Zanzibar Spice Tour: Pick cloves straight from the tree

Crush a clove between your fingers and smell what dried spice never captures.

A three-hour guided walking tour through Zanzibar's spice plantations, where you pluck cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and cardamom directly from the plants and experience them fresh. Your guide, often a third-generation farmer, walks you through the island's role as the world's spice capital, explains how these crops shaped Swahili culture and global trade, and shares traditional remedies and cooking techniques passed down through his family. The tour includes private transportation, bottled water and entrance to the farms.

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from your hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle and takes you into the working plantations that still supply spice to markets across the Indian Ocean. Unlike farm tours that keep you on a path, this one puts the plants in your hands. You'll pluck a clove from a living tree, feel its texture, crush it between your fingers and breathe in the smell that bears almost no resemblance to what sits in a spice jar at home. The same happens with nutmeg, cinnamon and cardamom. Your guide, someone whose family has farmed these crops for generations, explains what you're holding: how each spice grows, when it's harvested, why Zanzibar became the world's clove supplier in the 1800s, and how that history shaped everything from Swahili cooking to the island's architecture.

The walking is moderate and takes about three hours total. Your guide shares remedies his family has used for centuries, which spices ease digestion, which ones reduce fever, which ones were worth more than gold during the spice trade wars. He'll teach you Swahili cooking techniques and explain why certain spices appear in specific dishes. Water is provided throughout, and the vehicle stays nearby if you need a break. The tour ends with a return to your hotel.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your hotel.
• entrance fee to the spice plantations.
• bottled water.
• an air-conditioned vehicle.
• a professional guide who speaks your language.

Information

Lasts 3h, runs every day with no fixed time, from US$ 90 per person, with live guides in 9 languages, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Czech, Polish, Romanian and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

AgesAdult (7 and older) · Under 7: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 16 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Zanrive Tours

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and several other languages, so you can book in the language you're most comfortable with. The walking is moderate and the pace is set by the group, making it accessible for most fitness levels, though the farms themselves involve uneven ground and some climbing between planted areas.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★Exceptional5 verified traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Czech, Russian, Polish and Romanian.

What spices will I actually get to pick and smell on the tour?

You'll pluck cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and cardamom directly from the plants and crush them in your hands to experience their fresh aroma. Your guide will explain how each one grows and why Zanzibar became famous for exporting them to the world.

Who leads the spice tour, and what will they tell me?

Your guide is a local farmer, often someone who grew up working these plantations. He shares family remedies, traditional cooking techniques, and stories about how the spice trade shaped Zanzibar's history and culture: knowledge passed down through generations, not from a script.

How long does the tour take, and what's involved in the walking?

The tour runs three hours and involves moderate walking through the plantations. You'll be on your feet exploring the farms and handling the plants, with water provided and the air-conditioned vehicle available nearby if you need to rest.

Does the tour include transportation to the plantations?

Yes, private transportation from your hotel is included, along with the entrance fee to the farms and bottled water throughout the three hours.