JAHAZI issue 03 - Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries, AZAM Marine

Issue 3 Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries

ZIFF Movie magic returns to Zanzibar Doris Mollel The beauty queen saving the lives of premature babies

Luxury living A close-up look at Fumba Uptown Living

Also inside

ECO-FRIENDLY FITNESS Your Free Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries Magazine

Green ways to get in shape

In this issue Bookings:

Feature pages

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Welcome Safari njema

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Dar es Salaam in numbers

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Fumba Uptown Living

Your Zanzibar dream home is waiting

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Eco-friendly fitness

Exercise as good for the planet as it is for you

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Doris Mollel

Former beauty queen has saved hundreds of premature babies’ lives through her foundation

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Top five

5 reasons to visit Chake-Chake

Jahazi is the official magazine of

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Art Café Eight

Azam Marine and Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries Opposite St. Joseph Cathedral Sokoine Drive, P.O. Box 2517 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Tel: +255 22 2123324 Email: info@azammarine.com Web: azammarine.com

Mixologist reveals how to craft perfect cocktail

Jahazi is published by: Land & Marine Publications (Tanzania) Ltd. Room A14, 3rd floor, Josam House plot Number 16, Mikocheni Area Along Coca-Cola Road, Dar es Salaam Tel: +255 686 118 816 www.landmarine.com

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26 ZIFF

Zanzibar’s celebration of cinema returns

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Tanzanian flora

Plan your plant safari

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Hotels for sports fans

Check in, work out

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Swahili story time / Wakati wa hadithi

Sinza Usiku Mnene na Joseph Shaluwa

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Advertising sales: Catherine O’Callaghan Tel: +44 (0)7944 212063 (WhatsApp) Email: ATCL-inflight@landmarine.org

Jahazi regulars

Godfrey S. Urassa Tel: +255 (0) 686 118 816 (WhatsApp) Email: godfreyurassa@landmarine.com Editor: Mark Edwards markedwards@landmarine.com Head office: Land & Marine Publications Ltd. 1 Kings Court, Newcomen Way, Severalls Business Park, Colchester, Essex, UK, CO4 9RA Tel: +44 (0)1206 752902 Email: publishing@landmarine.com Jahazi is printed by: Jamana Printers Ltd, Dar es Salaam The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the editor, or any other organisation associated with this publication. No liability can be accepted for any inaccuracies or omissions. ©2021 Land & Marine Publications Ltd.

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Azam News

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The new Kilimanjaro VIII

Our fleet

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Travel information

Our services, travel tips and ferry schedules

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In pictures

The work of Dar photographer Vanessa Mwingira

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Technology review

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Puzzle page

Eco-friendly tech

Family fun and puzzles

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Route maps

37 Competition

Win a dinner for two at Kuku Kuku

Read Jahazi online: qrs.ly/8acippx

Our destinations

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Welcome Karibu Safari njema It is my pleasure to welcome you onboard your ferry crossing with Azam Marine and Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries, the number one ferry company in East Africa.

Our passengers are very dear to us and we have made great efforts to ensure your experience with us is a positive one all the way from booking your tickets to the moment you arrive at your destination.

Halotel is the latest mobile phone network to support our online ticket purchasing system, joining Vodacom, Airtel, Tigo and Zantel. It’s a quick and easy way to plan and pay for your journey in advance.

Issue 3 Front cover image: www.fumbauptown.com

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Boarding is similarly hassle free thanks to the design of our vessels and our carefully organised boarding protocols. Once we are under way, passengers can sit back and enjoy the journey with in-cabin features such as personal entertainment systems and a range of available refreshments competing for your attention with the spectacular Indian Ocean views from the cabin windows. Our ferry crossings are safe and speedy and deliver you right into the heart of Stone Town or Dar es Salaam for your business or leisure engagements.

Another bonus to travelling with us is getting to sit back and enjoy the latest edition of our onboard magazine, Jahazi! Once again, we have brought together the people and places that make the Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar so special.

You can now keep up with the latest Azam Marine and KFF news as well as some amazing images of our fleet in action on our new Instagram page @azam_marine

‘Your Safety is our Priority’.

Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries www.azammarine.com

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Dar es Salaam

We take a look at some surprising stats and fascinating facts about Tanzania’s commercial capital, Dar es Salaam

Dar es Salaam in numbers

162 metres

The CBD of Dar es Salaam is host to plenty of tall buildings, but the 162-metre Tanzania Ports Authority tower is the highest of them all. The 40-storey building was completed in 2016 and is the highest man-made structure in Africa built in the past decade.

360°

Diners at the Akemi Restaurant get an incredible panoramic view of the city. Tanzania’s only revolving restaurant, situated in Golden Jubilee Towers, reveals the full splendour of the city and the Indian Ocean.

6.4 million Dar es Salaam is one of the world’s fastest growing cities and its current population is estimated at 6.4 million, making it the fifth most populous city in the continent.

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The city is divided into five administrative districts: Kinondoni in the north; Ilala in the centre; Ubungo and Temeke in the south; and Kigamboni in the east across the Kurasini estuary.

1857

The site of Date es Salaam was originally just a small fishing village known as Mzizima (Swahili for ‘healthy town’), which dates back to 1857.

1866

The Old Boma is one of the oldest surviving buildings in Dar es Salaam. It was built in 1866 by order of Majid bin Said, the sultan of Zanzibar who did so much to create the city of Dar es Salaam. The Old Boma would have at that time neighboured the sultan’s palace (now sadly demolished).

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The number of stations along the 21.1 km line of the Dar bus rapid transit system, which, with its own dedicated lanes has helped bring down travel time for many commuters since it was launched in 2016.

60,000

The capacity crowd at the Tanzanian National Stadium, which is the venue for home games for Dar clubs Young Africans, Simba and Azam. The stadium also hosts international matches.

6:30 am

You’ll need to be up at dawn if you want to catch the action at the Kivukoni Fish Market. At this time the fishermen arrive to sell their fresh catch. It’s a chaotic and colourful event.

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Latest News From the Azam group of companies

ARUSHA, YOU’RE NEXT! Azam TV rolling out free-to-air satellite channel service across Tanzania

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he plan by digital satellite services provider Azam Digital Broadcast Ltd (ADBL) to establish Tanzania’s largest Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) network continues apace with people in Arusha the latest to benefit from a huge range of local and international channels broadcast in high-definition quality and without subscription charges.

Digital TV for all

in more rural areas able to send TV signals to many millions of households, even in more remote communities.

Picture quality Another advantage of DTT is that picture quality is less susceptible to “rain fade” – interruptions in service due to bad weather – because it receives its signals from land-based transmitters and not satellites in space. No danger then that you’ll lose connection just as your favourite drama reaches a crucial moment.

ADBL, which is among a portfolio of companies that includes Azam Marine under the umbrella of Bakhresa Group, has so far rolled out its US$ 20 million DTT network project in Dar es Salaam, Morogoro, Tanga, Mwanza, Musoma, Moshi, Dodoma, Mbeya and Mtwara.

Ahmed Abdallah, the chief executive of ADBL, says with latest figures revealing 56 per cent of homes in Tanzania have access to satellite TV and 81 per cent of them are with Azam TV, the move will consolidate the sister company’s position as broadcaster of choice in the country. “Our goal is to cover all 26 regions [of Tanzania] by the end of 2021,” he says.

All that is required to receive these signals and enjoy the free-to-air channels is an aerial (if your home does not already have one) and the Azam set-top box (STB). This one-off purchase is the extent of the investment the customer has to make. Once what Abdallah describes as the “simple installation process” is completed, free high-quality digital broadcasting is yours. This makes it a far cheaper satellite TV investment for the customer compared to Direct-toHome (DTH) services with monthly subscription charges for its pay-TV channels.

Azam’s DTT network lends itself to such widely accessible coverage with its bank of transmission towers in towns and cities and relay transmitters

No matter where customers are in the country, they will be able to choose from around 60 channels in Swahili and English to watch, among them

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20 that are free-to-air, including TBC, ITV, Clouds TV, Channel 10 and TV-E. The choice includes Azam’s own range of channels, which offer news updates in its daily breakfast show The Morning Trumpet, sports action from the Tanzanian Premier League and popular series such as Turkish historical drama Ertugrul, Indian musical drama Kullfi Kumarr Bajewala and Tanzania’s Mama Kimbo.

All the transmitters will carry popular shows such as these, but the DTT

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DTT details • Signals beamed from Azerspace 1 geostationary satellite with prime position over East Africa. DTT antenna towers across the country then transmit the signal to millions of homes.

• Clear picture quality with no rain fade.

• Transmitted across nine regions with a goal to cover all 26 regions by end of 2021.

• More than 60 channels available with a mix of international and local content in Swahili and English.

• One-off charge for aerial and STB installation. No subscription fees.

• Localised bouquet of channels allows regional stations to broadcast to respective regions.

• Will bring quality programming once a preserve of urban and semi-urban communities to more remote areas in Tanzania.

network also gives the opportunity to carry local channels with content targeted and broadcast to specific regions.

The localised content is part of Azam’s efforts to give a voice to Tanzanians through its media channels. The reach of the DTT network also furthers the company’s mission to serve and inspire communities in every corner of the country, keeping people updated and educated with affordable news and entertainment.

We can’t wait for the VIII Building work begins on our biggest-ever ferry Azam Marine and Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries continues to strengthen its fleet with the announcement that building has begun on its largest and fastest ferry yet.

The new catamaran is to be named Kilimanjaro VIII and at 53 metres in length it will be the longest vessel in our fleet, surpassing even Kilimanjaro VII. It will also be faster than its predecessor with a top speed of 40 knots and will provide increased passenger capacity.

Kilimanjaro VIII is designed by naval architects Incat Crowther and is being built by Richardson Devine Marine. Both these industry-leading Australian companies have a long relationship with Azam Marine. Kilimanjaro VIII will be our 11th Incat Crowther-designed vessel and the eighth to be built by Richardson Devine Marine.

The vessel’s size means it will have a passenger capacity of 654, compared to VII’s 500. A total of 340 passengers will be seated in the main deck economy cabin, while the mid-deck cabin will seat 36 VIP passengers and 12 Royal Class passengers. The rest of the mid-deck will seat a further 266 economy passengers.

The ship will be powered by a pair of Cummins QSK95-M main engines, first used on the Kilimanjaro VII, but designed to generate even more power this time around. The hull has also been adapted to feature a reverse-bow configuration.

