MASTER - Jafferji Beach Retreat 3* Zanzibar

At Jafferji Beach Retreat you will experience the nourishment of both body and mind: simple food for the delight of good eating; majestic simple spaces, scents and sounds will feed the mind. Here in Zanzibar, the flavors of the simplest of foods acquire a special intensity. The central dining area allows guests to socialize while enjoying the diverse cuisine on offer alongside the sparkling panoramic pool. This unique dining is available to both hotel guests and outside diners. It’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

With the use of indigenous flora and fish; the menu at Jafferji Beach Retreat is served fresh. Entwining the influences of local Zanzibari cuisine with seafood, our dishes overflow with inspiration from all corners of the Indian Ocean. The culinary team aims to provide an experiential dining experience every day. These range from a Zanzibar themed menu with various fish dishes complemented by sweet and spicy sauces, to a beach barbeque next to a pool, to whisking our guests off to private beach or for lunch on the flat sands. Whatever your desire, dietary requirement or special request, our team of chefs will be delighted to cater to your needs.

The Beach
The private beach fronting the retreat is an absolute haven of stylish relaxation with the Mnemba Atoll within in grasp’s reach!   Jafferji Beach Retreat has undoubtedly got the best and longest strips of beach in Zanzibar. The Indian Ocean’s turquoise waves tease away gently at guests’ feet as a waiter serves cool refreshments and local fishing boats glide by.

The white powdery coral beach invites and entices you to indulge in relaxing walks, swim in the azure waters, or perhaps go on a bike ride down to the local village. One can also try out dhow sailing from this is perfect postcard beach. The local village women pass their day in seaweed farming and fisherman prepares to go and bring fresh catch that our in house chef then uses for our drool-worthy dishes.

You can choose to laze around on luxurious day beds and soak up the breathtaking atmosphere.

The Pool
During low tide, our swimming pool will come to your rescue! You can chill by the pool or relax on the beach listening to the sound of the sea rolling into the powder-like sand.

Gift shop
A small gift shop is on the premises to buy small presents and gifts. In the gift shop, you will also get a limited edition of canvas photos by the director of this place. Very unique photographs and his beautiful work as well as gifts.

Cinnamon Spa
At Jafferji Beach Retreat, you will find luxury at its best. All our beauty treatments are given using the finest natural and local ingredients, leaving you feeling relaxed, rejuvenated and completely refreshed. Cinnamon Spa offers holistic therapies that go far beyond those of a typical spa experience. Inspired by the various rejuvenating practices of different cultures, techniques and philosophies, the Spa will enchant you with a selected spa portfolio, bound to deliver a perfect wellness experience. Your spa treatments can also be organized in your room with complete privacy upon request.

These options are not included in your package price

Village Trip
Village trips are recommended as it’s a way of seeing how Zanzibaris live. For an insight into real Zanzibar life, and a chance to meet the villagers, you can even go to madressahs and schools. You could include a visit to the women farming seaweed, a traditional healer and a volunteer-run pre-school, and will usually end for a tasty meal in a particularly good, if ramshackle, traditional restaurant run by local villagers.

Cycling Tours
Cycling is by far the best way to explore and discover the island. Tour through beautiful green rice plantations and learn about the trade of rice harvesting and picking with the opportunity of trying it out your self. Finally cycle to the local fruit and vegetable market where you will get to take a break and watch the bustling trade whilst tasting a selection of locally grown fruits.
Stopping at major landscapes and seascapes allows you to familiarize yourself with the forest trails and the most secret spots of the island.

Henna Painting
The temporary tattoos made in intricate designs that you see on Swahili women’s hands and feet are made out of henna, the leaves of a tree which is prepared over the course of a few days to produce a paste which acts as a dye. Join us in a fascinating story of art, tradition and the early use of plants in human society for 11⁄2 to 2 hours.
This is a truly intriguing and stimulating topic that will leave your mind reeling to learn more about other plants that have come to mean so much to many cultures.

