Zanzibar, 6th: Pemba and Mafia (Bradt Travel Guide) [Paperback]

Chris McIntyre (Author), Susan Shand (Author)

Book Description

Series: Bradt Travel Guide | Publication Date: September 1, 2006

The Bradt guide was the first travel guide to concentrate exclusively on Zanzibar and Pemba. This sixth edition brings every aspect of travel on the islands up to date, from sourcing hotels to creating an individual itinerary from the selection of landmarks, markets, and activities detailed in the guide. Fascinating background on the history and culture of the islands, a thorough section on land and marine wildlife, and a guide to the architectural treasures of Stone Town will help the traveler discover many aspects of Zanzibar.

Features include:
>Getting to Zanzibar and island transport links
>New chapter on Mafia Island in addition to Zanzibar and Pemba islands
>Detailed natural history and conservation written by experts
>Extensive coverage of island culture: festivals, markets, arts and crafts
>A comprehensive range of essential information including health, watersports, and the Swahili language

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The best, by far.” The Sunday Times (UK)

"The only guidebook of any quality devoted to the islands."  Conde Nast Traveler (USA)

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Back Cover

Filled with sand and smiles, Zanzibar's allure only grows stronger. A short hop from the Tanzanian mainland, its crystal-clear seas and laidback vibe make it the perfect location to wind down after the scramble of a safari or the bustle of demanding Dar es Salaam.

 

Africa specialists Chris McIntyre and Susan Shand bring you an insiders' guide to the islands' best places and activities. Sample the legendary spices and side-alleys of Zanzibar, dive on colorful coral reefs and find that perfect beach hideaway. With this fully revised sixth edition, you can plan the perfect trip.

 

*Stone Town rediscovered

 

*Unparalleled accommodation write-ups

 

*Choosing the right dive sites

 

*Pemba and Mafia in detail

 

*Add-on safaris in Selous and Ruaha

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides; 6th edition (September 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841621579
• ISBN-13: 978-1841621579
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,913,249 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars hard to use, April 10, 2009

By 

M. Tran (Orange County) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Zanzibar, 6th: Pemba and Mafia (Bradt Travel Guide) (Paperback)

I used this guide as well as the Lonely Planet Tanzania one 6 months ago for my trip. I was in Zanzibar for only a week. I found it hard to use and ended up using only the LP Tanzania guide because it had enough information for my short stay.

If you're just going to Zanzibar and staying longer than 2 weeks, then it may be more useful. However, if you have less than two weeks on Zanzibar, this book is too overwhelming. If you're traveling on a budget like me, just get a Tanzania guidebook that has Zanzibar in it. This book added bulk to my luggage and contains a lot of information that will waste time to go through. You can use it to read about the island before you go though.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good guide, October 23, 2009

By 

Bonnie Neely - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Zanzibar 7th (Bradt Travel Guide) (Paperback)

Zanzibar, Pemba, Mafia by Chris and Susan McIntyre is the guidebook we chose for our recent trip to Zanzibar Island, off the coast of Tanzania in East Africa. This Brandt guidebook tells it all and was very helpful in planning our trip. We checked the recommendations for places to stay and eat and found them always to be right. The book guided us on what health precautions to take, which sites were most important to see, and how to just relax and enjoy this island in the Indian Ocean. This book has all the information you could need while planning or while visiting there. Be sure to take it with you.

5.0 out of 5 stars Supurb travel guide for Zanzibar (and a good read), January 23, 2012

By 

Zahara Heckscher "zahara" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zanzibar 7th (Bradt Travel Guide) (Paperback)

If you are considering going to Zanzibar, planning a trip, or already there, this book is a must read.

The book is comprehensive but well organized so you can skip to the parts that are relevant to you.

The authors clearly know what they are talking about, whether it is where to eat out in Stone Town, or the best places to find beaches and view the wildlife.

The photos are colorful and engaging, and really convey the flavor of Zanzibar, not just foods and spices but also the people and the natural beauty, not to mention the amazing wildlife and sea life.

Without being preachy, the book enlightens readers about some of the recent challenges with tourism development on the islands. It gives guidance to those of us who want to travel responsibly, and points readers to some of the best locally owned and operated companies.

I was pleased to see that the book mentions one of the local tour groups that my husband and I visited in Zanzibar (Eco & Culture Tours), and other groups that go beyond the standard spice tours and provide a deeper understanding of the culture, economy, and environment. These types of resources make this Zanzibar Bradt Travel Guide really stand out among travel guides.

I also enjoyed the details of the history section, with easy to read text boxes on Zanzibar's colorful and sometimes thorny past. I especially loved learning about Princess Sayyida Salme, the author of Memoirs of an Arabian Princess from Zanzibar.

This book is the one to get -- well written, sensitive, packed with helpful tips, and insightful about how you can really get to know and enjoy Zanzibar, even if you only have a few days there.

I also recommend it as a research guide for folks studying responsible tourism -- even if they don't plan to go to Zanzibar.