Zanzibar - Docking
Unguja – Stone Town
Anchoring
Stone Town port is busy with ferries and shipping and anchoring here can be uncomfortable. Anchor in 15m just west of the ferry pier.
Dinghies can be left on the small beach in front of the Mercury Bar, where for a small tip one of the bar guards will keep an eye on it. Take care with the tides and be sure to haul the dinghy far enough up the beach. The staff at the Mercury Bar can help with finding a taxi.
Marinas
A new marina opened here in 2018 just a 10-15 minute walk from Stone Town centre. The marina is situated behind the newly built Hotel Verde Zanzibar and parts of it are still under construction. It is intended to be a full-facility marina. The marina entrance is exposed to the west and north.
Unguja – Other Anchorages
There are good anchorages found all along the western side of Unguja, with the best shelter being in Menai Bay, or inside Peet’s Inlet in the south and inside Tumbatu Island in the north.
In settled weather, there is an excellent beachfront anchorage at Kindle, in the far north (05° 45’ 09”S, 039° 17’ 17”E). Be mindful of the close-in reef and coral heads as you enter Kendwe. Don’t anchor in less than 20′ of water, at high tide. Water visibility is very good in Kindle.
Pemba
Pemba Lagoon is a mini-archipelago which provides numerous anchoring options.
Last updated: August 2018
- Azam Zanzibar Marina, courtesy of Jack Hunt of SV Barbara Ann
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Port Navigation
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Zanzibar now provides pretty much the only real Marina in East Africa north of Richards bay Tuzi Gazi (given the state of Tuzi Gazi docks there in June 2017 it may not viable anymore). Azam Zanzibar marina S 06 8.184 E 39 12.66 currently provides 18 full docks with water, shore power and other facilities. it is being enlarged to about 40 berths.
The developing company Azam is the biggest marine company in Tanzania and it seems they plan to develop a yachting hub and add a variety of marine services including the shipyard, technical services and more. The marina is managed by a very helpful South African couple, Mike and Nicole
+255 745 028 606 https://web.facebook.com/azamwatersportsmarina
SV Toybox August 2018
Stonetown : nous sommes arrivés à Zanzibar, début avril 2016 : mouillage dans le port de Stonetown, dans 15 mètres d’eau, au milieu des ferries, à la pointe nord, pas très confortable, mais pas guère d’autres possibilités pour mouiller,( debut mousson SE ). Concernant le dinghy , pour aller à terre, nous l’avons laissé chaque jour sur la petite plage devant le MERCURY’S BAR , où moyennant un petit pourboire un des vigiles du bar avait un oeil dessus.
Attention lors marées hautes,monter le dinghy tout en haut de la plage,et bien l’assurer:mais le gardien et le personnel du bar sont vraiment coopératifs.Nous avons trouvé une averie : demander au Mercury’s les coordonnées,ils connaissent, un taxi nous a amenés,c’est environ à 2 kms du port; nous avons fait tamponner les passeports au quai d’arrivée des ferries.
En ce qui concerne le “transire”,il faut d’abord aller aux port pour les customs, ensuite trouver le “bureau des Transire”” au port des dhows, mais là, l’employée nous a réclamé la somme de 3000 shillings (1,5€ environ)pour l’établir pour l’île de Mafia ( alors que c’est normalement gratuit), et pas de reçu ! Nous avons essayé de discuter, en vain. Ce n’est pas le prix que ça coûte, mais c’est le principe. A part ça, Stonetown vaut vraiment la peine de s’y arrêter ! Christine et Jany / Voilier Filopré /