Yoga
Our partners offer special packages with a qualified yoga teacher based in Zanzibar. Marisa teaches a vibrant blend of styles that include; relaxation, pranayama (breathing techniques), sun salutations and a dynamic flowing sequence of asanas (postures) bringing awareness into mind, body and increasing your energy flow.
Come and experience the tranquillity & serenity of Yoga on Zanzibar’s pristine white beaches, amongst the turquoise waters, palm trees and breath-taking sunsets.

Golfing in Sea Cliff Hotel
Seacliff has the only golf course on the island of Zanzibar. Golfers can enjoy 9-hole Matkovitch course with its own Club House, under-cover driving range and practice greens, while enjoying the natural features of the island. To top it all, two of the last holes are played along the Indian Ocean. The course has been designed with variation in distance and direction on the front and back 9 to create an experience of playing full 18 holes. The course has a par 71, which includes short and long par 4’s and a couple of drivable options.
Please contact the front office for more information for Zanzibar’s only golfing experience.

Zanzibar Cooking Classes. Opportunity To See, Taste & Smell The Flavours OF Zanzibar.
Have you ever wondered what the people of this island eat and how they cook? African Zanzibari dishes are the art of encountering a taste of freshness. These cooking lessons are designed for those who want to create delicious Swahili meals.
You will also visit an open-air market to learn how fresh ingredients are selected, and you will be able to eat everything you make. Jafferji Beach Retreat offers cooking classes for up to a maximum of four guests.
All our local chefs are carefully selected and speak excellent English. The classes are extremely informative and full of learning and practical time. Take home a beautiful Taste of Zanzibar recipes book!!

Quad Adventure
Zanzibar Quad Adventure will bring you to discover one of the most remote areas in the heart of the island. Ride your own quad bike enjoy a rich off-road-itinerary into wild landscapes:

• Sugar cane and pineapple plantation
• Paddy rice fields
• The village of Boma with its children and houses made by red soil and mud
• Coconut palms and secular Baobab
• Spice trees and fruit plantation.

The vehicles used for this excursion are POLARIS TRAIL BOSS 330CC, easy to drive, completely automatic and powerful enough to climb on any type of ground and off-road.

Zanzibar Coffee Ceremony
Delight in a signature traditional Coffee Ceremony at Jafferji Beach Retreat.
Tanzania coffee is renowned for its different strengths and styles Indulging in a coffee Ceremony at Jafferji Beach Retreat will delight any coffee lover “The process starts with the beans being roasted in a clay pot over a tiny metal charcoal stove, the pungent smell mingling with the heady scents of lemongrass, cardamom, ginger and mixed spice powders aromatizes the entire surrounding” You are seated on a locally woven mat in one of our spacious courtyards. It is roasted, ground and brewed in front of you after that the brewed coffee is served to you in small delicate Arabic cups, Enjoy this brewed coffee with fresh spices whilst indulging in local sweet delights traditionally made especially for brewed coffee ceremonies.  The coffee ceremony takes approximately one hour.  

At Jafferji Beach Retreat we ensure that you enjoy this unique cultural experience. Swahili music is played throughout the ceremony and a henna artist is present to decorate traditional bridal tattoos for the ladies.

These options are not included in your package price

Kite-surfing
Zanzibar is home to fabulous kite surfing and this sport has gained momentum. We work with experts to give you an experience of a lifetime. Kite Surfing has immense fun, is hugely addictive and incredibly exhilarating. Sessions can be arranged for all levels of surfers.

Dhow Cruise
Dhow cruise is amazing to experience and watching it while sailing the sea is one-of-a-kind! Come with your partner to turn up the romance or with your friends and family to see Zanzibar from the ocean’s perspective!   As the wind blows the boat back to shore, we know you will enjoy the perfect ending to your perfect day at the beach.   

Swahili Fishing
Swahili Fishing takes place on a dhow, which is a traditional Arabic wooden boat with a triangular sail. What makes this method of fishing unique is that it is done by using a hand line.
You sail out to the reef where you bait the hook – which can be done using small pieces of fish. You can either cook what you catch yourself or you can give it away to local fishermen.

