- Gilberto Vieira
Finding contacts among the expats in Tanzania's tourism industry wasn't half as difficult as I had feared.
Living in Zanzibar
Zanzibar is located in Tanzania, East Africa, and features spectacular scenery thanks to its position as an island. Zanzibar is nicknamed "The Spice Island" because of its reputation as being a large producer of spices. Expats living in Zanzibar will be able to enjoy a number of attractions such as Stone Town, located in the center of Zanzibar, which is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring many architectural structures and which is also a popular destination for tourists. Other areas of interest include the Jozani Forest, which can boast an abundance of exotic trees as well as being home to the red colobus monkeys, a nowadays sadly endangered species. Expatriates in Zanzibar will also be able to enjoy events such as the annual Zanzibar International Film Festival and support the area’s various football teams. Zanzibar also has many nightclubs, bars and restaurants, offering a vibrant and lively nightlife for both residents and visitors. InterNations can offer many insights into living in a new city such as Zanzibar, and expats about to start life on this island of Tanzania can find plenty of useful information online on InterNations, simply by talking to fellow expat members experienced with life in Zanzibar.
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Moving to Zanzibar
The cost of living in Zanzibar is considered to be low, and much lower than in many major cities in Africa. Zanzibar is located near the equator and therefore temperatures tend to be hot all year round, with multiple rain periods throughout the year. Zanzibar has no government funded public transport, but there is private transport available, whilst road travel is also common and Zanzibar is home to an international airport. An expatriate moving to Zanzibar with a family will find that the area has a number of schools, including international schools, and is also home to Zanzibar University. Expats moving to Zanzibar may wish to join InterNations and take advantage of the website’s many features. One of the most useful features is the forum section which allows expats to connect with fellow global minds in order to find out information about areas such as housing, transport, education and others.
Working in Zanzibar
Because of its location as a port, Zanzibar has been an important center for trade in the area for centuries. One of its most dominant industries is in food production and exportation, including items such as seaweed, cloves, raffia, and other spices. Zanzibar is also known for fishing and manufacturing items such as dugout canoes, cigarettes, textiles and more. Expats who wish to start working in Zanzibar may be able to find opportunities in these areas as well as others such as education and research, healthcare, small businesses and finance. To get more information about finding work in Zanzibar, expatriates should sign up to InterNations and use the forum pages in order to find information from fellow expats. Using the forums can prove to be a vital resource for those new to the city and help answer key questions which will enable them to settle into their new location much more quickly.