Africa might not be on the top of the
list of travel destinations for many families with children, but that
is not very well deserved. Children are usually very well treated in
Tanzania, so families can count on getting help and friendly service.
I would like to share some thoughts of what to do on a family holiday
in Zanzibar.
1. Forodhani Park in Stone Town
This is where I spend lots of time with
my son. Many cafes and outdoor kitchens offer great food (just pay
attention to where you buy it from)! Great place to stop for a
smoothie or an ice cream. There are also occasional concerts.
In the afternoon around 5 pm the
Forodhani playground opens. The entrance fee is 1000 Tanzanian
shillings per child, which is around 50 euro cents. This is just a
usual playground with some slides, trampolin, swings etc. All with an
amazing sea view!
2. Kariakoo amusement park
Just a little bit out from Stone Town
is the Kariakoo amusement park, which has just opened after
renovations and it's run by the Zanzibar fire department, so I would
dare to say it's a safe place. They have plenty of rides for
different aged kids, from Farrel's wheel and Merry-go-round to more
speedy options. I was personally very surprised by the great variety
of rides!
There is also a water park inside the
amusement park. It was not opened on my last visit but truly looked
like a proper water park with big slides and pools.
You can check out this Swahili blog for lots of pictures.
3. Prison Island
It sounds grim, but Prison Island is
not what the name makes you think about. I think this is an
interesting destination if your children are a bit older. You can see
the giant tortoise, walk amongst them and scracth their shields (they
seem to enjoy that). Easy to combine with snorkeling in the rather
calm and shallow coral reefs aorund, where you will mostly see small
fosh and colorful corals.
4. Zanzibar Zoo
I have not persnoally visited this
facility, so I cannot say much. It is a small zoo with animals like
camels in it, and includes a water park. Popular destination for
local families, much like the Kariakoo amusement park. The zoo is
located some 15 minutes ride from Stone Town towards east.
5. Jamhuri gardens playground
Another playground in Stone Town,
similar to the Forodhani playground. For a small entrance fee your
kids can enjoy the well kept playground. Jamhuri gardens are located
near to Vuga area and football grounds just outside Stone Town.
There are also plenty of hotels in
Zanzibar that cater toys and babysitting services for families,
please contact us at info (at) sansibar.fi
and I would be happy to recommend places to stay based on your
family's needs!
Oh, and we can also include a
baby/toddler seat on our transfers.
More info about holidays with kids in Zanzibar