Kayaking
Kayaks, allowing you to explore the island in a unique way, drifting along palm-fringed beaches over crystal clear water. Our knowledgeable and helpful crew will be happy to point out some of the defining natural features. 

Guided Reef Walks To Explore The Tropical Marine life
Reef walking is a great way to explore areas of reef uncovered at low tide. You can interact closely with marine life and discover a variety of marine plants and animals.
A good reef walk is dependent on tides and weather conditions and also what you wear on the day. The best time for reef walking is during the low spring tides when, for a few days each fortnight, tides fall further than average and expose the intertidal area.

Diving and Snorkeling
The archipelago of Zanzibar offers some of the best diving and snorkelling opportunities in the world with warm, calm waters, great visibility and beautiful, untouched reefs. World-class diving centres offer excellent service, equipment and skills.   Our diving packages allow you to explore multiple reefs on the Zanzibar’s various coastlines and surrounding islands.   Half and full-day guided snorkelling excursions and dive trips may include lunch on nearby sandbanks and are a part of our selection of packages.

Parasailing ( From Nungwi)
From 300 meters in the air, see the brilliant colours of the coral reef around the northern tip of Zanzibar – stretching over 2 kilometres into the ocean. Gaze at the sandy, white beaches of Nungwi and Kendwa, surrounded by tropical trees, and dotted with resorts and local fishing villages.

Tube
For fun exciting tubes kids or adults of all ages. Tubes such as Banana boat, rings, or the flying couch can be the choice. These large inflatable tubes are pulled behind a speed boat, speed of up to 30mph and bounce across the water while you try to hold on. It's fun and very exciting!

Waterskiing
Our partners offer an experienced instructor that can teach you how to kneeboard, wakeboard, or water ski. Just a few minutes of your time, you’ll be up and going, surfing the waves!  If you do get the hang of it, try to learn a few tricks.

Jet skis
Drive your own jet ski, follow the guide, and go on an unforgettable journey of jet-skiing and sightseeing

Day Trip to Mnemba
At only 20-minute boat ride away is the Mnemba Atoll; a marine conservation area surrounded by thriving, vibrant reefs and the crystal clear Indian Ocean. The waters are teeming with an overwhelming number of beautiful tropical reef fish, green turtles graze peacefully amongst the heads of plate and honeycomb corals, and a resident pod of curious bottle-nosed dolphins that appear often offering a once in a lifetime chance for visitors to interact with these splendid marine mammals in a natural environment.
For the very lucky guests migrating humpback whales can be spotted during July – September and whale sharks from November – January.
This full-day excursion leaves at around 9 in the morning and returns before lunch. Lunch boxes can be provided and you can enjoy your lunch on the beautiful beach or in the shade of the dhow surrounded by the best Zanzibar has to offer. (Subject to tides)

Deep-Sea Game Fishing
Join us for a day out organised by our partners for big game fishing in the waters of Zanzibar and the Pemba channel. Our deep-sea fishing charter boats are fully equipped and ready to take you out for an unforgettable fishing experience. Trailing a combination of lures, natural dead baits or live bait is how fishing is done. Our well-equipped fishing boats and resourceful crew will make sure you have an enjoyable day out in the Indian Ocean.   Spend either a half or full day out at sea with professional anglers and fish for pleasure or catch your own dinner! Our fishing partners are environmentally responsible and adopt practice measures to ensure the sustainability of marine life.  Striped, black and blue marlin can be found on the Zanzibar coastline along with acrobatic sailfish and the elusive spearfish. Dorado, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, barracuda, kingfish and many more provide endless hours of action-packed game fishing out at the ocean.  August to October is peak season for tuna fishing, with marlin and sailfish season running from November till March, following the pattern of the monsoons. Fishing in Zanzibar is a delight, with the turquoise and deep blue of the ocean contrasting perfectly against powder blue skies and the waves lapping against the prow of the boat. Whatever time of year you visit, you’re sure to have a great day out with a chance of landing a personal best and epic tales of the one that got away!

