Failure to Launch

This time the title is a bit of a lie! We did eventually launch, but anyway we’ll get there!

It was a relatively relaxed awakening for breakfast at 7:30. Still got up before my alarm though, I’m going to have to do some sleep training on Zanzibar! The sausages were back for the last breakfast prepared by Wilson, which I was glad for, and I had to finalise my packing (but there wasn’t much to do), then it was off to the airport, a mere 30 minutes drive away.

The airport was smaller than I expected: the biggest plane we saw was the one we ended up getting, which was about 24 seats! It had good WiFi at least, and a few shops/restaurants, which was good news, since our plane had been delayed from 10am to midday. Oh well, the airport was comfortable enough, and we got a free coffee each.

Group photo at the airport, just before the 3 support staff left us. Left to right: Wilson, Tracy, Jill, Melissa (kneeling), Andrea, Gwen (kneeling), Angela, Jo, Andy and Suzanne, Warren and Lisa, Louise, Patrick (kneeling), Tony, Gemma, Me, Jessie, James (kneeling), Christine, David (kneeling), Barry

What we thought was going to be our plane. Turned out ours wasn’t here yet...

About 11:30 we went through the laxest security ever (numerous people were beeping and they just waved them on), and sat in an outside, but covered waiting area ready to board our plane. We waited until about 12:15, with no sign of movement, until a bit of excitement was injected. A few of us had gone out from under the covered area to stretch our legs, and a swarm of insects flew up the runway towards us. “Get inside, get inside!” Shouted Patrick: it was a swarm of bees coming for us! There wasn’t even time for a photo, but luckily they weren’t out for blood and just passed us by.

At this point Patrick went to quiz a guy about where our plane was. Turns out, Zanzibar. The plane had had an issue and was being repaired. It was just about ready, but it had to fly here so it would still be an hour and a half. Boo! On the bright side we all got a free lunch, and to go back through and enjoy the amenities. Sometimes delays annoy me a lot, but this time I was pretty chilled out. I think I half expected it, TIA after all.

The plane arrived fine and actually managed to set off at the proper time (after the 2 delays), with some small issues. Firstly some people said they saw some dents, which alarmed them, though I didn’t see any, and secondly the bees were back and swarming near the entrance. They didn’t all come in, but a few did. The staff didn’t seem too concerned though. Gemma got one batted into her face by one of the rare people not from our group, and Mel caught 5 in a bag and gave them to the stewardess. Bet she was super grateful. None came near me, must have known I am the designated wasp catcher in our office at work!

The flight was pleasant aside from the noise from the propeller. This stretch of Tanzania seemed borderline uninhabited from what I could see from on high (I don’t think this plane went as high as a jumbo jet so you could see a lot more). There were some very photogenic clouds, and we could see Kilimanjaro out of the window!

Kili (far left) and the clouds

As it was an internal flight getting into Zanzibar was hassle free, and as it was a tiny plane our bags were out as quickly as we were. It was also only a 15 minute drive to our hotel in Stone Town: the Aruso Hotel. 

After camping, having a hotel room was the height of luxury. I forgot to take a photo of the room, but the bed was one of the biggest I’ve ever seen, and having my own shower again and not having to hang my clothes on the door and dance around whilst putting them on to avoid getting them wet, plus using a proper towel instead of my travel towel was a particular highlight!

Since we are both solo travellers, Gemma and I arranged to go out for tea, and we were joined by Jill, also a solo traveller, who had arranged to go with Christine, Barry, and James, but they were nowhere to be found. Our hotel is only a street back from the seafront, so we wandered along looking for places to eat, and denying the “Beach Boys” who will try and sell you anything they have. At least they aren’t as persistent as some places I’ve been; after a no or two they lose interest.

Jill was craving pizza, and it just so happened that a place on the front with a beautiful view of the sunset did it for a very reasonable price (20,000 Tanzanian shillings for a pizza and drink, approximately £6.67), so we went for it. I nearly went for a seafood curry, but the call of the pizza was too strong!

The sun setting on the beach

Our restaurant was called the floating restaurant, but didn’t actually float. This one is more legit, not sure how you get there though..,

View from our table

The moon was a Cheshire Cat moon (the crescent is exactly the bottom half of the moon and not offset). We don’t get these in the uk for some reason apparently 

After tea it was back to the hotel as it was about 8pm, so we were getting tired! I struggled and stayed up until 11 (9 uk time) though: sleep training starts now!