Follow these steps to book housing through CPS:

1. Decide whether you want to share your space with roommates or if you prefer private accommodation. CPS offers studios, one-bedrooms, two-bedrooms, and three-bedrooms.
1. If you would like to room with other Zanzalu attendees, but do not yet have a roommate, please use the Housing channel in the private Zanzalu Telegram group chat to coordinate with other attendees
2. Use the Zanzalu Housing platform to review the options currently available through CPS.
3. Once you have decided on an available unit, fill out the ‘Reservation Form’ found in the bottom row of the unit information. This information will only be shared with a property manager at CPS.
4. Once CPS has received your information, they will reach out to the primary contact directly to initiate the leasing process.
5. After the lease has been signed, the primary tenet will be responsible for paying CPS directly. CPS will share the necessary banking information.
1. In addition to the full rent, tenets will be required to pay a security deposit. The security deposit will be returned once the unit is vacated, pending condition of the unit.
2. Rent payment includes the base rental price, $105 for internet set-up, $100 CPS leasing fee, and $200 utility/cleaning/administration fee.
3. Credit for utilities (water and power) are included in the administration fee and will be loaded prior to tenet move-in. However, credit may expire over the duration of the stay. We will provide directions on how to refill the utility meters, but tenets will be responsible for payment (unlikely to exceed $50).
6. CPS will share confirmation that the payment has been received and the leasing process will be complete!
1. We will share more information on how to collect your keys upon arrival closer to the date.

There are a ton of cool things to do in Zanzibar, so packing well will help you make the most of your Zanzalu experience! During May and June, you can expect cooler tropical weather with some rain. It is advisable to bring a light rain jacket. A long-sleeve linen button-down is usually sufficient to keep warm. Being an island, there are also many places to swim in Zanzibar, so don’t forget to pack a bathing suit! If you are interested in snorkeling, open-water swimming, kayaking or kitesurfing, you may wish to pack goggles, a long-sleeve water shirt, and a light beach towel. Zanzibar also uses British-style plugs, so you may need to bring a convertor. For more information on how to prepare for Zanzalu, see the recommended packing list below:

Zanzibar is generally very safe. In Fumba Town, most residents feel completely comfortable walking around alone after dark. However, a few petty thefts have been reported on the outskirts of Fumba, so residents are advised to lock their doors when they are not home. Other towns, such as Stone Town and Paje, are also safe; however, unaccompanied women may receive some cat-calling and comments. It is advisable to travel with at least one other person after dark.

Check with your government to see which vaccinations your country requires for travel to Tanzania. You may also be asked to present proof of a yellow fever vaccination upon arrival in Zanzibar, but this is not strictly enforced. Zanzibar has a fairly low malaria burden, so some people may feel comfortable forgoing malaria pills. However, it is more pervasive across mainland Tanzania.

Fumba Town is 20 minutes from the airport. The taxi drivers outside the airport will know the location. They will try to charge you 50USD, but you can negotiate the fare, which should be about 12 USD or 30,000 TZS ($1 = 2580 TZS). If there is confusion between Fumba, Fumba Uptown, and Fumba Town (the correct location), you can also tell them that you are going to ‘Nyamanzi’ and they should be familiar.

You can get cash out at the airport. Alternatively, when you arrive in Fumba Town, stop by the Pavilion ATM to withdraw cash to pay the taxi driver.

Most places in Zanzibar accept credit cards. In Fumba Town, KwetuKwenu Play also accepts ApplePay. However, it is important to have cash on hand to pay for taxis, street food, and other miscellaneous expenditures. For example, in Fumba Town, there is a fresh fruit/vegetable stand run by Sulyesh, but he only accepts cash payments. Kona Coffee Shop only accepts cash payments as well.

You can get cash out from the NMB ATM at Pavilion. There is also a PBZ bank nearby where you can make cash withdraws. It is generally a good idea to keep at least 100,000 TZS on hand ($1 = 2580 TZS). Please note that there is a dollar shortage in Tanzania. It will be very difficult to get dollars anywhere in Zanzibar.