To find an Azam TV dealer near you and see how they can help you find the best digital TV service for you, visit azamtv.co.tz website for a full list of outlets.

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Photography: Vanessa Mwingira / @punkandblvck

Vanessa Mwingira ‘I see things I wish people saw’ Photography “let me be who I want to be,” says Vanessa Mwingira. With her images, the 24-year-old freelance photographer has been able to document the beauty, energy and creativity of her hometown of Dar es Salaam in a way that reveals the hidden heart of the city. “I have all these ideas in my head, I see things that I wish people saw. Photography gives me the power to visualise those ideas exactly in the way that I want. It’s my comfort inn,” she says. She works under the name ‘punkandblvck’, a pseudonym that captures her drive to pursue her own path. “Being punk to me means liking what you like [and] not being afraid to stand out from the crowd. It’s basically being the coolest and best version of yourself.” Vanessa describes her work as “striking, emotive, engaging, and absolutely beautiful” and after taking a look as this selection of her recent photographs – all taken in Dar es Salaam – we’re sure you’ll agree. To enjoy more of her work, visit her Instagram and Twitter pages @punkandblvck

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IN PICTURES

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Fumba Uptown Living

LUXURY LIVING

A close-up look at Fumba Uptown Living

Fumba is the future when it comes to urban, luxury living in Zanzibar. The natural beauty of the peninsula coupled with its easily commutable distance to the capital makes it the most coveted piece of real estate on the island. Innovative residential development Fumba Uptown Living is, as the name suggests, a high-end option with its luxury villas and apartments fringing the coast and a sustainable community being built around them. With properties to rent and buy now on the market, Jahazi takes a trip uptown to reveal what’s on offer.

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The four-bedroom villas each come with their own swimming pool and gardens

Location

Properties

The 180-acre Fumba Uptown Living site hugs the southern coast of the Fumba Peninsula, which is a haven for marine life and has since 1998 been designated an area of outstanding natural beauty. The area has some of Zanzibar’s best beaches and the development’s villas and apartments are just steps from the sand, offering beachside living and spectacular views – the sunsets here have to be seen to be believed – out over Menai Bay. Such a relaxed coastal community is a far cry from the overcrowded bustle of Stone Town, but the capital is just a 25 km drive away for commuters or tourists who want to soak up the historic Swahili heritage. For connections to the mainland and beyond, Zanzibar International Airport is just 20 km away while the ferry port is 25 km distance. The 15km asphalt road network that has been put in place as part of the development ensures it’s a smooth journey to get there.

For all the loveliness of the location, the best part of Fumba Uptown Living is the homes themselves. Top of the range are the Sea Breeze villas that are on the market at US$ 499,000. They are arranged in clean, modern lines with each coming sequestered in its own 1,000 sq m plot fringing the coast and designed to blend in with their natural surroundings.

There’s plenty of outdoor living space to make the most of the tropical temperatures and to bask in the breeze and views with a roof-top verandah crowning the two-storey buildings as well as first-floor balconies. With four bedrooms and 513 sq m of living space, they are ideal family residences or a secure investment as a buy-to-let holiday home. Each villa comes complete with fully-fitted kitchen, air conditioning, an infinity pool facing the sea, private parking space and a garden.

Affordable to more budgets

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Fumba Uptown Living

will be the Sunset apartments, which begin at US$ 125,000.

Each three-bedroomed apartment takes up a full floor of a 10-storey block so includes its own sea-facing terrace. The price for the apartments goes up by roughly US$1,500 with each rise in floor, culminating in US$ 141,000 for the penthouse – which has, as you can imagine, incredible views – but there is an early-bird offer in which each apartment, no matter which floor, is up for grabs at first-storey price. Features include two bathrooms – one an en-suite with the master bedroom – and the properties are ready to move in to with fitted kitchens, air conditioning and all electrical fittings in place.

Bridging the gap between the Sunset and Sea Breeze properties is a series of boutique luxury apartments available with three or four bedrooms. Housed in a striking geometric structure with granite clad detailing and lime-washed

apartments offer stylish open-plan living and start at US$ 225,000.

wooden decorative elements, the

water purifying plant with a storage

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Community The development aims to not just offer a place to live, but also a way of life. Infrastructure is in place to help build a community here and ensure residents are safe and supported. Amenities planned include a school, community mosque, hospital, sports centre, amusement and water park, retail spaces and commercial buildings.

At the heart of this neighbourhood planning is the seafront corniche that spans the entire length of the development. It includes a walking and jogging track, retail shops, food kiosks and restaurants, children’s play areas, sitting areas, an amphitheatre and public parking.

Utilities Fumba Uptown Living has its own electricity substation on the complex, which supplies up to 20 MW of power. It also has its own

The development aims to not just offer a place to live, but also a way of life.

Infrastructure is in place to help build a community here and ensure residents are safe and supported (Top) The illuminated asphalt streets of Fumba Uptown Living

Stone Town waterfront is just 25 km away

capacity of close to three million litres of drinking water.

All properties are also connected to underground drainage channels.

Neighbouring communities Fumba Uptown Living is not the only major development on the peninsula. Fumba Town is just a couple of kilometres away with its lush landscape – which surrounds its villas and apartments – testament to the permaculture ideals it was founded upon.

The developments are within

easy reach of each other so residents can enjoy the amenities of both discrete communities.

At Fumba Town this includes a permaculture farm that sells its own produce at its on-site shop or will deliver regular ‘pakacha’ vegetable baskets to your doorstep; an excellent café selling freshly made meals and a live music venue with recent acts including taarab royalty Siti Muhuram.

Already a creative community is growing in the area and it even now has its own newspaper, the Fumba Times.

The company behind the development The project is the brainchild of Bakhresa Group and is being realized by Union Property Developers, a subsidiary of Azam Bakhresa.

It is being personally overseen by the conglomerate’s founder and chairman Said Salim Bakhresa.

He and Bakhresa Group have endeavoured to introduce a unique residential community concept

in Zanzibar that will provide a luxurious lifestyle for its residents and support local industry and the community. The project was conceived with the input of an international consultant team comprised of several renowned professionals and subject matter experts from various design disciplines that include architects, interior designers, engineers, landscape architects and urban planners.

How to buy To find out more about Fumba Uptown Living and the payment plans and special offers available, head to its webiste fumbauptown. com, call +255 776 050 304, email fumbauptown@bakhresa.com or visit the sales office within the complex in Fumba.

As Fumba has been designated a Free Economic Zone, non-residents are allowed to invest and can benefit from buyer incentives such as residency permits on purchase and waived capital gains tax.

FUMBA UPTOWN LIVING FACTS Plot size: 180 acres Number of properties: Approximately 300 villas and 250 apartments once completed Connections: The development is linked to the capital by a 15km asphalt road network Price range: US$ 125,000 to US$500,000 Distance from Stone Town: 20 km Stand-out features: • Seafront promenade with shops, children’s playground and jogging track • Fully-fitted kitchen included with all properties.

• Beachside living • Has its own water and electricity plants supplying up to 20 megawatt of power and three million litres of drinking water.

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Going green in Tanzania

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ECOFRIENDLY FITNESS

One Bike run a regular ‘re-cycling’ event to pick up litter in Moshi

If you are a fitness enthusiast as keen on improving the planet’s health as much as your own, then Tanzania has some interesting options for you.

Here are some green ways to get in shape.

Plogging Jogging is a pretty eco-friendly endeavour as it is, but plogging takes it to a new level with runners picking up any rubbish they see along the way. The sport began in Sweden and its name is a portmanteau of “jogging” and “plokka upp”, the Swedish phrasal verb for “pick up” (which makes me think the Swedish language might not be too difficult to “plokka upp” for an English speaker).

Dar es Salaam has plenty of beaches to run on, but their beauty is often spoiled by the amount of litter left to pile up on the white sands. It’s not only an eyesore, but has a serious impact on marine life and their habitats.

Local organisations such as Let’s Do It Tanzania and Nipe Fagio have been inspired to join the international plogging phenomenon and have teamed up with jogging clubs in Dar

yet eminently recyclable, plastic waste.

There are plenty of running clubs across the country, but a good place to start is The Runners Club Tanzania (@runnerstanzania on Instagram) or just turn your own jogs into plogs. Pull on a pair of disposable gloves, grab a bin bag and scan the streets or beach for disposable litter along your route.

At the end of your run, deposit the litter into an appropriate recycle bin.

The regular squats required to pick up the litter add an extra dimension to your workout and you’ll get that warm, fuzzy feeling of having done your bit for the environment to add to your runner’s high.

The team of bicycle enthusiasts that make up social enterprise One Bike are on a mission to promote

and protect the environment in Moshi.

Here they run a bike repair shop where mechanics have reconditioned a number of bikes and donated them to people in need in the city and the surrounding Kilimanjaro region. They also invite others in the community to join them in their self-styled “re-cycling” events every weekend.

One Bike co-founder Hillary Matemu describes the growing movement as a “guerrilla activity” in which riders pick up plastic bottles littering the streets.

The plastics collected are then sent to the nearby recycling facility to be processed. More than 500kg of waste has been collected so far. The One Bike shop has bikes for hire if you want to join in a re-cycling outing. They also run several cycling tours, including multi-day adventures in the foothills of Kilimanjaro. For more information, visit

for regular runs to collect discarded,

sustainable travel and healthy lifestyles

onebiketz.com

Re-cycling

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Going green in Tanzania

It is vital that anyone who takes on the challenging ascent of Mt Kilimanjaro does it in a manner that protects it for future generations Climbing Kilimanjaro Wherever man goes, you’ll find litter, it seems, even if it’s 5,895 metres above sea level. Mount Kilimanjaro gets between 40,000 and 50, 000 trekkers every year and pollution of this fragile and special environment is becoming an increasing concern.

It is vital then that anyone who takes on the challenging ascent does it in a manner that protects the mountain for future generations and respects its unique geology and flora. Kinapa, the Kilimanjaro National Park Authorities, have enforced strict regulations to keep the mountain clean, but it is wise to ensure your climb operator is not only aware of the rules, but has plans in place to abide by them.

As you climb, be mindful that

many of the Chagga people. The mountain’s streams run downhill to supply the farms and villages in the foothills so climbers should avoid washing themselves or their utensils in them. Your own water supply should also be taken from the streams and boiled, filtered or purified. Plastic bottles are not allowed.

