Football, the great popular sport
Soccer is the most popular sport in Zanzibar. The Zanzibar team, previously unable to take part in the CAN (African Cup of Nations), has been recognized as a full member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) since 2017 and can therefore try its luck in the continental tournament. It's one of the latest signs of the archipelago's autonomy from Tanzania, and of the popularity of football on the islands. In fact, you'll find soccer pitches everywhere on Zanzibar - every village has its own, and as soon as the heat drops, they're invaded by the young (and not so young!) until the sun goes down. On the beach, too, many locals play every evening. And crowds flock to the TV sets during major international matches.
Bullfighting, the Portuguese heritage
Amazing: the Portuguese didn't leave Zanzibarites with much of a legacy, but the two centuries of colonization have left behind a very special tradition: bullfighting, derived from the 17th-century bullfighting that the colonists practiced here. In Pemba, the locals don't fight bulls, and the sport is much less violent: the matador simply waltzes the beast around and tests its reflexes, before making up with the bull in a parade amid flowers and prayers.
Other popular sports
Since 1992, judo has been a very popular sport on Zanzibar, thanks to the founder of the island's judo club, Mr. Tsuyoshi Shimaoka. Gymnastics, acrobatics and circus in general are practiced by teenagers and adults alike on many of the island's beaches, to an excellent standard. You'll see them doing impressive flips on the main beaches at sunset. Resorts often program shows by impressive local athletes, with agile, balancing acts that are quite accomplished, such as the Full Moon Party show in Kendwa.
The game of bao, the traditional pastime
A kind of local backgammon, this is Zanzibar's favorite pastime. A bao is usually made up of a 32-hole wooden board and small polished stones called kete. Bao is played all over Africa, India and the Caribbean, but the Swahili are very proud of their version, which they call the king bao. Regular tournaments are organized. The game consists of keeping one's pieces and taking those of one's opponent. It's quite similar to West African awale, which has only two rows of pieces instead of four. Children learn to play as soon as they can count. They dig holes in the sand and take shells to make their pieces.
A scuba diving paradise
Zanzibar is a popular destination for diving, with exceptional underwater density and visibility. Night diving is also possible. The archipelago's waters easily stand up to comparison with those of the Maldives; when the water is murky, you can see 20m. Now's the time to make the most of it, before the crowds of other global destinations arrive. It's highly recommended to take a look at the coral reef with a tank. Here you'll find drop-offs several dozen meters deep, incredible varieties of coral with passes and canyons, all kinds of anemones and sponges (some 1.5 m high), sea turtles, hundreds of species of fish of all kinds, and even pelagic species. While the underwater coastline is wilder and perhaps more spectacular to the east (especially with large predators), it is also more challenging, as it is less protected from the cold current. On the other hand, the seabed on the west coast of the island offers a wide variety of fish. Here are a few exceptional spots.
Pange reef, not far from the old town, at a maximum depth of 14 m, with clownfish and parrotfish.
Bawe islet (also opposite the old town), surrounded by a reef up to 18 m deep, with numerous species of coral.
The wreck of the Great Northerner, south of Bawe, a British ship that sank on January1, 1900, laying a cable at a depth of 12 m.
Murogo Reef, at a depth of 24 m, inhabited by turtles and other animals.
Nyange reef, the largest on this side of the island, where turtles are often seen.
The Boribu reef, perhaps the most impressive, with its enormous coral mountains and columns, and giant sponges at 30 m maximum.
Bongoyo, half an hour from the old town, is a marine reserve. Here, you can walk to the shark lagoon and cliffs; on the east coast, when the sea recedes, fish often remain in pools where the water is retained.
Menai Bay, south of the airport, between Fumba and Kizimkazi, where a nature reserve (MB Conservation Area) has been created in collaboration with fishermen, and where you'll find a few atolls and a fair number of dolphins.
Mafia Island and its coral reef are home to marlin, kingfish, barracuda, sea turtles and the mythical whale shark. Once you've paid the marine reserve fee, it's time for some exceptional diving.
The islands of Pemba and Missali also offer sites with spectacular aquatic fauna, untouched by divers. Turtles and manta rays make their home here.
Some big game fishing spots
With its coral reefs, deep waters, straits, numerous islands, ocean currents and estuaries, Zanzibar offers exceptional fishing opportunities that are still relatively untried. The Pemba Strait and the waters around the islands are particularly rich in dorado, swordfish, marlin and other sharks... Upmarket hotels can organize big-game fishing trips, whether you're a guest or not.
A new kitesurfing destination
In the south-east of the island, the wind is strong enough to attract kitesurfing enthusiasts, many of them French! The Mecca of kitesurfing in Zanzibar is Pajé-Jambiani beach, where numerous clubs have sprung up in recent years to attract a younger, more sporty and less affluent clientele than the resorts. The ideal wind season is July and August, but windsurfing is possible all year round except during the rainy seasons.
