Zan Maldive Tours and Safaris

Area: Paje

  • Hotel Transfers

    Zanzibar is bigger than it looks on a map, and the coastal roads vary considerably in quality. Getting from a hotel in Nungwi to a restaurant in Michamvi, or from Stone Town out to Jambiani, is a proper journey rather than a short hop.

    We run point-to-point transfers between any two places on the island: hotel to restaurant, hotel to a dive centre, hotel to a village, hotel to the spice farms. The vehicle is private to your party, the driver speaks English and the price is agreed before you set off.

    For anyone eating at The Rock, taking a sunset cruise from a different coast or heading to an activity outside their area, this is the sensible way to travel. Taxis on the island rarely have fixed pricing and the driver quality is inconsistent.

    Ask us for a return transfer with a wait, or for the driver to stay with you for the day, if that suits your plans better.

  • Paje

    Paje sits on the south-east coast and has become the centre of kitesurfing in East Africa. The combination is hard to beat: a long shallow lagoon protected by a reef, steady cross-shore wind through the two kite seasons, and a flat sandy bottom safe enough to learn on.

    The atmosphere is laid-back and slightly bohemian, popular with backpackers, kite schools and longer-stay visitors. The beach is lined with kite centres, small hotels and beach cafes rather than large resorts.

    The tide shapes the day here. At high tide you swim and paddle in the lagoon. At low tide the water pulls right back and vast sandbanks appear, with seaweed farmers working the shallows and long stretches of firm sand for walking. Neither state is a problem once you know to expect it.

    Paje is also the closest beach base for Maalum Cave, the deep natural swimming cave a few minutes inland, and for Jozani Forest on the road back toward Stone Town.

  • Inter-Hotel Transfers

    Plenty of visitors split their stay: a night or two in Stone Town, then the north coast, then a few days on the east. Moving between them with luggage is where a trip either flows or falls apart.

    We handle the move. Your driver collects you at check-out, loads the luggage and delivers you to the next hotel at a time matched to its check-in, so you are not sitting in a lobby with your bags.

    Because the drive often passes something worth seeing, we will build a stop into the transfer at no extra vehicle cost. Jozani Forest sits on the road between Stone Town and the east coast. The spice farms sit on the road north. A transfer with a stop turns a dead hour into part of the holiday.

    Tell us your hotels and dates and we will map the whole route before you arrive.

  • Zanzibar Aquarium and Caves

    Zanzibar sits on ancient coral rock, and where the rock has collapsed inward the island has opened up a set of natural freshwater caves. Three of them are open to visitors and each has its own character: Kuza Cave near Jambiani, tied to Swahili cultural heritage; Maalum Cave near Paje, a deep blue swimming pool under an open roof; and Salaam Cave at Kizimkazi, small, dark and lit by candlelight.

    The water in the caves is fresh, cool and still, filtered through the coral rock. Swimming in them is a different experience from the ocean and a welcome break from the heat.

    The tour pairs the caves with a visit to the natural turtle aquarium, a large tidal pool set in the coral rock behind the beach. It began as a rehabilitation and study site for marine turtles and now works to protect the local population. A keeper explains the work, and you are able to feed the turtles seaweed or get into the pool for a closer encounter.

    The visit takes two to three hours and works well as a half-day for guests staying on the east or south coast.

  • Zanzibar Quad Bike Tour

    Most visitors see Zanzibar from a minibus on the tarmac road. A quad takes you off it. The route runs on sand tracks and field paths through rice paddies, banana and sugar cane plots and small villages in the island’s interior, on ground no ordinary vehicle reaches.

    The morning opens at the quad base with a safety briefing and a lesson on the controls. The machines are 450cc automatics, so no gear changing is involved, and beginners are common. You ride solo or two up with a companion.

    An English-speaking guide leads the group, sets the pace and stops regularly for photographs, questions and a stretch. One stop is at a village, where you meet people going about their day and see rural Zanzibar as it is, away from the beach hotels.

    The ride takes about half a day including the briefing. Complimentary fruit and soft drinks are served, and safety equipment is provided.

  • Horse Riding Experience

    Riding a horse along an empty Zanzibar beach at low tide is one of those experiences people plan a whole trip around. The stables run guided rides for complete beginners and for experienced riders, matching the horse and the pace to your level.

    The route follows the shoreline and inland trails through coastal woodland and small settlements. Guides ride with you throughout, and for beginners they lead from the ground until you are comfortable.

    The highlight for most people comes near the end: taking the horses into the shallows and swimming with them. It is a calm, gentle thing, and the horses are used to it. Bring a waterproof camera.

    Sunset rides are the most requested option and suit couples and honeymooners. Morning rides are cooler and better for families with children.