruins of a palace built in the 15th century by the rulers of the time besides the Peace Memorial Museum, which serves as a national historical museum detailing the island’s long history.
This is the Stone Town of Zanzibar or the islands of Unguja and Pemba in Tanzania. Zanzibar is home to large amounts of beaches and clear Indian Ocean water, as well as coral and limestone scarps that allow for significant amounts of diving and snorkelling.
The diving and snorkelling are done in marine parks. The aquatic life includes dolphins, moray eels, lion fish, octopus and lobster. The Jozani forest, located in the central east region of Zanzibar, has a large mangrove swamp.
The forest is home to the rare red colobus monkey. The forest is also home to 40 species of bird and 50 species of butterfly. The Kidike root site is a great place to view the endangered Pemba flying fox. And these are just a few of the many tourist attractions.
The Zanzibar Tourism Commission, in conjunction with Regency Travel & Tours and HTT Global Holidays & Incentives, recently held an event to showcase these destinations of exotic Zanzibar and wildlife rich Tanzania to travel agents here.
Zanzibar is an ideal destination for Arab nationals, offering great cultural experiences and a chance to do the most sought-after “once in a lifetime” safari, making the experience even better by combining a beautiful exotic island and an amazing wildlife safari in Tanzania. Visa is upon arrival for most nationalities.
“We sell a lot of packages. So when we would sell a programme it would be packaged. And the package is either luxury holidays, super luxury holidays with properties that are not sold online and the safaris that are combined with luxury aircraft including safaris into Tanzania and South Africa,” Hanif Poona, President of HTT Global Holidays & Incentives, told the audience comprising travel agents and other partners.
One of the reasons for Zanzibar not being exposed for many years was that there were not many flights to Zanzinbar.
Qatar Airways now operates direct flights to Zanzibar and Tanzania; and with a flying duration of 4 hours and 30 minutes, these are the next beach plus bush holiday destinations, to be experienced at attractive fares comparable to many other Indian Ocean islands.
With direct flight connections providing for easy access to both destinations, guests from this part of the world can now enjoy some of the world’s best wildlife safari experiences in Tanzania, along with the picturesque beaches on the island of Zanzibar as well as its cultural heritage and historical sites.
“English is widely spoken. Halal food is available throughout the country. We sell packages from the budget to medium and high end clients, catering to everybody including families and adventure seekers,” Poona told the audience.
“One fantastic thing that we do in the bush is a dinner set up right in the middle of forest. You are surrounded by wildlife and you have the wonderful sunrise and sunset and we make the dinner in the bush. It is an amazing experience,” said the HTT president.
“When you are here on the holidays here in the parks, there are no newspapers, no television, nothing to bother you. You are inhaling the fresh air and the morning alarm is the birds chirping, they wake you up,” he said, while explaining some of the attraction in Tanzania and Zanzibar.
“I always tell a lot of people when they go on a safari that when you come back you are five days younger,” said Poona.
Both Regency and HTT are established brands in the GCC market, with extensive experience in promoting the East African safari and beach products.
Working alongside with Zanzibar Tourism Commission, they have brought together four of the top hotels from Zanzibar to enlighten agents about the amazing experiences available for their guests.
Speaking on the occasion, Regency Travel & Tours CEO Tareq Abdullatif Taha said they are proud to be associated with Zanzibar Tourism Board and HTT Global Holidays & Incentives, to represent the beautiful and varied land of Tanzania.
“Zanzibar, from being an ancient trade route and gateway to mainland East Africa is also home to finest beaches in the world. Travellers from Qatar will truly enjoy the diversity Zanzibar has to offer and Regency, in association with HTT, will offer wide ranging and exciting packages for people to fully experience this hidden gem,” said Taha.
Partner hotels including Park Hyatt Zanzibar, The Residence, Kilindi Zanzibar and The Melia hotel presented their properties and specialties to the Doha audience. The presentation was an engaging evening of exciting information, and provided a chance to learn more about the special destination, sampling of local ethnic cuisine, themed giveaways and prizes to experience Zanzibar first hand.
Tareq Abdullatif Taha, CEO of Regency Travel & Tours, in white, with Hanif Poona, the President of HTT Holidays and Incentives, at the event. Photos by Ram Chand