It’s not the most pleasant conversation to have, but you should discuss human waste with your climb operator. Excrement has become a real problem on the mountain, especially on the higher slopes where the low temperatures mean the waste cannot be buried in the frozen ground and does not degrade.

To minimise blighting the environment either ensure your

the lower slopes are home to

operator brings its own chemical

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Make sure you leave a light eco footprint when you climb

Strict regulations have been introduced on Mt Kilimanjaro

toilet and all waste is brought down the mountain by porters or – if this, understandably, is a job you wouldn’t wish on anyone – take responsibility for your own waste, bring a bag to carry it and dispose of it properly once you are down the mountain.

Other ways to ensure an ascent with a light environmental footprint include avoiding evening camp fires, which can be especially dangerous in dry and gusty areas such as the mountain’s alpine desert zone between 4,000 and 5,000 metres in elevation. It’s also important to remember that while you may be keen to descend as quick as possible to more oxygen-rich altitudes, slithering down the shale is now discouraged ecologically because of its effect on erosion of the loose rocks.

Scuba diving and snorkelling With coral reefs to be found along about two thirds of Tanzania’s coastline as well as encircling the islands of the Zanzibar archipelago, divers are spoilt for choice for wonderful underwater worlds teeming with marine life to explore. These reefs are precious ecosystems vital to the health of our entire oceans, but they are fragile and the damage caused by overfishing, plastic debris and the effects of climate change (such as rising sea temperatures) around the world is taking its toll. The last thing the reefs need is for divers to add to the damage done so following sustainable practice is key. The Green Fins Code of Conduct is the only internationally recognised environmental standards for scuba diving and snorkelling. Its guidelines include not stepping on coral, which is easily broken and takes a long time to grow back; not touching or chasing marine life; not stirring up sediment on the sea floor, which can spread disease on the reef; avoiding littering and making sure you are wearing reeffriendly sunscreen or covering up with clothing when in the sun.

To ensure the divers that come after you get to share your thrill of swimming amid an abundancy of marine species, make sure you take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but bubbles.

Kitesurfing As a sport that relies on the harnessing of the elements, kitesurfing is an environmentally friendly pursuit. There are few better and safer places to practise this exhilarating sport than Zanzibar Island (Unguja). The best kitesurf spots are found along the southeast coastline at Dongwe, Paje and Jambiani. Beginners will appreciate the expanse of flat and shallow water with a safe sand bottom and lots of space to launch and land. More seasoned surfers will see the flat lagoons ideal for freestyle jumps and tricks and excellent wave-riding potential on the reefbreak. Wind conditions are good all year round, but December to March is the time for the steady Kaskazi north winds while June to September gets the more powerful Kusi south winds.

This part of Zanzibar is one of the island’s least developed areas with no huge hotel resorts and crowds of tourists to overpower the tranquil village atmosphere. That’s just the way the kitesurfers like it and you’ll find the surf hire clubs are engaged in maintaining a light footprint here and preserving the pristine environment.

It’s possible to enjoy and protect Tanzania’s marine environment

GO GREEN WITH YOUR SPORTS KIT ASQUITH Ethical activewear brand Asquith has a range of leggings and sports bras made from its trademarked Bambor fabric, which is made of a blend of organic cotton, bamboo and a pinch of Elasthane for extra stretch.

They are biodegradeable, chemical-free, soft and long-lasting. Shop the range at asquithlondon.com

HYLO ATHLETICS Hylo Athletics’ trainers are made with seven natural materials including corn fibre, natural rubber and organic cotton.

When you’ve run them into the ground, Hylo will buy your tattered shoes back from you and turn the fabrics into compost to be used in the next generation of Hylo shoes. Visit hyloathletics.com

GLOBAL WAKECUP Don’t add to the already 35 million plastic bottles used every day across the world. This BPA-free reusable water bottle is made from stainless steel and has an airtight, leak-proof, bamboo screw top to prevent accidental spills. Visit globalwakecup.com

PRESCA Founded by a former Ironman athlete, Presca produces eco-friendly apparel for cyclists. The fabrics are recycled polyester from plastic bottles, and recycled nylon from fishing nets and carpets. The website even shows you the eco-friendly effect of each item in terms of days of drinking water saved, and how many bottles were used to make it. Visit prescasportswear.com (All products can be shipped globally)

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Doris Mollel

Saving the ‘njiti’ Doris Mollel weighed only 900 grams when she was born. It was doubtful she would survive let alone go on to become a beauty queen, work with the Tanzanian government and the United Nations and set up a foundation in her name that would save the lives of thousands of premature babies like her. Mark Edwards meets this inspirational woman.

P

ursuing charity work was a large part of Doris Mollel’s life as a beauty queen, but the winner of five crowns in Tanzania and a Miss Universe second runner-up was not prepared for the impact volunteering at a clinic for premature babies would have.

“I was supposed to spend an hour there, but I ended up staying all day,” she says. “I was in tears seeing babies smaller than mobile phones full of syringes giving them blood and nutrients.”

When she relayed the emotional experience to her mother, Doris was in for another shock. Her mother revealed that Doris had also been a ‘njiti’ – the Swahili nickname for a premature baby, which translates as ‘matchstick’ – weighing in at just 900 grams when she was born.

set up the Doris Mollel Foundation to ensure more was done to care for these tiny, acutely vulnerable creatures.

This was in March 2015. In the years to come the foundation made huge strides in addressing the risk factors in Tanzanian society that contribute to the high number of preterm births and the insufficiency of medical facilities to cope with those numbers.

Raising awareness

Doris had always been grateful for the opportunities life had given her – the jet-setting life of a beauty queen and education to a masters level – but her mother’s revelation made her realise how lucky she was just to be alive. Being born prematurely in Tanzania is the leading cause of death in children of five years and under, being linked to 40 per cent of total deaths.

The njiti had lit a fire in Doris.

Dealing with what Doris calls the “knowledge gap” has been fundamental to the foundation’s work. To reduce the numbers of preterm births, Doris and her team have set about raising awareness of contributing factors such as girls becoming pregnant in their teens, a short time (less than 18 months) between pregnancies and mumsto-be not eating healthily or staying hydrated during their pregnancy.

At outreach visits and advocacy groups for parents they also spread the word on how the vast majority of deaths of preterm babies are avoidable, sharing techniques such as kangaroo care – the practice of skin-on-skin contact between infant and parent – which have been shown to reduce mortality.

Help getting the message out there has come through partnerships

She decided to take a stand and

with media outlets such as ITV

Lucky to be alive

Doris Mollel outside Mvumi Hospital, which now has a prenatal clinic thanks to her foundation

and through telecom companies to send health advice via SMS to those without internet access.

The foundation even released a documentary, ‘Njiti’, detailing the scope of the problem in Tanzania, which had its big screen premiere at the 2018 Zanzibar International Film Festival.

The life chances of a preterm baby are highly dependent on the level of care available at hospitals during labour, delivery and the first week of life. Specialist prenatal

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Doris Mollel

equipment has previously been prohibitively expensive for many hospitals here, but the Doris Mollel Foundation has been able to donate vital apparatus such as oxygen providers and baby warmers to 40 previously under-resourced hospitals across Tanzania. As a result, 14 of those hospitals now have their first dedicated prenatal units. The foundation has also organised the training of nursing staff for these units.

Building a voice The foundation’s work has been transformational. “We estimate that we have saved the lives of more than 12,000 babies since we began,” says Doris. She credits the scale of the impact the foundation has had on the support of high-profile partners such as Vodacom and the Tanzanian government, which recognised the importance of Doris’ work from the start.

“When we started out as an NGO, we didn’t have much of a voice,” she says, “but the Ministry of Health has reacted so positively to what we do. One of our first fundraising events was a marathon in 2015 and it inspired the Ministry to organise its own charity walk to raise funds for the same cause. We became a natural team and have worked together ever since.”

Vodacom was the foundation’s first donor with Tanzania’s leading cellular network company supporting Doris in delivering Ramadan food parcels to those in need. It’s an initiative she continues to this day – one that has recently been especially welcome to those unable to leave their homes during the pandemic – and Vodacom is still a key sponsor of the foundation’s work.

Along with the big-name backing,

around her at the foundation, who, she says, are united in “passion” for the cause. Still, the 27-year-old is its driving force. She is there leading the outreach programmes and community gatherings, visiting the hospitals and meeting the babies and the parents.

She continues to further her education to help her broaden the impact of the foundation beyond Tanzania’s borders. Currently she is studying for a masters in strategic management at the Centre for Foreign Relations in Dar es Salaam – once completed, it will become the fourth degree she has earned – to help in her work with international organisations. It has come in useful dealing with the United Nations, which the foundation has

Doris has built a 10-strong team

been working with recently on a

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Doris with the mother of a baby born prematurely at Mvumi Hospital

programme to safeguard girls under the age of one from genital mutilation as well as a programme to keep students in secondary school.

Doris says she is also pressing the UN to add a World Prematurity Day to its annual calendar of awareness events.

Role model Doris attends many outreach events with the foundation

Doris is living proof that a premature baby’s tough journey to a healthy, rewarding life is worth it. The beauty queen also raises the example of Tanzania’s former minister of mining, Angela Kairuki, another njiti, and history is full of notable people who were born prematurely such as physicists Albert Einstein and Sir Isaac Newton and musician Stevie Wonder.

When Doris visits mothers of

premature babies in hospital she likes to tell them: “Your child will be more than me.”

These words are a vital source of hope to mothers at a challenging time, but while the foundation has given thousands the gift of life, Doris knows there is much more to be done. The latest figures show that in 2019 in Tanzania, 236,000 babies were born before 37 weeks of gestation and 13,000 of those children died before they reached the age of five due to complications connected to their preterm birth.

Doris was moved to tears by the plight of the njiti when she first visited a clinic all those years ago and though she has made countless visits to hospitals and clinics since, it can still be a heart-breaking experience. She can’t save them all.

“It’s very torturing, very draining.

My tears will always fall. I have met mothers who tell me their husbands won’t visit them in hospital because they say the birth is a curse and have seen so many cases of mothers who get rid of their premature babies. Still, I believe there is a purpose and I have to be strong.”

The foundation continues to do all it can to ensure there is a wide environment of support for premature babies and their families.

