Four weekly flights available

Zanzibar is open and tour operator Africa Stay has stepped in where Mango left a gap with up to four weekly Zanzibar flights, on chartered flights, between Joburg and the island paradise until mid-January.

After that, there will be at least one departure weekly until high season, at Easter-time when frequency will increase again. The island is just over three and a bit hours away from Joburg and still one of the most affordable international beach destinations.

An island holiday is not just an island holiday. It’s still relatively untouched and although tourism has spawned a great deal of commercialisation, the place is rustic while trendy, and very unpretentious. That plays a huge role in its appeal.

The destination also offers affordable accommodation options, and it can cost you less to island hop than a self-catering resort on our coast could. To get into Zanzibar it requires a Covid-test on entry and exit and, if you have been vaccinated, provide your certification.

Mango’s successful route to Zanzibar started off as a charter operation before going commercial. “We started the route with Mango almost a decade ago,” said Marian Sandu, Africa Stay CEO. “And Zanzibar has become one of the top holiday destinations for South Africans.”

The island has ranked in the Top 5 destinations on travellers’ bucket lists for several years. “There is nothing better than a beach holiday – and demand is soaring. That’s why we took the leap to implement direct connectivity again after Mango’s mothballing.”

Africa Stay has partnered with Global Airways to operate Airbus A320s on the route. “The plan is to continue operating charters to the island and manage capacity against the ebb and flow of holiday seasons,” said Sandu.

Africa Stay experimented with demand in September and demand proved solid enough to install weekly trips. These soon multiplied to double frequencies by early November with festive peak departures at four a week until mid-January.

The island has attracted SA’s famous-types including, more recently, Minnie Dlamini. Other include Jeannie D, Boity and and Ewan Strydom.