Kawa Training Center is an NGO ( renamed Kawa Foundation since November 2022) that offers Tourism, hospitality and Entrepreneurial skills courses to unemployed Zanzibari youth. We believe that Tourism can only be successful if local people benefit from it and that everybody works together to protect Zanzibar’s cultural and natural heritage. We design original and sustainable tours that highlight Zanzibar’s cultural and natural heritage and daily life.
Here are some of Kawa’s signature tours
Please send us an e-mail to enquire about availability and price.
WALKING TOURS
HISTORICAL CITY TOUR
Stone Town is a maze of narrow streets and historical buildings. In the 19th century the town was formed under Omani rule, flourishing from the trade with slaves, ivory, gold and spices. Zanzibar was defined by Arab, Indian and European traders, and settlers and slaves from the inland of Africa. We will show you how to recognize these cultural and architectural patterns in the fabric of Stone Town. Don’t miss Tippu Tip’s grand home, befitting the most important slave trader, the sultans’ palaces, Darajani market, important Indian trade houses, mosques from Sunni, Ibadi and Indian Shi’i sects and European churches and consulates. A very interesting tour along sites you won’t easily find on your own.
STONETOWN CITY TOUR FOR KIDS
The Stonetown City tour for Kids is especially designed for children to learn about Zanzibar in a fun way. Parts of its history will be told through stories of sultans and princesses, palaces and journeys to faraway places. The children will do some research of their own and learn how Zanzibari children live. Parents may accompany their children on this 3-hour tour or they can go on an adult city tour and leave the kids in the capable hands of our guides.
GHOST TOUR
Join us if you dare on a spooky tour of Stone Town by night. With a turbulent history of Slavery, pirates and more, many Zanzibari believe ghosts of those enslaved or murdered, or spirits left behind, remain in Stone Town until today, haunting their former houses and slave chambers. We take you to the spots where ghosts are still seen and felt by locals. Listen to the tales of specific ghosts and haunted houses and start to see the hidden past through Zanzibari eyes.
VIKOTOUR
Ngambo literally means the other side; Stonetown and Ngambo were divided by a creek and connected by a bridge. It was a division between the poor and the rich. Come with us on a walking tour through this fascinating place where nature is reclaiming its space, so close to town you will find a freshwater lake next to a saltwater lake, and a mangrove forest, this area attracts an abundance of wildlife. Enjoy the view and imagine the big trading dhows heading for the riches and fresh water supply of Zanzibar. Walk with us through the interesting suburb and wonder about the chaotic planning of this region, meet the people and see their daily activities Today tireless efforts to keep the place clean and recycle waste by a local initiative are well worth a visit and we hope that by supporting this initiative with our tour that the rest of the island will follow its lead.
SWAHILI COOKING WORKSHOP
Discover Swahili cooking with its mixture of Arab, Indian, African and European influences and the prominent role of spices that are grown on Zanzibar. The tour begins with a visit to the market to buy the ingredients, then, under the guidance of an experienced Zanzibari cook, we prepare the various dishes. The cook will explain how to use Zanzibari spices and what the cultural or regional specifics of the dishes are. When the food is ready we will dine together, possibly with your friends or partners invited (for an extra fee), discussing our day and the merits of the Swahili kitchen. The tour can be done in the morning for lunch or in the afternoon for diner.