Care for preterms is expensive, especially if prolonged treatment is required, but it is currently not covered by insurance companies in Tanzania. Doris is campaigning to change this.

She is also making progress in persuading the government to increase the statutory leave awarded to parents of preterm babies. Speaking to me at the start of April, Doris said her campaign for the minimum leave for mothers to be raised from three months to six months and for fathers from 3 days to three months was currently being debated by government committee. Should her request be made into law, Doris says it will ease some of the financial pressure and allow parents to be more involved in their baby’s care.

Donations Such widespread changes in attitudes towards premature births requires, Doris says, “everyone having a role to play. From the mother taking precautions during pregnancy to partners and institutions like the government and insurers helping out should the baby be born premature. There needs to be an environment there to help.”

Anybody can lend a hand. If individuals would like to make a donation to its work the Doris

History is full of notable people who were born prematurely such as physicists Albert Einstein and Sir Isaac Newton and musician Stevie Wonder page has a collection number. A donation of just TSH 500 is enough for the foundation to buy a feeding tube to help a preterm baby too sick to breast feed.

Certainly, Doris will continue to do all and more that is expected of her. Big plans for the future include the foundation getting its own prenatal clinic in Dar es Salaam, which will also become the hub of its fundraising operations. For someone who came into this world at just 900 grams, Doris now feels the weight of responsibility to make a real difference in the world. “I want to use this power,” she says.

To find out more about the Doris Mollel Foundation or to make a donation, visit its Instagram page at @dorismollelfoundation

The Doris Mollel Foundation has provided vital apparatus to hospitals

PRETERM BIRTHS AND DEATHS 11% Pre term birth rate (babies born <37 weeks) 8% Low birth weight rate (babies born <2,500g) 236,000 Babies born preterm per year 1.18 Ratio of boys to girls born preterm 11,100 Babies born per year <28 weeks 5,700 Impaired preterm survivors per year 11,500 Direct preterm child deaths per year

Mollel Foundation Instagram

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Top five reasons

REASONS TO VISIT

CHAKE-CHAKE So good they named it twice, Chake-Chake, Pemba’s capital, often only entertains visitors as long as it takes for them to organise tours and transport that explore more pristine beauty spots on the ‘Green Island’. However, the lively town – 29km from Mkoani ferry port – with its stretch of shops and water-side fish market looking out to the cerulean waters of Ocean Bay is worth more of your time. Here are five reasons to stick around.

Mkame Ndume ruins The ruins of a Swahili citadel that dates back to the late 15th Century can be found near the village of Pujini, a cycle ride south east of Chake-Chake.

It is believed to have been built at the behest of the then ruler Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman, who had a fearsome reputation. He is said to have worked locals so hard in building the fortress that he became known as ‘Mkame Ndume’ or ‘milker of men’. The ramparts are among the best-preserved examples on the Swahili Coast, yet the Portuguese forces they were designed to repel did finally get through to gain control of Pemba in the early 16th Century. Visitors are free to wander the ramparts and see where archaeologists have identified a shrine, a well and a one km channel to the sea.

Bin Awadh Coffee This unassuming Chake-Chake café offers great views out over the bay as well as plenty of freshly brewed coffee and hunks of super sweet kashata peanut brittle to nibble on. It’s only open from 7am to midday, but is a friendly spot to get your morning caffeine hit and ease yourself into the day with a game or two of traditional board game bao with the locals.

Kidike Flying Fox Sanctuary If you want to guarantee a sighting of Pemba’s endemic, but elusive flying fox, then this sanctuary, which is home to more than half of the island’s population of ‘popo’ (the bat’s Swahili name), is the place to go. About 4,000 of the nocturnal creatures hang in the trees of the sanctuary, enjoying the solitude that the site’s proximity to a human burial ground gives them. The sanctuary is run as a joint venture by villagers and the government. Several tour operators in Chake-Chake run trips or just make your own way – Kidike is a 7km dala dala ride from town.

Pemba Museum This fantastically detailed museum is housed in the town’s 18th Century Arab fort, which still retains its original ornate wooden door. Inside you’ll find exhibits on the ruins of Pemba – a visit here is an excellent primer for a trip to Mkame Ndume – as well as the island’s boatbuilding traditions with a model of a mtepe, a boat made with coconut rope and a sail of palm leaves. It’s also a great place to learn more about Swahili culture with examples of traditional cuisine, furniture, homes, music and herbal medicine. The museum is open 8.30am to 4.30pm weekdays and 9am to 4pm at weekends.

ZSTC Clove Oil Distillery Pemba is well known for its clove industry and this distillery is where the stems of the aromatic spice are turned into essential oil. The factory is located in Machomani, a village on the northern outskirts of Chake-Chake, and is run by the Zanzibar State Trading Corporation. Guided tours are available in which you’ll see oils extracted from a variety of island plants such as basil, citronella and eucalyptus.

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ART CAFÉ EIGHT The craft of cocktails Art Café Eight is the latest addition to Dar es Salaam art hub The Drum and channels the creativity of its surroundings into its imaginative menu of freshly prepared food and drinks. Its cocktails, which look as good as they taste, are especially noteworthy. They have long been a passion of café manager Paolo Frattari, who has been a key player on the Dar hospitality scene since 2007, including a stint running celebrity favourite Elements nightclub. Here he reveals what it takes to be a mixology master and even shares the recipe for Eight’s signature cocktail to try at home.

You were born in Rome, Italy, but have lived in Dar since 2007. Tell us about your culinary journey in the city.

In my years in Tanzania I have been involved in different projects. I started out in charge of food and beverages at the Kilimanjaro Kempinski Hotel (now the Hyatt Regency). I have been director of an entertainment company and organised concerts and promotions. I’ve also been in charge of sales at major

drinks companies MMI and MarkTechno (Now Bevco). I ran Elements, which is probably the most popular lounge in Dar es Salaam with all the local celebrities, and recently I left Tanzania for Nigeria to oversee the opening of Slow Lagos, which is already considered the best restaurant in Nigeria and one of Africa’s finest. Covid brought me back here and I planned the opening and launch of Art Café Eight at the Drum.

Where does your passion for cocktails come from?

Cocktails and cuisine are my passions and I see many connections between them.

It starts with conceptualising a cocktail or a dish, then mixing ingredients to find the perfect balance. You then create garnishes to add a visual wow factor. I love to see the reactions of customers to my drinks and dishes.

I have loved cocktails since I tasted my first one,

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Paolo Frattari (right) with Hassan Athman Mwabasi

which was a caipirinha [Brazil’s national cocktail made with lime, sugar and cachaça, a spirit distilled from fermented sugar cane juice].

Eight is based within the Drum complex, which is a hub for artists in Dar. How do you feel your drinks reflect the creative environment?

The menu is unique, entirely created by me. The look and garnish of every drink is beautiful, just like the art that surrounds us at the Drum.

The setting for customers is quite special with an ancient tree forming a natural roof for diners and drinkers.

The massive bamboo tree in the middle of Eight is our trademark along with the equally huge baobab at the gate. It provides natural shade for our customers and filters the sunlight beautifully. We also have covered areas if diners prefer.

I believe your cocktail ingredients are almost exclusively locally sourced. Can you give me some examples of the ingredients used?

ART CAFÉ EIGHT

TheDrumTz

‘EIGHT’ COCKTAIL All are ingredients are local and fresh.

We make our fresh light purees for the cocktails with cucumber, ginger, lemongrass and chillies. We use spices such as cloves, cinnamon and star anise in our gin and tonics selection.

Our signature cocktail at Eight is made with local pineapples, grilled and caramelized and then mixed with spiced rum, lime, and our special chilli syrup.

We also do mocktails, which are all made fresh with local ingredients.

What makes your cocktails stand out from the crowd?

Each cocktail we serve is unique, freshly made and contains no syrups or preservatives. We have on-site mixologists who can create unique variations for customers. They also look beautiful.

Are you always experimenting and coming up with new cocktails?

Constantly. We will create special cocktails on request, but the menu is full of drinks created by myself and my righthand man, Hassan Athman Mwabasi.

What to you makes the perfect cocktail?

It has to have an amazing look, the right garnish and the right glass. It must also be well balanced. A cocktail that tastes strong or is too alcoholically powerful is a badly made one 99 per cent of the time. Of course, it also has to taste good.

Ours most certainly do.

Method Cut a slice of pineapple and place it in a pan with 50g of sugar. Grill until the sugar turns dark brown. To make the light syrup take one of the peppers and blend it with 50cl of mineral water and 50g of sugar. Then blend and strain the results. Now you have your special chilli light syrup!

Paolo says: “The uniqueness of this drink comes from its blend of tastes with the grilled, caramelised, pineapple mixed with the spicy cayenne and spiced rum. It’s not hard to make. Give it a try!”

Ingredients • Spiced rum • Half a lime • Fresh pineapple juice (filtered) • One pineapple slice.

• Two large cayenne peppers (red) • Sugar

Do you see a cocktail culture developing in Dar? Absolutely. We have often groups of locals that are really getting into cocktails and are interested in learning how to mix their own drinks. I am often asked to host classes.

Now lets make the drink…

Put in a shaker: Spiced Rum 5cl Fresh pineapple juice 6cl Fresh lime juice (the juice from a halved local lime – pick a juicy one!)

Chili light syrup Now cut your grilled pineapple into small cubes and put them in the glass along with fresh ice. Fill your shaker with ice, shake it hard and strain it into the glass. Now you have your fresh and spicy drink with just a hint of smokiness.

Is there is a classic Tanzania cocktail?

Probably Dawa is the only real Tanzanian cocktail. It’s made with Konyagi, honey,

Do you hold events at Eight?

We have had live music, DJ events and we hosted exhibitions for international organizations and NGOs. Comedy club Punchline Africa has hosted three live stand-up shows here.

Artisan night markets take place here every Saturday and we also have Bubbles & Brushes every Sunday, in which customers get a canvas and one of our beautiful drinks

ginger, lime and Blue Curaçao.

to loosen up their creativity and talent.

