Zanzibar: Spice Farm Tour with Lunch & Local Guide Pickup

Summary

Discover Zanzibar’s spice heritage with hands-on tasting and local stories

You’ll wander through Zanzibar’s lush spice farms with a local guide, tasting fresh cinnamon and cardamom right from the source. Enjoy a homemade lunch flavored by the very spices you’ve seen growing, chat with community members making soaps and creams, and bring home scents that linger long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the smell — not one single scent, but layers of it, earthy and sweet and sharp all at once. We’d barely stepped out of the van when our guide, Salim, grinned and handed me a leaf to crush between my fingers. “Guess?” he said. I had no idea (it was cinnamon, which I only recognized after he laughed and mimed sprinkling it on rice). The farm itself felt alive — chickens darting between trees, kids waving from behind banana leaves, the air thick but somehow gentle under the shade.

We wandered slowly through rows of clove trees and vanilla vines while Salim told stories about how these spices ended up in Zanzibar in the first place. He had this way of making history sound like gossip — apparently nutmeg is considered good luck for weddings here? At one point we stopped to taste something that looked like a tiny green apple but turned out to be cardamom fruit. It was so strong my mouth tingled for ages. There were moments when I just stood there breathing in — it’s hard to explain, but you start noticing how different everything smells from home.

Lunch was served outside under a palm roof, simple dishes cooked with whatever we’d just seen growing around us. The rice tasted faintly of cloves; there was chicken with coconut sauce and some kind of spicy chutney that made my nose run (in a good way). The women who cooked waved shyly when we thanked them — I wish I could remember their names. Before leaving, we browsed tables piled with soaps and little jars of spice blends; I bought some for my mum even though she never cooks with cloves. The whole day felt less like a tour and more like being let in on something local — not perfect or fancy, just real.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Zanzibar spice farm

• Join guided spice farm tour
• See, touch, and taste spices
• Learn history and uses of spices
• Sample fresh tropical fruits
• Try local dishes with spices
• Buy spices, soaps, and creams

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for this Zanzibar spice tour?

Yes, pickup and drop-off are included for hotels around Stone Town.

What spices will I see or taste during the tour?

You’ll see and taste spices like cloves, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, and cardamom.

Is lunch provided on the spice farm tour?

Yes, a traditional spice lunch and drinks are included.

Can I buy spices or handmade products during the visit?

Yes, you can purchase handmade spices, soaps, and creams made by the community at the farm.

Are guides local experts on Zanzibar’s spices?

Yes, experienced professional guides from Zanzibar lead the tour.

Is this tour suitable for families or people with limited mobility?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels; infants must sit on an adult’s lap.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup and drop-off from your Stone Town hotel, entrance fees to the spice farm, guided walking tour led by an experienced local guide, mineral water throughout the visit, plus a traditional lunch made with fresh farm spices before heading back in comfort.