We highly recommend that you download Nala to send/recieve mobile money payments.

After you have dropped your bags off, please check-in at the Pavilion rooftop to receive your wristband and a welcome package. There will be someone there to check you in any time between 10 AM - 4 PM EAT on May 15, 16, and 17. For people arriving after May 17, please send a text in the Telegram group chat.

Fumba Town is a small, walkable town with a variety of amenities. See the map below for an overview of the main event spaces for Zanzalu:

You can find more information on the different spaces in Fumba Town here:

We will have daily breakfast from 8 AM - 10 AM during the week. On the weekends, breakfast will run from 9 AM - 12 PM.

Parts of the breakfast menu will change day to day, but the core components are: juice; mandazi; chapati with chaya; toasted bread with avocado, honey, homemade Nutella, and/or homemade jam; boiled eggs; omelet; fresh fruit salad; granola; yogurt; homemade baobab cream; and uji with nuts and milk.

The themes for Zanzalu 2024 are:

May 20 - May 24: Blockchain and Crypto

• Web3 is a new coordination mechanism that humanity is beginning to understand. This theme aims to explore the transformative potential of decentralized technologies such as crypto and blockchain protocols. Discussions will cover topics such as the mechanics of blockchain, the applications of smart contracts, decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and the future of decentralized governance. We want to experiment with technology that can help our community and others.
• This week will culminate in Student Weekend from May 24 - May 26. We are partnering with students and faculty from the State University of Zanzibar and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras Zanzibar to provide a short ‘Intro to Web3’ workshop series.

May 27 - May 31: Charter Cities, Network States, and Programmable Politics

• Charter cities can help spur innovation and accelerate economic growth across the African continent. During the second week of Zanzalu, we will delve into the concept of charter cities, exploring their role in shaping the future of urban development and governance. We will also examine other innovative approaches to governance and decision-making, including network states and programmable politics.

June 3 - June 7: Digital Public Goods

• Innovation thrives when access to digital infrastructure is democratized. During this week, we'll dive into the realm of digital public goods to explore the ways in which open-source software, data, and standards can promote collaboration, innovation, and equitable access to technology for the benefit of society as a whole.

June 10 - June 14: Africa Tech Week

• The African tech scene is blossoming. Africa Tech Week is dedicated to exploring the essential ingredients for nurturing and sustaining successful startups across the continent. From access to capital and mentorship to fostering a culture of innovation, we'll delve into the key factors driving the growth of Africa's tech ecosystem.
• Startup Weekend, on June 14 and 15, will be a two-day sub-event of Zanzalu, designed to convene startups from across the continent to to network, pitch their enterprises, and hear from renowned speakers. The theme of the event is “Building a Startup Ecosystem.” The full line-up will be announced soon. Tickets will be free for general admission, but there will be a small fee for exhibitors. Reserve your spot through Lemonade Social.

June 17 - June 21: Art and Culture Week

• Zanzibar has an extremely diverse and vibrant cultural history. This week will be dedicated entirely to celebrating all the beauty that the island has to offer, including its music, art, and dance.

Zanzalu is a co-created event, which means that all attendees are encouraged to host their own talks, panels, workshop sessions, and community events.

You can add an event to the Zanzalu calendar using Social Layer:

Social Layer

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There are a variety of wellness options available in Fumba Town. On Monday evenings at 5:45 PM and on Thursday mornings at 6:15 AM, join Oscar at Kwetu Kwenu Chill for Pilates Class. At Chill, you can also go for a swim in the Indian Ocean or in the infinity pool. Near the entrance to Fumba Town, there are bikes available for rent. You can bike, run, or walk around Nyamanzi or venture all the way to Fumba Uptown.

In addition to healthy breakfast options, Kwetu Kwenu Chill, Kwetu Kwenu Play, and Kona Coffee all boast a variety of healthy foods and juices. You can also select fresh fruits and veggies from Suleyesh - our Fumba fruit vendor - or Zanfresh.

Coming soon.