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Zanzibar International Film Festival

Zanzibar’s celebration of

CINEMA RETURNS Great news for film lovers and Zanzibar’s hospitality industry: after a Covid-enforced break in 2020, the Zanzibar International Film Festival returns in July – albeit in a truncated, socially distanced fashion. Mark Edwards speaks to its director, award-winning filmmaker Martin Mhando, about how the event celebrates the shared experience of cinema.

gives locals and tourists a cherished opportunity to see films on the big screen at some spectacular pop-up locations while championing the work of emerging filmmakers from Africa and the Dhow Countries along the shores of the Indian Ocean, whose maritime trade routes over the centuries have done so much to create Zanzibar’s unique cultural mix.

year with the Zanzibar International Film Festival (Ziff). The public event

role in “keeping alive the embers of the cinema culture” in Tanzania and

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Sharing our heritage Ziff was launched in 1998 – just a couple of years after the last Tanzanian cinema had bitten the dust – and is now East Africa’s biggest film festival, reaching around 50,000 people each year through its screenings, workshops and associated events such as live music concerts and dhow races.

The festival’s director, filmmaker and academic Martin Mhando, believes over the years it has played a pivotal

Reggae star Shaggy is among the music acts who have performed at the festival

being “a cosmopolitanising agent of the Zanzibar community”.

“For many years Ziff was the only space in Zanzibar where you would be able to sit with hundreds of people to enjoy a film screening,” he says. “The 1980s saw the closing down of cinemas across the continent and festivals became the home of all lovers of cinema.

Film has helped people who would otherwise be estranged from the rest of the world and in that way,

©Peter Bennett

T

ime was when there were more than 50 cinemas across Tanzania and a night at the movies was one of the most popular pastimes in the country. Many would fall in love there – either with their date that evening or the wonders on the screen with Hollywood or Bollywood blockbusters transporting them to another world. However, rising ticket prices made cinema trips prohibitively expensive for all but a few and by the mid-1990s all cinemas had been closed down. Today a handful of exclusive modern multiplexes have sprung up, but they have little to link them to the country’s cinematic heyday.

Away from the mainland, Zanzibar currently has no operating cinemas at all, yet the magic of the movies arrives on the archipelago each

Ziff has opened society up to global influences.”

Such a cultural coming together should be keenly felt at this year’s event. Films submitted in competition for the festival’s 12 awards are given priority if they convey a theme of ‘Sharing Our Heritage’, involving, according to the Ziff website, “the idea of merging concerns in a global village, cultural encounters, engagement and exchange”. The theme seems fitting as the world tentatively attempts to return to its interactions and shared experiences amid the pandemic.

Last year’s festival was called off for the first time in 22 years due to Covid-19 concerns and Mhando and his team had a long, nervy wait for the go-ahead for 2021. The reduced preparation time has meant that this year’s festival will be on a smaller scale with fewer films in competition and events running over five days from July 21 to 25 rather than the usual nine or 10, but Mhando says more than 30 countries will still be represented by the films in competition and plans are in place to give the festival its largest reach yet.

He says: “We intend to spread the screenings to other cities on the Tanzania mainland and in that way screen for longer than five days and reach large audiences or even larger than normal. After the festival we plan to screen films in Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Arusha and possibly Morogoro and Mbeya. This is to ensure that these important films reach as many people as possible.”

Stone Town come to life.”

Packed houses of more than 1,500 people attend the public evening screenings at the dramatic outdoor amphitheatre provided by the Old Fort, which is the oldest building in the Unesco Heritagelisted Stone Town. This year capacity will be reduced to a more socially distanced 500 and there will be two screens showing different films concurrently. There will also be press screenings throughout the day, Q&A sessions with the directors and stars of films in competition and a host of workshops – with award-winning documentary filmmaker Nick Broomfield among those who have shared their skills at past events.

Star-studded event

Those first five days of Ziff, though, will be all about Zanzibar. The historic port city of Stone Town is always a hive of activity, but it reaches new levels of liveliness as the hub of the festival. “During

As well as a huge variety of films to watch the festival also showcases the other diverse elements that make up Swahili culture on the islands, such as its celebrated food and music. These all come together to create memorable nights on the Stone Town harbour during the festival with filmgoers mingling with customers for the street food stalls of Forodhani Gardens and once the film credits roll, the Old Fort’s music venue, the Mambo Club, takes over with live bands to entertain deep into the night.

Past musical acts that have performed at the festival include Grammy award-winning reggae star Shaggy and, of course, Ziff also attracts plenty of big names from the film industry. Mhando mentions US actor and activist Danny Glover, whose film Toussant opened the 2009 festival, then reels off a host of names that include actor and writer Melvin Van Peebles and his film director son, Mario; Canadian actress Tonya Williams, IndianAmerican filmmaker Mira Nair (“a frequent visitor,” says Mhando); US

Ziff the atmosphere is tactile,” says Mhando. “Zanzibar and especially

stage and film actor Ntate Mwine; Leleti Khumalo, the South African

Stone Town comes alive

We are able to highlight the role of cinema to the nation through screening Bongo movies and conducting a competition where we highlight excellence

(Top) ZIFF director Martin Mhando and (above) filmmaker Mira Nair ©Peter Bennett

star of hit musical film Sarafina! and Jon Kani, the actor who played T’Chaka in Marvel Studios’ global hit Black Panther.

For all the luminaries it attracts, Ziff prides itself on bringing the magic of cinema to everyone. Film screenings are free to locals and just TSH 5,000 (US$ 2) for non-residents.

The festival aims to be an inclusive and inspiring event. Mhando talks about “the aspirational spirit only found in the darkened cinema space” and he hopes the hundreds of local children who swarm into the public films at the Old Fort or attend one of the special screenings at a Zanzibar school during the festival will feel the same wonderment and inspiration he felt at first seeing such immersive stories told on the big screen.

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Zanzibar International Film Festival Festival organisers also ensure that marginalised groups and communities in more remote parts of the archipelago get a chance to see films through its Women, Children and Village Panoramas. Their efforts have led to some incredible pop-up cinema creations across the archipelago, including a screen in the water at fishing village Nungwi on Unguja’s northern tip and one set up at the football stadium in Paje on the island’s south east coast.

Pop-up screenings This year will see screenings at villages in Nungwi, Dunga and Paje on Unguja as well as in Pemba.

To Mhando it is vital that as many communities as possible on the islands get to appreciate the shared experience of cinema.

“A festival is about a place, a location,” he says. “It is therefore imperative that we involve as wide a base of the communities of Zanzibar as possible. This is even more important when you realise that this is probably the only time in the year that big audiences would be congregating to watch films. As a film culture event therefore, Ziff is an extremely important undertaking.”

Mhando and Ziff go way back.

He’s been its director since 2006, but he also claimed the top award in the festival’s first year, when Maangamizi: The Ancient One, a visually arresting drama that Mhando co-directed, won the Golden Dhow for Best Feature Film. It also went

on to become the first African film nominated for an Oscar. No Tanzanian film is yet to match that feat, but Mhando believes in the ensuing years Ziff has been instrumental in supporting a homegrown film industry that has had to adapt in the absence of cinemas. Among recent additions to the festival’s awards is one for Bongo Movies, an emerging genre of low-budget films shot fast on camcorders and released faster on DVD for home viewing or in Dar’s ‘secret cinemas’ – back rooms to bars or clubs with chairs arranged for customers to watch films on a TV screen. Ziff has done much to legitimise the genre and raise the profile of some of its most talented exponents. Bongo filmmakers in competition get to see their films on the big screen and there are opportunities for networking and to hone their skills at the film workshops.

MY FIVE FAVOURITE FILMS IN ZIFF HISTORY Chosen by festival director Martin Mhando

1. Selma, directed by Ava DuVernay (2014) 2. The Reluctant Fundamentalist, directed by Mira Nair (2012) 3. Kalushi, directed by Mandla Dube (2016) 4. Ezra, directed by Jay K (2007) 5. Gospel Hill, directed by Giancarlo Esposito (2007)

Tanzanian cinema Mhando says: “We are able to highlight the role of cinema to the nation through screening Bongo movies and conducting a competition where we highlight excellence.

Bongo movies filmmakers get an opportunity to measure themselves against the globe as well as imbibe the global influences that come through cinema. In that way Ziff becomes a barometer for the health of the cinema nation.”

Ziff also plays an important role in spreading the word on the

The festival’s annual dhow race ©Peter Bennett

Saving the Majestic The chance to stage one of Ziff’s memorable pop-up screenings at the Majestic, a former cinema in Stone Town was very special for festival director Martin Mhando. In its glory days, the 1950s-built, Art Deco-styled Majestic was one of Zanzibar’s most attractive and popular cinemas, but the years of disuse have meant it has lost much of its lustre. It no longer has a roof so the screening took place under the stars with the film projected against an internal wall. Still, the screening meant a lot to Mhando, who has been leading efforts to return the Majestic to its former glory – a campaign that has gained the support of the Zanzibar government and Unesco – and hopes ultimately that it will be the host venue for Ziff. “The Majestic is the Cinema Paradiso of Zanzibar,” Mhando says.

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limited number of Tanzanian films released in cinemas. This year’s event will include screenings of action-packed Tanzanian film Nyara, which premiered in Kenyan cinemas in February this year and is the first full-length feature from renowned video and music production studio Wanene Entertainment, as well as Dar-set drama Binti, directed, written and produced by the all-women team at Black Unicorn Studios.

Seeing these homegrown films projected on the big screens under the Zanzibar night sky is testament to the importance of Ziff in nursing the returning health of the Tanzanian film industry. The pop-up screens may be as close as the islanders have to a cinema for now, but it gives them a taste of the togetherness watching films en-masse can bring. The festival fleetingly brings the magic of film to audiences young and old to gather together in rapt attention, united by collective gasps and laughs as the movie unfolds. Make sure you are a part of this celebration of cinema in July.

For a full list of competing films to be announced closer to the festival date, visit the Ziff website at ziff.or.tz

Tanzanian flora

PLAN YOUR PLANT SAFARI

Tanzania’s Big Five wildlife thrills may grab the headlines, but the country’s flora is the match of its fauna. From the alien-like giant groundsel that grows on the upper reaches of Kilimanjaro to delicate African violets in the cloud forests of Udzungwa National Park, Tanzania contains amazing plants you won’t find growing wild anywhere else in the world. We hope this guide plants the seed of an idea for your own flora safari.

GIANT GROUNDSEL (Dendrosenecio kilimanjari) Part of the wonder of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is moving through its five distinct climate zones, which become ever more alien in their landscape the higher you get. As the highest mountain in Africa, Kilimanjaro is an incubator for isolated, mutated, or rare species found almost nowhere else. Among the most striking of these species is the giant groundsel varietal Dendrosenecio kilimanjari.

