IMPORTANT INFORMATION & PRACTICAL INFO (you need to know)
Travel Documents
Passport, at least 1 year validity is required. Medical passport is optional (not obligatory)
Insurance
All participants must be sufficiently insured for civil liability with regard to third parties and damage to buildings, as well have a travel, theft, health-and accident insurance
Liability
The regulations of relevant participants liability insurance association should be observed.
Garden of Komba, accepts no liability for damage, theft, loss, injury, health or accidents caused to a tenant or his or her properties, irrespective of the cause.
Hospital and Health care
In case of emergency related to health, there is a hospital in Stonetown called:
Tasakhtaa hospital.
Please check all info: http://tasakhtaahospital.co.tz
Telephone: +255 242 232341
E-mail: info@tasakhtaahospital.co.tz
Sun
December, January and February are te months with most active sun hours with an average of 10 hours a day. Sufficient sun protection is required
Malaria prevention
Preventive Malaria medication is required. All other vaccination please consult your local doctor or hospital.
Malaria mosquitoes are only active after sunset. Take care of clothes with long sleeves and legs.
Try to avoid pools of water. Those are a breeding ground for malaria mosquitoes.
Water
Garden of Komba provides you with drinking water from bottles. There is a professional well we use for other purposes.
Allergies
Be informed about your own risks in terms of food allergies, intolerances. Don’t forget to tell us well in time if there are vegetarians or participants with food allergies.
Currency and Payments
Zanzibar currency is the Tanzanian shilling (TZS), wich was being exchanged at a rate of around 1 Euro = TZS 2492 or 1 USD = TZS 2232 .
Best to exchange some euro or dollars in Stonetown (best rates are given for 50 and 100 notes)
US dollar notes printed before 2004 will not be accept.
Exchange bureaus will often have better exchange rates than banks, compare!
One ATM is outside the arrivals hall on Zanzibar airport, other ATMs are only in and around Stonetown.
The ATMs usually have a maximum withdrawal of TZS 400,000. If you need more, use your credit card on different ATMs.
Credit cards are only accepted by the Larger hotels and a few stores in Stonetown. Usually with a surcharge of 5%. Trravelers cheques are not accepted on Zanzibar.
Security
The campsite will be guarded by security personal. All valuable goods will be kept in a guarded vault.
Transport
Plane
Zanzibar Airport Authority: http://www.zaa.go.tz
The international airport is large and has daily flights connecting it to mainland by Precision Air, Kenya Air, Auric Air, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Fly Dubai and Costal Aviation.
Ferries
Ferries operate rom Dar es Salaam several times per day and service the main port in the Stonetown section of Zanzibar city. Transit to Zanzibar happens by plane or boat, most likely departing from Dar es Salaam. The plane takes half an hour. The ferry is cheaper and can be a far more pleasant experience
Taxis
The easiest way to get round the island is via a taxi cab. They can be found at the airport and all major hotels. Taxis are not metered and the price is agreed to before the journey.
Bike & Scooters
For vespa, scooter or motorcycle rentals, you must have an endorsement if you don’t have an international driver’s license.
Public Transport
Locals use a Dala Dala, an openair truck with seats, its a bit crowdy but cheap and a very exotic adventure.
Swahili Time
Time-keeping is initially confusing, but actually makes a lot of sense. In Swahili culture, people start counting time at sunrise rather than at midnight, wich means that 7 a.m. Western time is one o’clock at night (this works because sunset and sunrise times are relatively constant year-round, since Zanzibar is so close to the equator).
Meet & greet
Kiswahili is an easy language to pick up, and the initial learning curve is quick. Learning just the basics will take you pretty far. Don’t assume the constant street side attention from people good be an attempt to sell you something, or trap you into taking some sort of tour – that does happen, but saying hello is also an important part of the local culture. The Mambo’s and Jambo’s are often just that, so it’s a good to say hello back.
It might be initially overwhelming, but it’s nice to realize that so many strangers will take the time to acknowledge your presence and ask you about your day. (a „Shikamoo“, usually reserved for those you don’t know, your elders or superiors, is a respectful greeting that locals will appreciate.) Start learning basic Kiswahili now! Go to course here!
Shipping
All (non-food) goods/products/ art pieces produced within the workshop period not taken home by individual participants are going to be shipped by the organization of Garden of Komba after the workshop period is over (in consultation).
We make use of carrier service like UPS, DHL, FedEx or other carrier service available on the island.
All goods shipped from Zanzibar, take an average of three months before they arrive at destination.
To secure and minimize breaking risk, all participants need to pack their own goods prepared for shipping.
Garden of Komba will not hold liability for any risk based on wrong packaging. Insurance for damage is always available at own choice.
CONTACT AND BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS
Daniel Netto
Telephone: +4915207177489
E-mail: mail@garden-of-komba.com
DKB Deutsche Kreditbank AG
Mr. Daniel Netto
IBAN: DE73 1203 0000 1064 4295 80
BIC: BYLADEM1001