Last sunset in Nungwi beach

We have again nothing planned for today. And that is pretty much what we did: nothing.

Alexis continued working on the Jordan itinerary, finalizing some of the hotels and tours. I worked on the blog. The ear is marginally doing better.

We sleep most of the day as well. We must be getting old that these past weeks in Namibia and Botswana require so much recovery time.

We drag ourselves out of the AC to see the sunset on Nungwi beach. We have only been there very early in the morning when it's empty, but at this hour, it's packed. The umbrella boys have set up all their chairs, people play football and many tourists are relaxing. It's the busiest after Ipanema in Brazil that I have seen. You can't find a spot that is not within 1m from someone else.

So that's what we do. We pick a spot facing the sea, enjoying the evening breeze and looking at the sunset that is going down behind a hazy cloud. We try to ignore the 3-4 people who come and try to sell us something. ( Aloe vera cream, coconut, asking for donation, jetsky rides... ). Needless to say Nungwi beach is not our kind of beach, but it was nice to be outside and not in our room.

This marks the end of our stay in Zanzibar, tomorrow we fly to Arusha for a safari. I hope that the mainland will provide a better experience, I cannot say that I have been convinced by Zanzibar.

I found the island to be a very poor value for money, even worse than Phuket or Koh Samui. There must be better places to stay, and other ways to visit that doesn't involve this blatant over pricing to tourists - but we haven't found it. You feel like a walking piggy bank.

We came to dive, while it's a nice place for diving, it is not a diving destination. As far as beaches go, they are extremely beautiful and clean but crowded ( we haven't explored the south, maybe some secluded ones do still exist ). While we went to Mnemba island to dive, we saw massive blocks of hotels being built along the shore. Zanzibar is becoming a concrete over built island. I am wondering what the future of the island as a paradise destination will be.

Prices wise, everything was over the top, and quality ( whether food or service ) wasn't there. Taxis were a scam. Police everywhere to control ( 4 check points from Stone town to Nungwi alone) , so I assume renting a car or driving a scooter would come with its own bag of problems and frustrations.

For the same flight ticket cost, you can find just as nice beaches elsewhere. The extra mandatory insurance adds insults to injury.

That might be an unpopular opinion, but having been to numerous island destinations ( as a tourist or as an expat living in the country ), I think I am entitled to a more critical view of the places I visit. This one, I will not recommend.

We needed the rest, so I am not angry, but we could have rested in more comfort for the same price and just as well elsewhere.