These bizarre looking plants – something between a cactus and

a pineapple – can grow up to seven metres in height. You don’t have to summit the mountain to find them as they grow among the silvery glaciers and rocky ridges of the Shira Plateau at an elevation of around 3,962 metres.

RED HOT POKER (Kniphofia) Any plant safari in Tanzania should include the ‘Serengeti of Flowers’, the Kitulo Plateau. This protected area of grassland nestled between the peaks of the Kipengere, Poroto and Livingstone Mountains in the Southern Highlands erupts into a riotous wildflower display

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Tanzanian flora

LAKE LATUMBA CORAL TREE This beautiful crimson flowered tree is so rare that it has twice been thought to be extinct.

However, its rediscovery in 2014 and the subsequent successful growth of saplings have led to its revival. It remains critically endangered, but you may be lucky enough to spot the tell-tale spiny trunk and red flowers of one of the less than 50 mature examples to be found amid Tanzania’s coastal forests.

AFRICAN VIOLET (Saintpaulia ionantha)

during the main rainy season of late November to April. The scale and diversity are breathtaking with more than 350 species of vascular plants to be found, 30 of them endemic to southern Tanzania. Visitors can wander among varieties of aloes, protea, geraniums, giant lobelias, lilies and aster daisies, but one plant that really sets the plateau ablaze is the red hot poker with its incredibly impressive, long and densely packed spikes of fiery orange flowers. This African native species is all over the plateau.

16 can be found in Kitulo or the surrounding Poroto Mountains.

No wonder locals refer to the plateau as Bustani ya mungu, which is Swahili for God’s Garden.

Among the native orchids is Disa Robusta. With its delicate tower of scarlet blooms, it is one of the most beautiful sights on the plateau, but also one of the rarest. Its scarcity is in part due to its carbohydrate-rich tuberous root being a key ingredient in local delicacy chikanda, a popular savoury snack.

Red Hot Poker, The ‘Serengeti of Flowers’

The Disa Robusta orchid

DISA ROBUSTA ORCHID The Kitulo Plateau is also renowned for its orchids, with 45 varieties of the fragrant and colourful flower showcased during the rainy season. Of those, 31 are endemic to Tanzania and

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African Violet, native to Tanzania

The Udzungwa Mountains of south-central Tanzania has been called the African Galapagos due to its raft of endemic animals and plants. Among the flora, its most famous native is the African violent. While the delicate, beautiful flower has become a popular houseplant all around the world, Tanzania is where it originated and still grows in the wild. There is an excellent network of trails to explore the cloud forest here, which rises to an altitude of 2,000 metres,

which will bring you to highlights such as Sanje Waterfall, which plunges 170 metres into the forest valley and whose sheltered, damp conditions are ideal for the African violet sightings.

FLAME TREE (Delonix regia) This flowering plant that is part of the Fabaceae bean family has leaves that bloom a rich red for beautiful, flamboyant displays.

It’s also known as the flamboyant tree and royal Poinciana, but in Tanzania it’s popularly known as the ‘Christmas tree’ as this blaze of colour occurs in December.

It’s a spectacular sight across the country and there’s no need for tinsel or fairy lights, these decorations are all natural.

BAOBAB (Streptosiphon) The Baobab tree is an iconic symbol of Africa. There are gigantic examples in the Tanzanian savannah that have stood there for centuries. You’ll know when you see one as they are singular-looking trees,

Emerging thick from the earth, the Baobab’s sparse branches and thick trunk resembles the roots of a tree rather than the foliage. As a result, they are often called the ‘Upside Down Tree’.

Another apt name is ‘The Tree of Life’. The baobab blossoms with fruits and flowers every nine months. Both are consumed by humans and animals, providing a source of food during droughts.

Research has shown the tree’s fruit is a superfood with four times more vitamin C than an orange, six times more potassium than a banana, twice as much magnesium as an avocado and more calcium than milk. On top of that the Baobab’s bark provides a source of moisture for many mammals during the dry season, a scratching post for itchy elephants and rhinos and a refuge from predators for bats, birds and rodents.

Symbol of Africa – the baobab tree

LIPSTICK TREE (Annatto Bixa)

ACACIA (Acacia tortillis) Another regular safari spot is the Acacia tree with its umbrellalike branches. East Africa has around 62 species of which six are endemic to Tanzania. While grabbing a souvenir photo next to one of these icons of the African bush is a must, the tree does try its best not to allow anyone to get too close. The first thing you will notice is its thorns – acacias are often referred to as thorn trees – which are designed to deter herbivores feeding on their leaves. Even more ingenious is that some acacia trees release tannin when animals such as giraffe approach for a nibble. The toxin is dangerous if ingested and will prompt the giraffe to move on. The chemical defence system doesn’t end there with the trees also releasing ethylene. The gas, which has a sweet and musky odour, can travel up to 40 metres,

acting as a warning system to other trees of approaching animals. Yes, that’s right, these trees talk to each other.

The fruit of the lipstick tree

You’ll find plenty of these small trees (sometimes a shrub) in Zanzibar. It gets its name because the seeds the tree produces are often used in the creation of red lipstick, as well as spices and body paint.

The natural red condiment the tree produces is called annatto, and it is gathered from the wax that covers the tree’s seeds.

These seeds are used in a lot of traditional dishes all over Zanzibar.

Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries book online at azammarine.com

31

ECO-FRIENDLY TECH It can be hard to ally a love of tech with a love for the environment. Most gadgets soon fall victim to the rapidly evolving technology industry, discarded for newer models to add to the toxic wasteland of landfill sites. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Here are five ingenious products that are kind to the Earth and will last for years.

Keep your water and the beaches clean...

LARQ Self Cleaning Water Bottle

Telling the time with sunshine…

Seiko Solar Watches One thing we Tanzanians are not short of is sunshine, but these solar watches only require a couple of hours of sun all year to run. These Seiko watches, not only do away with the need for batteries – which are a toxic threat when disposed of in landfill sites – but they come in a range of stylish looks for men and women sure to ramp up your wrist game. This SUT322P1 model for women is waterproof to 100 metres so great for divers and has a beautiful mother-of-pearl dial. seikowatches.com US$ 277 Image: Seiko Watch Corporation

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Anyone who has seen our beautiful rivers and beaches littered with discarded plastic, will know that reusable bottles are the right choice.

However eco-friendly these bottles are, they can harbour not-so welcome germs if not washed thoroughly between uses. The LARQ range solves this issue by using ultraviolet light – widely used today in hospitals to sterilise surfaces – to wipe out 99.9% of bacteria and viruses. This germzapping function activates every two hours so you never have to worry about the cleanliness of what you are drinking. The bottles also keeps your drinks cold all day or will ensure your flask of coffee is still hot up to 12 hours after you first made it. livelarq.com US$ 108 Image: LARQ

A big sound without the big footprint…

Google Nest Mini The latest generation of the Nest Mini comes with 40 per cent stronger bass than the original. As well as these new lower registers, the smart speaker has a lower carbon footprint with it now being made entirely from recycled products. Its attractive knitted fabric cover is now constructed from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recovered from used-plastic water bottles. google.com US$ 67 Image: Google

TECHNOLOGY REVIEW

By Mark Edwards

See the light on saving energy…

Dyson Lightcycle Task Lamp Lamps don’t come much smarter or sustainable than this. In fact, though you might not enjoy thinking about it, the Dyson Lightcycle Task Lamp will probably have a longer working life than you.

This is thanks to a vacuum-sealed copper tube, which constantly draws heat away from the LEDs, maintaining light quality for 60 years. That light will self-adjust its intensity by detecting changes in background light or the time of day or you can personalise it to your needs with 20 customised setting to suit your work or mood. There is no place for on/off switches in the Dyson next-gen world.

Using an infra-red sensor, the light comes on when you are near and should it detect no movement for five minutes it will switch itself off. dyson.co.uk US$ 554 Image: Dyson

Plant-based protection for your phone…

Incipio Organicore Up to 80 per cent of a mobile phone is recyclable, so when you feel you need to move on to a new model, don’t send it to landfill or leave it in the drawer – recycle it! As for replacing your phone case, if you have bought an Incipio Organicore, which is made up of 100 per cent plant-based materials, you can just put it in your garden compost bin where it will dissolve completely and harmlessly. The cases come in sizes to fit the latest Samsung and iPhone models and with their form-fitting and flexible shell they will protect the phone from drops from up to over two metres. Of course, they also do their bit to protect the environment.

Incipio.com US$ 39.99 Image: INCIPIO

Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries book online at azammarine.com

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Hotels for health

The best

HOTELS FOR FITNESS LOVERS If the excitement of an upcoming holiday is dashed with the added anxiety of how you will get in your daily workout while away, then we’ve got five solutions for you. From hotels attached to world-class gyms to ocean-side hotels packed with water sports options, we’ve selected five getaways ideal for the fitness fanatic.

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Best Western CBD Hotel Dar es Salaam

Colosseum Hotel & Fitness Club Dar es Salaam This grand hotel in Dar’s Oyster Bay neighbourhood is built to look like a Greek temple and there is plenty of opportunity to sculpt your body into suitably Adonis or Aphrodite-like shape at the onsite fitness club. Guests get complimentary membership of the club during the length of their stay, giving them access to one of the country’s best-appointed gyms with the latest Technogym machines, a lovely swimming pool, squash courts and a daily timetable of exercise classes such as yoga and body pump led by certified instructors. Should you want to ease your aching muscles, the hotel also contains Cleopatra’s Spa, which offers a range of massages, including Balinese and Thai. To refuel after your exercising, head to the hotel’s News Café Restaurant, which serves a variety of freshly prepared light snacks and wholesome meals.

The top floor of this city centre hotel is given over to a sprawling fitness centre that offers a fantastic choice of exercise equipment as well as incredible panoramic views across the Dar cityscape. Guests have the entire gym at their disposal during their stay with facilities including cardio and resistance training machines, a huge free weights area and a studio with spin bikes and array of functional equipment for stretching and strength work. There is also a sauna room to provide a relaxing end to your workout or you can cool down with lengths of the outdoor pool a few floors below.

