Stone Town and Spice Tour in Zanzibar

Sayafri Tours offered one of the more reasonably priced (for the length and thoroughness) Spice farm and Stonetown tours. Salum (the guide) was friendly, respectful, very knowledgeable, patient, and generally pleasant to be around. He let me know if I was paying fair prices when shopping and offered extra museum stops (for extra entry fees to the establishments) but didn’t pressure me to do anything. He let me have moments of quiet and introspection when going through the slave market site and he checked in with me often to see if I was getting all the important info or if I had questions. The tour company also arranged round trip transportation from/to my hotel, and that was also helpful. Salum, the driver (yes, they had the same name), was quiet but friendly during the ride. I felt safe at all times and I’m a solo traveling female. Would highly recommend!

Unfortunately this is the first disappointing experience I have had with a Viator booking - The first 30 minutes were spent in a discussion/debate with the guide on who pays for the transport to the Spice farm from Stonetown. It was clearly listed as included in the tour but our guide, Salim (sp?), did not know that and had to call his boss to confirm. He also was not aware of the sites we were to visit per the itinerary. An hour and a half into the tour we still had not visited one of the sites listed. He was very knowledgeable about the history of the slave trade, but was unaware of the itinerary until I showed it to him. When we finally got to the first place listed on the itinerary, the Freddie Mercury Museum, he said we could go in if we would like to pay the admission. I told him admission was included in the tour. Again he had to call and discuss with his boss to confirm (another 10min). Although we finally went by all the itinerary sites, it seemed rushed and incomplete. By the time we arrived at the Anglican Church, site of the slave market, we were already 4 hours into what was supposed to be a 4-5 hr tour and still had to travel 30 minutes and have the Spice Farm tour. Although we would have liked to pay to go into the old slave market, we were behind schedule and frustrated with everything by that time. Salim then suggested we go to a different spice farm than was listed on the itinerary (Jambo). He said it was better but there was no way for us to know that. Due to time, we did not get a full tour of the spice farm, and by the time we were done it had been 6.5 hours and not 4-5. Salim was knowledgeable but not a very engaging and obviously did not know what the tour itinerary and inclusions were. For $70 per person, I expected more.

We highly recommend this tour for all visitors in Zanzibar island, Our two guides both of them are excellent hardworking zanzibar is our first island visiting in africa thamks for all.

This tour is a key number one and best for all visitor because has a lot of history and culture .We highly recommend tis tour.

I highly recommend anyone to do activities in zanzibar because you have a chance learn more about africa history.thanks for your support.

Amazing Tour! If you are in Zanzibar and are wanting to visit Stone Town and do a spice tour I definitely recommend this tour! Our guide shared so much knowledge with us during Stone Town tour. The Spice Tour is run by locals which was amazing to see all the different spices and was very interactive and entertaining! Highly recommend! Asante!

I highly recommend this tour of stone town and spice farm with best guide in the island .I got official history about bantu and people of coastal zone .I love zanzibar.

We highly recommend this tour operator for good service and affordable price .Guide was informative and friendly during the tour from starting point at stone town to spice garden . Zanzibar on memory.

We went spice farm and visit stone Town with informative guide Mohamed really people learn through event once in a life for us hope back zanzibar next time and book our tours with him.thanks alot.

I've traveled in Tanzania for more than 3 years, but I've never met a guide as good as him in Tanzania. Mr. Sayafri was so modest, nice, and considerate, offered more than I expected every single time. A lot of beautiful memories and stories filled my heart. But because of a network problem, I could not add one or two pics out of my tons of pics taken over there. Besides he is so good at Chinese. He's able to dig up and explain the knowledge and the hidden secrets of local culture and people. I would not hesitate to recommend him to any tourist!