On a trip to Zanzibar this winter I reflected on 10 years of solo travel. During that time, I have lived and traveled alone in New York City, Colombia, and the rest of Latin America. I also enjoyed traveling to Vietnam and South Africa before heading to Lisbon in 2021, where I organized a writing retreat for women of color. That same year I published my solo travel guide, Black girls take over the world. Now, I regularly Post travel content on TikTok..

On TikTok, there are over 635,000 posts with the hashtag Zanzibar, hundreds of which also include hashtags such as “solo travel”, “solo female travel” and “solo backpacking”.

Zanzibar is becoming more popular for tourism: 638,498 international visitors recorded in 2023. Zanzibar Government Statistics16.4% growth in 2022.

With six days to yourself ZanzibarI went to see if the TikTok videos – featuring sunset cruises, bright blue beaches, rooftop hotels and snorkeling – matched it.

An archipelago of more than 50 islands just 22 miles off the coast of Tanzania, Zanzibar is home to 1.9 million people. Zanzibar Island, also known as Unguja, is only 53 miles long and 19 miles wide.

I stayed near the snow white sands of Kiwengwa. The beach In Tui Blue Bihari Zanzibar, east of the island, a mini-village of 217 rooms, two pools and five restaurants.

Starting with a walk along Kiwengwa, I was approached by several people offering wooden ornaments, massages and walking tours.

At sunset that evening, I befriended two South African women who were looking for someone to take their picture. I joined them at a beachfront dinner, where we enjoyed a performance by the local Masai, a semi-nomadic ethnic group from Tanzania and Kenya. picked up Around me I heard Italians, Germans and a few Britons. Direct flights are not yet available from the UK, however – I flew via Dubai.

The next day my plan was to see the turtles. There are several sanctuaries in Zanzibar. It is advisable to check the ethics of these organizations before booking. Tour operator Responsible travel Is a good bell keeper and recommends Manarani Tortoise Sanctuary.

Tiktok offered Salaam Cave as a quiet alternative. I booked a taxi with Mohammed, a guide I met on the beach, for $50, and arrived at the caves on Saturday, 2pm. My jaw dropped in disbelief at the crowd.

“Tourism is picking up, but I’ve never seen it so busy. You come on a school tour day,” said one guide.

The cave was magnificent. I went down the stairs to reach her. Vines hung from intricate rock formations in clear, aquamarine waters as turtles gently brushed my legs. Despite the crowds, there was a limit to how many people were allowed in the water at one time, so it didn’t feel too busy.

Next, I convinced my driver to take me to the pristine sands of Mtende Beach, an hour’s drive from Salaam Cave, in the southeast of the island. TikTok Reviews Mtende was mixed, But I felt I needed to see it.

Mtende is a small fishing village and relies on donations from tourists who pass through to access its beaches. A $1 contribution is recommended, but my driver made it to a small checkpoint before parking and leading me down stone steps to a scene that left me speechless.

The glorious, shiny sand felt like silk between my toes and the water was glassy: Mtende was paradise. It was almost empty when I arrived, save for a few French tourists in a treehouse cafe and fishermen selling access to a small hammock. I couldn’t believe my luck. I swam, shot some videos, and left feeling relaxed.

The next day, I wanted to see dolphins on Minba Island. Thirty minutes from Kiwengwa Beach, with a hotel formerly owned by Bill Gates, the island is surrounded by a pristine coral reef.

Dolphin sightings are not promised and some TikTokers have been disappointed, but I was feeling lucky.

Mohammed’s price was 40 dollars, but I reduced it to 25 dollars, and I met at 8.30 in the morning with an Austrian couple in a small boat, at the gate of my resort.

“Don’t tell them how much you paid,” he whispered. I nodded solemnly.

Within five minutes, we saw a pod of dolphins circling our boat. I was a little scared as I jumped into the water with just my flippers and mask, but the 5-foot-long bottlenose dolphins whipped the water around us with their pearly gray tails before reaching the bottom of the ocean. , paid us little attention. , then return. I was fascinated.

Again, before booking a dolphin watching trip, it is advisable to find a responsible tour guide or operator.

After swimming, Mohamed took us for snorkeling near Minba Island. In the water, I saw deep red coral, brown starfish, and striped fish in shades of lemon, yellow, and sky blue.

On the way back we ate more sweet melons and pineapples than syrup. The boat was passing through the sapphire waters of Muniba.

Even the glossy filters on TikTok videos didn’t do it justice. Zanzibar has to be experienced in real life to be fully appreciated.

Getting there
Flights from the UK with stops in Nairobi or Doha are available from around £600 return.

stay there
Seven nights at Two Blue Bihari Zanzibar, including return flights from Heathrow, start from £2,064.35pp based on a double room with a garden view, balcony or terrace. tui.co.uk.

More information
Note that, from 1 October 2024, travel insurance is compulsory for all visitors to Zanzibar and must be purchased from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation for the duration of your stay. visitzanzibar.go.tz