We started our journey for a quick trip to Zanzibar today. Our first flight was on Ethiopian Airlines from Mumbai to Addis Ababa. I had booked a window seat for myself and an aisle seat for my wife in the last row of economy with the hope that the middle seat would remain empty. However, the flight was completely full, and a co-passenger was assigned to the middle seat. While he likely would have agreed to exchange his middle seat for a window or aisle, we decided to stick with our assigned seats where we were both individually comfortable. The flight was uneventful, and I slept most of the time. Breakfast was served shortly before we landed.
We had a 3-hour and 35-minute layover in Addis Ababa. Since we had access to the Plaza Premium Lounge via Priority Pass, we decided to visit. The lounge was nice, and I especially enjoyed the selection of Ethiopian food on offer, such as Chechebsa and Shiro Watt.
After spending some time there, we headed to the gate for our next flight. We flew south after takeoff, and it was wonderful to see the African plains below. This marked the third time we crossed the equator into the Southern Hemisphere. Lunch was served during the flight.
Our flight to Zanzibar was a one-stop service with a halt in Kilimanjaro. I was really hoping to see Mt. Kilimanjaro during our descent. Based on typical flight approaches, we were seated on the correct side of the aircraft; however, as we got closer, low clouds obscured the view, and we only caught fleeting glimpses of the mountain.
The stop at Kilimanjaro was quick. More passengers disembarked than boarded, and soon we were on our way again. We approached Zanzibar from the north, which meant passengers on the other side of the plane enjoyed great views of Stone Town on the final approach.
After landing, we discovered that we had to purchase mandatory insurance for Zanzibar, despite already having travel insurance. This cost us $80. Immigration and baggage claim were smooth, and we walked to the parking area to collect our car. We had booked through Zanzibar Maneno Car Rental, and they also arranged our Tanzania Driver’s Permit for an additional fee.
We withdrew some cash from the airport ATM and fueled up for 50k TZS. We drove north, passing Stone Town along the way. Just after passing the Mahonda Police Station, we were stopped by the police. They asked to check our documents, so I showed them the rental papers and the Tanzania Driver’s Permit. They then asked to see my original license, which was in my bag. I stepped out of the car to retrieve it and show them. Another officer approached, and the two began talking and giggling. We quickly realized what was coming. They claimed I should not have stepped out of the car and should always have my seatbelt on. Trying to explain that I only got out to show them the license they requested was futile. The second officer told me I would have to go to court to settle the fine or I could pay a “bribe” of 70k TZS to carry on. Though I was incredibly frustrated because I had done nothing wrong, we were only there for four days and didn’t want to waste time in court. He gave me a book to hide the money in before handing it back. We drove on, though the incident left a sour taste in my mouth at the start of our holiday. We were stopped once more later on, but that time they simply checked the documents and let us go.
We reached the hotel late in the evening and decided to eat at the onsite restaurant. The food was lovely, and we enjoyed our meal by the poolside before heading to our room for the night.
π Zanzibar Maneno Car Rental
π½οΈ Babalao Bungalows
ποΈ Babalao Bungalows