Kizimkazi Dolphin Tour
Take a one-hour drive out of to Stone Town to Kizimkazi on Zanzibar’s south coast for a day of dolphin spotting. Kizimkazi is home to large numbers of bottle-nosed and spinner dolphins, beautiful coral reefs and tropical fish. On your arrival you’re given a short safety briefing and the dos and don’ts when faced with these magnificent yet wild mammals. You then board a traditional ocean going dhow and set sail on the Indian Ocean in search of dolphins. You can get as close as 10 to 20 metres away from these sleek and grey dolphins.
They jack-knife through the water sometimes showing off their acrobatics with jumps and twists. In the past, some tourists have been lucky enough to swim and snorkel with these magical animals. However, the dolphins aren’t tame, and can be shy and elusive. Although visitors see dolphins on the majority of outings, there are no guarantees that there will be a sighting. But despite that you can enjoy two hours sailing and taking in the sights of the ocean. There’s superb snorkeling in the pristine coral reef and you can swim in the clear, warm water of the Indian Ocean.
You’ll return to the beach for lunch where you can swim in the shallower waters and chat with the crew who will regale you with sea stories about the one that got away!

North Coast Tour
The north coast is the dhow building capital of Zanzibar. Your drive to Nungwi will take you past the fish markets where you can see freshly caught seafood being auctioned. There’s a stop at the ruins of an old Portuguese settlement where your guide will explain the history of the ruins and the Portuguese conquest of Zanzibar dating back to 1497. A stop at the blacksmith is also fascinating where tools are still made in the traditional way for constructing dhows. At the construction site, dhows are built in the same way they have for centuries where skilled craftsmen bend the wood to create the dhows. Visitors may be invited to try their hand at this unique craft.

A visit to the Nungwi turtle sanctuary and aquarium follows where ailing turtles are nursed back to health and released
into the ocean.
A guided tour of Nungwi village where mamas wrapped in kangas cook over firewood and smiling kids play is a must. Walk down to the beach where you can enjoy an optional lunch at one of Nungwi’s popular restaurants and enjoy some free time sunbathing, swimming and snorkeling. The northern tip of Zanzibar offers some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world. Here the sky turns pink and gold as the sun sinks over the Indian Ocean. Sundowners and a late transfer back to your hotel can be arranged if you wish to stay longer to enjoy the sunset.

Prison Island Trip
This half-day excursion is perfect for anyone who wants to get off the beach and get a little more action! Join us as we sail to Prison Island, also known as Changuu and Quarantine Island where you will find a conservation area dedicated to the endangered Aldabra Tortoises.
While there are babies and juveniles, some tortoises are nearly 180 years old! After admiring our large reptile friends, take a tour of the historical prison, which once used to house rebellious slaves and was later used as a quarantine site sheltering the main island from epidemics like yellow fever.
Getting a little hot? Why not go for a snorkel in the crystal clear waters that surround the island or swim and relax on the white sands. On the sail back, we’ll indulge you with some tropical fruit hoping to leave you with an extra sweet memory of your day.

Sandbank Picnic
This full day excursion includes something for everyone! Start your day by touring the historical Prison Island where the prison was once used as quarantine, befriend an Aldabra Tortoise and enjoy the panorama of Stone town from the other side!
After that it’s time to relax on the white sands of the Pange Sandbank and soak up Zanzibar’s sun. Admire the breathtaking view of the turquoise waters around you and the birds that loom up above.
Want to cool down for a bit? Grab your snorkel and flippers and go for a swim where the underwater world will blow you away. Marvel at the tropical fish that swim amongst the beautiful, live coral reef around the Sandbank. This truly makes it a dream excursion!
After you’ve worked up an appetite, sit down and relax under your own private tent where a seafood feast awaits you. We guarantee it to be one of your favourite day out in Zanzibar!

