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Zanzibar - An Island Adventure

Dates 26th June-4th July 2006
Cost £1400 per person, no single supplement
Deposit £150 per person
Maximum places 12

Cost includes Return flights from London Heathrow to Zanzibar via Nairobi, 7 nights accommodation with breakfast (4 in Stonetown, 3 in Jambiani), all transport during the trip.

Cost Excludes Insurance, Visa, lunches, dinners and photographic materials

Zanzibar – the name along is enough to send a shiver down your spine, but if that doesn’t being there certainly will.

This exotic, mysterious island off the East African coast has enjoyed a colourful and often turbulent history. The Portuguese were the first to establish a trading at the island’s capital, Stone Town, at the turn of the 16th century, but the Stone Town left today was created by the Omanis who, made wealthy by the trade of cloves, ivory and slaves, left their legacy in the form of imposing forts, beautiful palaces and narrow, winding streets packed with wonderful 19th century mansions.

Seeing Stone Town for the first time, I was reminded of Havana, Cuba's capital city. Both Islands experienced revolution and both have been falling into decay ever since. In the case of Zanzibar, 1964 was the turning point. In one night of bloodshed, over 12,000 Indians and Arabs were massacred, the rich fled, leaving their mansions and palaces to be turned into low-cost housing for Stone Town's poor and the place has been falling into disrepair ever since.

Today, it’s this decrepitude that gives Stone Town its character - the fading timber houses, the once-ornate balconies, the cracked walls and peeling paintwork, the heavy carved doors and dusty spider's webs.

We will spend the first few days of this trip exploring Stone Town. The old quarter is compact and easily accessed on foot so we can wander down the labyrinth of narrow street, photographs dhows returning to shore at sunset from the town’s beach, visit the daily fishmarket at dawn where the dhows unload their catch and hundreds of people crowd to buy fresh fish – a scene of Biblical proportions!

From Stone Town we will head north for a day to visit Nungwi, a small coastal village set among palms where dhows are still made by local craftsmen and ancient outrigger canoes with cloth sails sit on the beach waiting for the tide.

The second half of the trip will be based on the beautiful East coast and the village of Jambiani where, at dawn each day we can stroll onto the white sand beach and photograph spear fishermen heading out towards the reef and women collecting shells.
This is a tropical paradise where lush green palms sway in the breeze against seas of sublime aquamarine, and our days will be spent capturing the scenery with our cameras.

There will also be plenty of opportunities to shoot portraits - of inquisitive children, fishermen and friendly locals.

As always, Lee will be on hand from dawn to dusk to offer help and advice whenever you need it.