Do's on Zanzibar
Respect the culture, norms, values and customs
It actually goes without saying, but unfortunately we regularly see that it is still difficult for people to respect the way people live here. Try to get to know people. Adapt, after all, you are a guest on this beautiful island.
Dress appropriately
Zanzibar is an island where people are 98% Muslim. You are a guest, so dress appropriately. This means shoulders and knees covered. No bare bellies and definitely not through the village in a bikini.
Support us (or any other well run NGO)
If you are coming to Zanzibar and want to create a positive impact during your trip, please join us. You can do this on Wednesdays and Fridays from 11:30-12:30. You can read more about this on the “support” page. If you want to bring something we can use, please do! We have a special wishlist of things needed at school (or at the hotel).
Cleanups
Regular beach and/or village cleanups are organized and it is always possible to participate. Ask us for the possibilities, we are happy to help!
Dont's on Zanzibar
Photos
Don't just take photos of people. Locals, especially the older generations, believe that a part of your soul is left in the photo when you take a picture. Therefore, always ask if you can take a picture.
Handing out gifts in the village
Many people bring something for the children when they come to Zanzibar. This is obviously super sweet and well-meaning, but it backfires. Consider that 90% of tourists do this. Then consider how often children are exposed to it. Do you do this in your home country? Why here? Do you realize you are supporting a begging culture? Children think it is normal, but it is not. If you want to take some and hand it out, go to a local school or NGO so that it is controlled by a headteacher.
Giving candy to children
Following on from the above, a lot of tourists also take candy which is handed out to children. Here we want to tell you a little extra about it.
Almost all locals never see a dentist in their lives. We brush the children's teeth at school because this does not happen at home. Just look around you how many children have rotten teeth and then think about whether it is wise to hand out candy….
Plastic waste
When traveling to Zanzibar, you will probably be told by your tour operator that plastic is prohibited. This sounds super of course, but in practice you will find plastic waste on every square inch of this island. Waste disposal on the island is a real problem, so we try as much as possible to create a positive impact here. For example, don't buy plastic water or soda bottles. Bring your own water bottle and fill it. With us, for a few 1000 a day, you can fill your bottle unlimited. Don't have a bottle from home with you? No problem, we have had special bottles made that you can buy!
Marinelife
We live here on a beautiful blue sea, but unfortunately the marinelife here has also suffered a lot in recent years. Leave a positive impact and keep a few things in mind:
- Don't go holding starfish; these poor creatures die, even if they are only out of the water for a few minutes
- Don't step on the coral
- Don't go jet skiing (it is uber illegal and prohibited by law, but unfortunately people do it anyway). It creates noise, pollutes the sea and is not good for the coral)
- Do not leave trash lying around during trips or on one of the sandbanks, for example
- Do not join the 101 dolphin trips that chase the dolphins
Walk the streets in the evening
Zanzibar is a safe island, but in the evening we do not recommend walking the streets alone. If you rent a car and drive yourself, make sure you have your doors and windows closed at all times.