Safari Blue
Setting sail on a traditional dhow when visiting Zanzibar could be one of the highlights of your trip! The Safari Blue trip starts from Fumba the perfect starting point to explore Menai Bay, an official Conservation Area. Home to beautiful uninhabited islands, this area is stunning and frequented by humpback and bottlenose dolphins.
On arrival at Fumba, clients are given a briefing on the Safari Blue adventure where dolphins are sighted on approximately 90% of trips. The anchor is dropped at Kwale sandbank where sunshades are set up and guests have the chance to go snorkeling in the coral reefs assisted by the guides. After snorkeling, guests are offered refreshments to whet their appetite before heading back to Kwale Island for lunch under the tamarind trees. Drinks are served throughout the day and lunch is a buffet of grilled fish, lobster, calamari, chicken and rice with a sampling of tropical fruits in season.
After lunch, you can sun bathe, snooze or visit the beautiful mangrove lagoon where depending on the tide you can laze by taking a swim in the warm waters of the lagoon. For the more adventurous guests there is an opportunity to sail in an “ngalawa” – a local outrigger canoe. After this it’s back to Fumba around 5:30pm.

These options are not included in your package price

Green Panorama
Take a break from the sun lounges and souvenir stalls, and escape into the island’s green pockets of lush indigenous forest. Join a half-day tour, which will take you to Zanzibar’s quiet interior, offering some of the best opportunities for wildlife viewing.
First stop is the quiet and exceptional Jozani Forest, home to the island’s most famous and photographed resident, the Red Colobus monkey, Ader’s duiker, Sykes monkey, bushbabies, African civet, giant elephant shrews, and chameleons as well as over 83 different species of birds.
Next, a wave of colour will be added to your trip as you venture next door to the Zanzibar Butterfly Centre, an interactive butterfly exhibit consisting of a netted tropical garden with hundreds of butterflies, all of which are a native species to Zanzibar. The enclosure is one of Africa’s largest butterfly exhibits and provides residents and tourists of Zanzibar with an interactive and visual environment while learning more about butterflies.
Later, you will visit a community turtle sanctuary built by local villagers to house injured turtles and other marine animals. These precious creatures are nursed back to health before being released into the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. The sanctuary is ideal for families and children, offering a fun and interactive environment.
Our last stop on the tour is ZALA Park – a fascinating menagerie of exotic reptiles and amphibians, as well as duikers, bush babies and hyrax. Various concrete compounds are dotted about the small park wherein natural habitats have been created for snakes, monitor lizards, crabs and chameleons, to name just a few. You may even be allowed to crawl into the large cage housing four enormous pythons!

Jozani Forest Tour
South of the island, Jozani Forest is a wonder and delight, with tales of Zanzibar leopards, medicinal cures and stunning scenery. Currently under consideration to become Zanzibar’s second World Heritage Site, the Jozani-Chkwa Bay area is a hotspot of biodiversity. The forest is home to a number of endemic species, including the Zanzibar Red Colobus Monkey.
Your park ranger will take you on a nature trail, lined with eucalyptus and mahogany trees and explain the medicinal properties of various plants and tell you about the animals, birds and reptiles that call this tropical rainforest their home.
Troops of Zanzibar Red Colobus monkeys can be found scrambling from branch to branch in search of food. The monkeys have become acclimatized to people and allow you to get close enough to capture them in photographs as they eat, play and jump from the treetops. The mangrove boardwalk takes you above the swamp, where depending on the tide, you can see tropical fish flitting between the mangrove roots and crabs scuttling across the mud. Mangroves play an important role in environmental conservation and is a valuable resource for villagers and community life. Your ranger will explain the different species found in the swamp and their uses.

Sultan Panorama Tour
The Sultan Panorama Tours is ideal for visitors with little time who want to experience a bit from what Zanzibar has to offer. It’s a full day excursion starting in Stone Town and covers the history of the sultans, slave trade and invasions that shaped Zanzibar’s history. Your guide will give you a broad overview of the island’s history and current affairs and you’ll pass by many historic sites and visit the Slave Market. A stop at the vibrant Darajani Market gives you a glimpse of the locals busy life with a lot of hustle and bustle, smells and noise.
You’ll then be driven to a spice farm, and given the opportunity to taste seasonal spices and fruits all the while getting a live and comprehensive description of their properties and uses. Throughout the tour, you can sample localdelicacies and local staple food
Your next stop is at a local village for a slice of Zanzibari culture and life. Cooking, weaving, building houses and playing with the children, you’ll have chance to see what life is like for Zanzibaris.
An informative and action packed day, this tour gives you a taste of everything found in our other excursions and is strongly recommended as a first excursion. You’ll finish the excursion with an inside view of Zanzibari life and that will help you plan future excursions based on what you enjoyed the most by choosing the most relevant tour from our standard excursions.