For more information, visit cbdhotel.co.tz Double rooms from US$100 per night

For more details, visit colosseumhotelandfitness.com Double rooms start at US$110 per night

Hotel Verde Zanzibar Island (Unguja) If you are just as keen on improving the earth’s health as your own, Hotel Verde – Zanzibar’s greenest hotel – has sustainability to its core even when it comes to keeping fit. The fitness centre at the hotel just north of Stone Town is equipped with human-powered treadmills, bikes and elliptical trainers that allow guests to generate power while working out, which is then stored in the hotel’s energy bank. Guests are also encouraged to make use of the walking and running trails within the hotel’s lush gardens for some al fresco exercise. Hotel Verde rewards its guests for such eco-friendly endeavours with ‘Verdinos’, its in-house currency, which can be used to buy a healthy smoothie or coffee at the hotel’s Vanilla Lounge or put towards your bill at its Roystonea Restaurant.

For more information, visit verdehotels.com Double rooms start at US$215 a night

Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries book online at azammarine.com

35

Hotels for health

Fish Eagle Point Subutuni, Tanga If you prefer to keep fit with outdoor activities rather than being cooped up in a gym, this familyrun lodge, sympathetically slotted in among the coral forest along the remote coast of the Boma Peninsula, has plenty to offer. Its cottages (including one on stilts), campsite and freshwater pool all fringe the secluded Mkadini Beach while a jetty housing the lodge’s restaurant and bar stretches into the crystal-clear water. The coastline here forms a natural cove that shelters the waters and secures safe conditions for kayaking, swimming and snorkelling. Other active pursuits available include fishing, beach volleyball and hiking into the surrounding bio-diverse forest, which the lodge’s husband and wife owners have done much to protect since establishing Fish Eagle Point in 2008.

For more information, visit fisheaglepoint.com Email reservations@fisheaglepoint for cottage room prices. Hired tents are US$10 and then US$10 extra for each person a night.

Fundu Lagoon Pemba For those who want to escape everything but their commitment to their fitness goals, this Pemba hideaway is ideal. A 15-minute speed boat ride from Mkoani port will get you to this barefoot luxury establishment, which won the i-escape African Hotel of the Year 2020, with its 17 rooms moments from a stretch of unspoilt beach. The waters along Pemba’s west coast here are protected and the Pemba Marine Reserve, across from Fundu, is a haven of pristine corals and diverse marine life, best explored with the

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hotel’s excellent onsite dive centre, Dive 710. There are also paddleboards and kayaks to hire and opportunities to go kitesurfing while this remote part of Pemba allows for fantastic adventures on foot to explore neighbouring villages and a wealth of bird life.

Fundu Lagoon re-opens on June 30 2021.

For more information, visit fundulagoon.com Rooms start at US$ 350 per night

Competition A chance to win a dinner for two at Kuku Kuku

How to enter To be in with a chance of winning this prize, answer the three questions below (they are all based on features in the magazine where you’ll find the answers). Email the answers, along with a photograph of you holding Issue 3 of Jahazi on your KFF journey to competition@landmarine.org by the closing date: July 9th 2021.

Answer these three questions What is the name of the film co-directed by ZIFF director Martin Mhando that won the Golden Dhow for Best Feature in the festival’s first year?

How many hospitals so far has the Doris Mollel Foundation been able to supply with vital prenatal equipment?

What is the name of the currency Hotel Verde rewards its guests with when they have completed an eco-friendly task?

Competition terms and conditions: Prizes dependent on availability. One entry per person. Entrants must be 18 years or over. The decision of the organisers will be final.

The competition is not open to employees and their relatives of Kuku Kuku, Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries, Azam Marine or Land & Marine Publications Ltd. The prize does not include travel to and from destinations.

K

uku Kuku is the sister establishment to the city’s popular Samaki Samaki chain and shares its blend of restaurant, bar and lounge, but with chicken rather than seafood being the extensive food menu’s ingredient that bears repeating. Kuku Kuku launched at its Mlimani City Mall location in October last year and has soon become one of the Dar’s most popular hangouts. Diners love its menu’s mix of fried chicken specialties, burgers and salads and its extensive drinks menu. It’s also a popular place to party with regular music nights led by some of the country’s best DJs. Jahazi

is delighted then that Kuku Kuku is providing the prize for this issue’s competition. One lucky reader will win a meal for two (the prize includes a starter, main course and drink for the winners and a guest of their choice) at this Dar diner.

Last issue’s winner Congratulations to Dr. Emmerenceana Mahulu Mambo who wins a night for two at the Zanzibar Coffee House, Stone Town.

Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries book online at azammarine.com

37

Swahili story time / Wakati wa hadithi

SINZA USIKU MNENE na Joseph Shaluwa

Jahazi presents another exclusive short story by Tanzanian Kiswahili author Joseph Shaluwa. Sinza Usiku Mnene is a cautionary tale exploring the seedy side of suburban Dar es Salaam and comes with quite a sting in its tail. Enjoy!

A

LIPUNGUZA mwendo wa gari taratibu kabla ya kusimama kabisa pembeni mwa Barabara ya Shekilango, eneo la Sinza – Afrika Sana, jirani na Gereji ya Mwanamboka jijini Dar es Salaam. Wasichana wawili waliokuwa wamesimama, wakaanza kukimbilia lilipoegesha gari lile!

Chuma akatoa kichwa nje akiwaangalia wale wasichana waliokuwa wakimfuata. Wakasogea karibu na kioo cha dirisha la mbele.

Ni wasichana wazuri sana kwa sura. Warembo, wenye maumbo ya kuvutia. Isingekuwa rahisi ufahamu kuwa wale wadada walikuwa wakijiuza labda kwa kuyatazama mavazi yao tu.

Ndiyo!

Pale walikuwa kazini na Chuma kama mteja alisimama ili aweze kujichukulia mmoja wao.

“Mambo?” wakasalimia.

“Poa, sema kaka.”

Chuma akatulia kwa muda.

Akawaangalia kwa zamu kwa mtindo wa kuthaminisha aliyekuwa akimhitaji.

Mwisho akaona mmoja wao, ambaye alikuwa mweusi, alikuwa mzuri zaidi kwake. Akafungua mlango wa abiria na kuonyesha ishara aingie.

Akaingia.

“Vipi mrembo?”

“Poa, wapi sasa?”

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“Usijali kuhusu tunapokwenda... lakini kwanza nilitaka angalau tupate chochote. “ “Miye nipo kazini bwana, hebu sema, unataka kulala au fastafasta?” yule changu akauliza.

“Vyote sawa, lakini sitalala na wewe.

Suala la pesa si tatizo. Kikubwa nahitaji nafsi yangu ifurahi. Hilo tu.”

“Haina shida.”

Tayari gari lilikuwa linakatiza Sinza – Mori, likiendelea kuifuata Barabara ya Shekilango. Mji ulikuwa umetulia lakini pilikapilika za watu ziliendelea kama kawaida. Sinza haina usiku wala mchana.

Kwa muda ule wa saa 5 usiku, ilikuwa sawa na saa 12 jioni, maeneo mengine yaliyotulia jijini Dar es Salaam kama Masaki au Oysterbay.

Lengo la Chuma ni kuelekea Legho, jirani na Klabu ya Sunciro ili aingie naye kwenye moja ya grocery zilizopo eneo hilo ambazo huwa hazifungwi mapema.

Chuma alipenda zaidi kwenda hapo kwa sababu kuna hali ya giza.

Hakupenda kuonekana. Mara kadhaa amekuwa akichukua machangudoa na kwenda nao hapo kunywa na kula kwanza, kabla ya kutafuta gesti na kwenda kupumzika nao kwa muda.

“Tunafika wapi?”

“Hapo Legho tu.”

“Poa.”

Gari lilikata kulia na kuingia uwanjani hapo ambapo kulikuwa kumetulia sana kwa muda huo.

Kelele ya muziki ilisikika kwa mbali, kwa sababu baa iliyokuwa eneo hilo, ilikuwa mbali kidogo na mwanzo eneo hilo lenye grocery nyingi.

“Unaitwa nani vile?” akauliza Chuma.

“Amina lakini wengi wananiita Emmy.”

“Emmy?”

“Ndiyo.”

“Vizuri sana.”

“Na wewe?”

“Eddy,” Chuma akadanganya jina lake, si ajabu hata Emmy naye halikuwa jina lake halisi.

Walishuka kwenye gari na kuanza kutembea taratibu wakielekea kwenye Pub ya Dagaa iliyokuwa pembeni kabisa mwa eneo lile.

Kulikuwa kumechangamka kwelikweli.

Joseph has written 14 books now, including Chotara and Red Wino, which are available for order Wakatafuta sehemu iliyotulia, wakaketi.

Vinywaji vikaanza!

Chuma alikuwa mume wa Pamela, ndoa yao ilikuwa na miaka mitano lakini amani nyumbani haikuwepo.

Waliishi kwa furaha na masikilizano kwa miezi mitatu tu ya mwanzo ya ndoa yao. Baada ya hapo ilikuwa ni ugomvi na maneno kila siku.

Vurugu zilipozidi ndani ya nyumba, Chuma akasarenda, akaona ni bora ajipooze na pombe. Sasa pombe ikawa ndiye mpenzi na rafiki yake wa kweli. Alikuwa kijana mwenye umri wa miaka 35 tu, bosi katika kampuni moja ya usafirishaji jijini Dar es Salaam.

Kwenye pilika zake za pombe ndipo alipokutana na machangudoa

ambao yeye aliona ni afadhali kuwa nao kwa sababu hawana gharama na si wasumbufu. Ni kiasi cha kuita na kuondoka naye.

Hayo ndiyo maisha aliyojichagulia.

Kila siku alikuwa akirejea nyumbani usiku akitokea kwenye pombe zake.

Kwa kawaida, akiwahi sana nyumbani, alikuwa anaingia saa 7 au 8 lakini muda wake wa kawaida ulikuwa ni saa 9 hadi 10 usiku! Ni sawa alikuwa akienda Alfajiri.

Nusu ya usingizi wake alimalizia kwenye mabaa mbalimbali jijini Dar es Salaam. Pamela naye hakuwa nyuma. Tafrani ya nyumbani ikamfanya naye atafute kidumu.

Alikuwa akitoka na kigogo mmoja wa serikalini.

Fedha zikampa kiburi. Jambo ambalo Chuma hakulijua, ni kwamba, mkewe alitumia muda ambao yeye alichelewa kurudi nyumbani, kula raha na mwanaume wake. Siku zote, alirudi nyumbani usiku wa saa 6 na kujilaza kitandani akiwa hana habari na mumewe!

