Zanzibar Beach

Zanzibar is magical, the spice-scented, quintessential Indian Ocean idyll. Tropical, turquoise waters lap miles of palm-fringed, sandy beaches. It provides some of the top destinations for beach holidays, with endless stretches of palm-fringed, white powdery beach, shallow turquoise waters and laidback beach retreats.During extensive research trips, we have visited virtually every beach, lodge and hotel on Zanzibar (over 350 of them!). Then we have carefully picked the most promising to include in our programme.For hundreds of years, traders and travellers have eulogised about Zanzibar’s intoxicating aroma of spices, its beautiful beaches and the bustle of its Moorish capital, Stone Town.Just a short hop across the water from mainland Tanzania - of which Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous part - is this lush array of islands. It’s impossible not to be enchanted as you approach from the air: clear, sparkling waters, darkened only by patch reefs, and punctuated by the billowing triangular, white sails of passing dhows.

• The Zanzibar archipelago consists of more than 50 islands, ranging from tiny outcrops to the larger, more populated islands of Zanzibar and Pemba.
• The beaches are often stunning, with powdery white sand, shaded by palm trees.
• The sea is shallow, but venture further out into the sparkling, turquoise water and you'll find coral reefs for great snorkelling and diving.
• Popular as a post-safari choice, a Zanzibar holiday can also be a great stand-alone escape.
• The main island offers an exceptional diversity of accommodation, from simple beach lodges and small boutique hotels to all-inclusive beach resorts and luxury hotels.

In comparison, a room attendant or waiter working at a Zanzibar beach lodge does not require the same level of experience or education. While these jobs are still necessary, they do not carry the same level of responsibility or command the same salary. If a room attendant were to receive excessive tips say up to US$500 per month then there is a danger that this job would end up paying more than a park ranger.In this situation the scales can easily become unbalanced. A ranger may feel that there is little incentive to continue in a responsible role when there is a higher salary to be earn in the as a waiter in the service industry. Long term this could have a detrimental effect on the park and its visitors.