Swahili Cultural Trips
There are many elements to Swahili culture; music and dance, visual arts, traditional games, cuisine, and dhow culture to name but a few. A cultural tour is a great way for visitors to immerse themselves into the local culture and see how many Zanzibari’s live on a day to day basis.
On this half-day tour, your guide will accompany you to a rural village where you will have the opportunity to see daily activities being undertaken – women weaving baskets, grinding millet, cooking local dishes using traditional methods. Watch as they decorate themselves with the traditional henna body painting and braid their hair. Behold the sight of young boys making ropes and scaling tall palm trees for fresh coconuts which are then peeled and cracked open for a refreshing drink under the midday sun.
Sit with the village men as they weave palm fronds to make thatch roofs for their huts or play a game of Bao, Zanzibar’s favourite pastime. Further afield cassava plantations and bananas with their various products can be visited and tasted like cassava chips, grilled cassava, ripe banana with coconut and grilled banana with local spices.
The Cultural Tour is an ideal excursion for those who want a real insight into the Zanzibari way of life on the Island and is a great way to support sustainable tourism and the people of Zanzibar.

Zanzibar Spice Tour
In days past, Zanzibar was known as a spice island, exporting cloves, vanilla, nutmeg and cardamom to the world. The spices were brought over from Asia and South America and flourished in Zanzibar’s tropical climate.
Nowadays the plantations are a tribute to the island’s past, swapping spices for tourism and combining both in a spice tour, one of the most popular excursions on the island. Walk through the spice farm with your guide; touch, smell and taste different spices and tropical fruits.
Try to guess one spice or fruit from the other, from the crushed leaves, the fruit, shoots, vines and creepers crawling up the trees. Learn about their properties, their origins and their use as medicines and in food and drink. A visit to a spice farm village gives you an insight into local life and the opportunity to try some Swahili dishes, taste the fruits in season and try some spiced tea.
Depending on the season you are visiting, you can find anything from vanilla, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, turmeric, lemongrass, cloves, ylang-ylang, cumin, garlic, ginger, coriander, pepper, allspice, tamarind, chilly, oregano and more! Fruits can include banana, pineapple, jackfruit, custard fruit, oranges, star fruit, tangerine, passion fruit, mango, avocado, pear, papaya, grapefruit and many others.

Stone Town Tour
Follow the trail of the sultans, slaves and explorers in the winding streets of Stone Town. Your guide will tell you about the events that shaped Zanzibar, leading you through the buildings where it all happened, such as the former Slave Market and Anglican Cathedral, the House of Wonders and the Sultans’ Palace Museum, the Old Arab Fort and Dispensary.

While tracing the steps of the past, the walking tour provides you with a window into modern life in Stone Town. Explore the markets, seafood and fish piled in the fish market, fresh loaves of bread in wicker baskets and neat stacks of fruit and vegetables as traders sell their wares from their stalls.
Children play in the streets in the residential areas, ‘mamas’ sit outside and gossip while the men play board games. An optional stop at The Zanzibar Coffee House provides a rest from the heat and hustle and bustle. A selection of drinks, local sweets & seasonal fruits acts as the perfect pick me up for you to continue on your tour.
The City Tour is very flexible and can be adapted to suit your interests and time frame. If you’re a shopaholic, culture vulture or history buff we have something to suit everyone. If you want to hunt for antiques and souvenir shop follow David Livingstone’s time in Zanzibar and walk the path of the slave trade. Your guide can recommend and customize routes and itineraries that will optimise your time and get the most out of your trip.