Leo tena Pamela ametoka na kigogo wake. Wakati Chuma akiponda raha na Emmy Dagaa, Pamela naye alikuwa akitesa na jamaa yake huyo.

Ngoma droo!

Chuma alishtuka baada ya kuangalia saa na kugundua kuwa ilikuwa ni saa 8 usiku. Muda ulikuwa umekwenda sana. Alipomaliza mambo yake na Emmy mle chumbani, kidogo alipitiwa na usingizi hadi kufikia muda huo.

Walikuwa ndani ya chumba kilichokuwa katika hoteli moja palepale eneo la Legho. Chuma aliishi Mbezi Beach. Aliamka kitandani haraka na kumshtua Emmy ambaye naye alikuwa amelala kwa uchovu wa pombe.

“Vipi?” Emmy akauliza.

“Naondoka.”

“Bwana... si ulale tu hapa?”

“Wewe! Umesahau nilikuambia kuwa mimi nina mke?”

“Mh! Kweli... sasa?” akasema Emmy.

Alikuwa anamaanisha pesa. Chuma akatoa waleti na kutoa noti tano za elfu tanotano. Zilikuwa elfu hamsini!

Akamkabidhi!

Emmy akachanganyikiwa!

“Huwa ninakuwa palepale kila siku, naomba ukija uwe unanitafuta.”

“Usijali.”

“Au naomba namba yako ya simu.”

“Hapana, nikikutaka nitakupata tu, haina haja ya namba ya simu.”

“Poa.” Chuma akatoka zake nje. Akiwa anapita kwenye korido, alishangaa kusikia kama sauti ya mkewe Pamela kutokea chumba cha pili. Awali alihisi labda masikio yake hayasikii vizuri lakini baadaye akajihakikishia kweli ilikuwa sauti ya mkewe.

“Lakini haiwezekani, atakuja huku kufanya nini usiku huu? Pamela kweli anaweza kuwa huku?” akawaza kichwani mwake Chuma.

Akiwa bado yupo katika mshangao wake huo, mlango ukafunguliwa na Pamela akatokea akiwa na ameongozana na mwanaume. Ni yule kigogo wake.

“Mh! Mume wangu!” Pamela akasema kwa sauti ya mshangao.

“Pamela!!!!!” Chuma naye akashtuka sana.

Hakuna aliyekuwa na majibu kwa mwenzake. Walibaki wamesimama wakiangaliana kwa hasira.

Nani ana ubavu wa kuanzisha vurugu?

JOSEPH SHALUWA Joseph has written 14 books now, including Chotara and Red Wino, which are available for order. Call 0786 224191 or email joeshaluwa@gmail.com For more information on his work, visit his Facebook page @Joseph Shaluwa @joeshaluwa on Instagram.

Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries book online at azammarine.com

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Our fleet Experience the finest, modern and swift ferry services in Tanzania

Our Catamarans We have a fleet of eight vessels with a speed range of 25 knots up to 40 knots allowing passengers to be in Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam within 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Kilimanjaro VII

Kilimanjaro VI

Kilimanjaro V

Kilimanjaro IV

Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries book online at azammarine.com

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Travel information For further information and to book visit www.azammarine.com

Our services Onboard hospitality services:

WiFi Free Internet on board all our catamarans

Entertainment Library of movies and TV shows to watch

Snacks Enjoy a cup of coffee, tea or Juice

VIP Lounge Luxurious Lounge Dedicated to VIP and Royal class passengers.

Need to know

25 Kgs

Permitted Luggage is 25 kgs per person.

Any additional will be chargeable.

Consumption and carriage of alcoholic beverages is highly restricted.

No refund policy on missed travel date or time. In case of cancellation, office should be informed at least two hours prior to departure.

Online bookings are not considered

Travel tips

Ferry schedules

All foreign passengers (not Tanzanian citizens) are required to carry their passports when traveling between the islands of Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania.

Foreign passengers are required to pay for their tickets in US$. We do however accept payments in UK Pound Sterling (GBP) and Euro (€). All other currencies are not acceptable.

Foreigners with resident permits or exemption certificates are allowed to pay for their fares in Tanzanian Shillings and will be charged the normal fares applicable for citizens. Tanzanian citizens are encouraged to carry some identification to prove their citizenship. We recommend all passengers to buy their tickets from our offices in Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar or Pemba and from our approved travel agents throughout the country. Please do not buy tickets from people in the streets claiming to be our agents.

DAR - ZNZ Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar 7 AM 9.30 AM 12.30 PM 4 PM

ZNZ - DAR Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam 7AM 9.30AM 12.30PM 4PM

ZNZ - PEM Zanzibar to Pemba 7.30AM (WED, THU, SAT, SUN)

PEM - ZNZ Pemba to Zanzibar 7.30 AM (THU, FRI, SUN) 9AM (TUE)

PEM - TAN Pemba to Tanga 2.30PM (SUN)

TAN - PEM Tanga to Pemba 11PM (MONDAY)

confirmed until a payment has been made.

Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries book online at azammarine.com

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Our destinations Let us take you to Tanzania’s coastal cities and the islands of Zanzibar

Dar es Salaam This fast-expanding city – population four million and counting – is Tanzania’s commercial and cultural hub. Traces of Dar’s beginnings as a Zaramo fishing village can be seen at the Kivukoni front where dhows dock at dawn laden with the night’s catch for the bustling fish market, but now gleaming skyscrapers dominate the skyline. This modern metropolis rocks around the clock with a vibrant music, food and art scene, but if you prefer to relax there are a string of serene beaches in easy reach as well as the nature escapes of Pugu Hills and Mikumi National Park.

waters while its vibrant and unique Swahili heritage will fascinate culture vultures and its famous spices perfume the air and flavour the food. Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries delivers you to one of the island’s greatest attractions, Stone Town, the capital’s ancient port. Here you can explore its maze of bazaars, cafés, mosques and mansions that are vestiges of the island’s pivotal role in trading along the East African coast.

Pemba

Unguja, the largest island of the Zanzibar archipelago, is a treasure trove for tourists. Those who snorkel, scuba or windsurf will

As its Arabic name, which translates as “the green island”, suggests, Pemba has a lush landscape, combining the cultivated and the wild. There are plantations of banana, coconut and cloves as well as expanses of mangrove forest. With far fewer hotels than its Zanzibar big brother Unguja, 80 km south, it provides an exclusive escape for the adventurous traveller with remote attractions including the dense canopy of monkey-magnet Ngezi Forest and the private paradises of isolated sandbanks. Its white sand beaches are ringed on all sides by coral reefs which offer some of east Africa’s best snorkelling and diving – with marine life including humpback

love its reef-protected cerulean

whales in July and August.

Zanzibar

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Dar es Salaam waterfront Gideon Ikigai / Shutterstock.com

Pemba Island

Tanga When its sisal farming was in full flight, Tanga was earmarked as the capital of Tanzania, but it now offers more low-key charms. It still has a busy port – the second largest in the country – with our ferries crossing to Pemba – and plenty of attractions for the visitor.

Its history as an Arab trading post before the Germans and British vied for colonial control in its sisal

Contacts Bookings: azammarine.com +255 22 2123324 info@azammarine.com Follow us: @azammarine kilimanjaro fastferries officialazammarine

Azam Marine and Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries Opposite St. Joseph Cathedral Sokoine Drive, PO Box 2517 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania heyday has left a town with some fascinatingly eclectic architecture, especially the gothic Bombo Hospital. The ocean offers great dhow sailing, there is a rich coral reef for diving enthusiasts and Tanga’s proximity to the Saadani National Park makes it the only city with a wildlife sanctuary incorporating a marine park in the region.

Other nearby attractions include the Amboni Caves and the Swahili

Email: info@azammarine.com www.azammarine.com Tel: +255 22 212 3324

Tanga

trading outpost of Pangani.

Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries book online at azammarine.com

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Puzzle page Under the sea family fun and puzzles

SALTY SEA JOKES Q. What do you call a big fish who makes you an offer you can’t refuse?

A. The Codfather.

Q. Which fish can perform operations?

A. A Sturgeon.

Q. Where do fish wash?

A. In a river basin.

S D E

E W A E

Q. What happened to the shark who swallowed a bunch of keys?

A. He got lockjaw.

Q. What fish goes up the river at 100 mph?

A. A motor pike.

Q. Why did the whale cross the road?

A. To get to the other tide.

Q. Why are crabs so greedy?

A. Because they’re shell-fish.

Q. Where do little fishes go every morning?

A. To plaice school.

Q. Why did the crab get arrested?

A. Because he was always pinching things.

S

T K R A H S O N I

T C N A E C O

N U O

I

L B T R

UNDER THE SEA

SEA CREATURE

Can you find the words listed below in the letter grid?

Tip: Some words are going backwards!

Unscramble the letters to reveal the names of these sea creatures.

WORDSEARCH

ANAGRAMS 1. Locra feer

FISH

TURTLE

SHARK

CORAL

2. Erstlob

R T A R G R P E

WHALE

OCTOPUS

3. Quids

A L

L A E C U L

OCEAN

STINGRAY

4. Phindol

Y E

S M F

SEAWEED

MARLIN

SNORKEL

CRAB

G R R L

E A O K

I

S H

5. Stayring 6. Tocosup 7. Shellyjif 6. Octopus 7. Jellyfish 3. Squid 4. Dolphin 5. Stingray 1. Coral Reef 2. Lobster Answers:

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Routes For further information and to book visit www.azammarine.com

Tanga

Pemba Island

Wete

Korogwe

Mkoani

Zanzibar

Zanzibar Mkokotoni

Stone Town Bagamoyo Kibaha Kichwele National Forest

Dar es Salaam

KiwengwaPongwe Forest

Chwaka Bay

Stone Town Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park

Chumbe Island Coral Park

Kiwani Bay

Zala Park

Follow us: @azammarine kilimanjaro fastferries officialazammarine

Menai Bay Conservation Area

Pemba Island Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries book online at azammarine.com

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Routes For further information and to book visit www.azammarine.com

wengwaongwe orest

Tanga

Pemba Island

Wete

Korogwe

Mkoani Chwaka Bay

Zanzibar Mkokotoni Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park

Stone Town

Bagamoyo Kibaha

Zala Park

Dar es Salaam

Pemba Island

Mkoani

Bookings: azammarine.com +255 22 2123324 info@azammarine.com 48