| Page Views: 3,279 Last Visit to Jambiani: May, 2005 | Jambiani Village - Zanzibar by DAO - last update: May 29, 2006 |
The 2 most striking features of Jambiani are THE ROAD and THE BEACH. About 7000 people live here and the road is the centre of activity. It stretches about 3 miles, north to south. You get to Jambiani by taking a right turn when the paved road ends. All along the road you will encounter small children, ducks, cows, goats, chickens and more small children. The road alternates between sand, rock and large pools of water (during the rainy season). It is lined by coconut tress and you can watch local men harvesting the coconuts. Also along the road you will find quite a few local shops, the post office and the Cultural Village.
You will also see the main product of Jambiani – seaweed. This is cultivated in the sea and then harvested. It is laid out on the ground where is dries into many different colours including purple and mustard. This is then bagged and sold to the Far East.
The beach is breathtaking. A coral reef protects the beach area and keeps the waves at a distance from the beach. It transforms the water into about 10 different shades of blue and makes this one of the prettiest beaches in the world. During high tide the dhows and fishing boats ply the waters and local men catch fish. At low tide the surf goes out about 1 kilometre and the local women walk barefoot to gather the seaweed. The tide recedes past the coral reef and you can walk out to the seaweed beds. Sometimes you can watch some of the men walking in the shallow water with nets and another using a stick to drive the fish into the hand held nets. Be careful if you walk out, there are many sharp shells and sea urchins. Because of the mud and suction normal flip-flops will not do.
Jambiani is a friendly and welcoming place. You will be greeted by "Jambo" and "Karibu Jambiani" wherever you walk. Paradise! |
|  | THE JAMBIYA Jambiani was named after the Arab knife known as a ‘Jambiya’. It is a dagger with a broad curved blade that the men carry on the belt. The story has it that one was found on the beach many years ago and the village took the name. |
SEAWEED Seaweed (Mwani) is one among the important marine resources of the Zanzibar Islands. The Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources finds partner companies to buy the seaweed through poverty reduction programs. The coastal Communities of Zanzibar receives equipment for developing their farms from Japanese Social Development Fund (JSDF). This programme means that locals are less likely to damage their own natural resources through the collection of seashells, cutting down Mangrove trees and illegal fishing methods.
You can find more information about Seaweed Harvesting here:
http://www.isaseaweed.org/ | | |
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| Pros: | "FRIENDLY VILLAGERS, FANTASTIC NATURAL BEAUTY" | | Cons: | "YOU HAVE TO WALK A LOT IF YOU NEED TO SHOP" | | In A Nutshell: | "UNSPOILT PARADISE OVERLOOKED BY MANY TOURISTS" |
DAO's Jambiani Travel Tips
 DAO's Jambiani Travelogues | | | |
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 Comments for DAO about Jambiani | | | | |
junecorlett Wed May 27, 2009 10:38 UTC
I suppose he can charge whatever he likes for the water - clever- only way to get change! | Dester Tue Mar 3, 2009 10:09 UTC
Looks like a place you could be happy forever. I'm dying to know what bushbabies is...... | lynnehamman Mon Nov 17, 2008 23:53 UTC
Jambiani looks like my kind of paradise- unspoilt & natural. Good tips-great pics. I loved the Swahili language tip! Would be handy for a visit there | SLLiew Sun Oct 26, 2008 21:36 UTC
Another great page. Excellent hotel tips. Interesting games children can come up with when there is no Toysarus. |
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