Living and learning in Zanzibar: My 10-week adventure as a soccer coach

Warm arrival and adjustment to life in Zanzibar

I arrived at the airport in Zanzibar in mid-December 2023 and was greeted by the bright sun, Shamila and her babies. So the pickup went very smoothly. When you arrived at the Student House in the small village of Bububu, you first had to get used to the African living conditions, but you have everything you need in the accommodation. 

Logically, it takes a few days to get used to the climate, the crowded Dala Dala buses, the washing of clothes by hand, but in my opinion it is a very valuable experience to escape from the "European comfort zone" and embrace a simpler way of life to adapt. 

From the soccer field to island life: My everyday life between training and free time

The food in the accommodation is always vegetarian, but you always have the opportunity to eat in the immediate vicinity of the accommodation for little money. 

I took part in the project as a soccer coach for 10 weeks and always had a lot of fun training with the boys of different ages (between 14 and 24 years old). Due to the heat during the day, training was always from Monday to Friday between 07:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. This means that in principle you have the whole day free from 10:00 a.m. every day.

I often went on weekend trips to other cities/beaches on the island. Trips to the remote but beautiful Mtende Beach in the south of the island are recommended. The towns of Jambiani, Paje and Kendwa or Nungwi also offer dream beaches with white sand and turquoise sea. Here you can simply stroll through the small streets and enjoy the African serenity, cosiness and joy of life on Zanzibar.

But I spent most of my time in the largest city on the island, Stone Town. 

From the gym to drinking a coffee on the beach or simply chilling out on a floating bar, you can experience it all here. The small streets with their countless souvenir shops are a very special impression in themselves and still impressed me after 2 months. 

I recommend everyone not only to eat in the sometimes overcrowded tourist restaurants in Stone Town, but also to try out the great night market and small local restaurants. 

Here you can get to know local food and the culture and way of life of the Zanzibaris for very little money. 

Otherwise, during the week I spent a lot of time in the accommodation with the little twin babies or just relaxing on the beach in Bububu.

An island adventure full of sun, culture and unforgettable experiences

In summary, it was a great experience that I will never forget. You should consciously get involved with the culture, the climate and the somewhat more comfortable African way of life and attitude to life and have no problem with somewhat simpler living standards, because you actually always have everything you need for life and everything works a little easier.

The time on the island was definitely characterized by a lot of sun, heat, valuable experiences and interesting conversations with the locals.