Giant turtles and hakuna matata impress Nizhny Novgorod tourist in Zanzibar

Recently, Africa has been gaining more popularity among tourists. Natalya, a resident of Nizhny Novgorod, decided to see for herself how people live on this exotic continent. She embarked on her journey in late autumn, when the cold set in Russia. In Zanzibar, at that time, it was 30-degree heat (86°F).

For accommodation, Natalya chose the village of Kendwa, located on the western coast of the island. The choice was not random: during low tides on the eastern side, the water recedes from the shore by tens of meters several times a day.

It«s almost impossible to go unnoticed in Zanzibar — locals immediately pay attention to tourists: they look at them with interest, ask how they are doing and where they came from.

Most often, you can hear the words «jambo» and «mambo» from the locals, which mean: «Hello, how are you?» Equally common is the phrase «hakuna matata» — the very one from the cartoon «The Lion King». It translates as «no problems» or «no worries», reflecting the calm lifestyle in East Africa.

The oldest part of the island — Stone Town — is the birthplace of Queen legend Freddie Mercury. A few years ago, a museum was opened in the house where he lived as a child. Now, the building houses a hotel and a small exhibition reminding of the singer«s past.

Particularly noteworthy is Prison Island, or the prison island, which is located near Zanzibar. In past centuries, it was used as a quarantine station. Now, the place is called the island of giant turtles that live here. They can reach a meter in length (about 3.3 feet), and sometimes more.

Natalya shared her impressions of what she saw in the video above.