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Jambo!
Welcome to
Mamas of Zanzibar
Karibu sana Mamas of Zanzibar, tunafurahi sana umefika! - Welcome to Mamas of Zanzibar - We’re so happy you’re here!
Mamas of Zanzibar is a group of Zanzibari women who aim to provide non touristy authentic experiences for travellers seeking to explore the island's cultural and traditional heritage.
Let us guide you through the tastes and traditions that make our island so special.
Who are the Mamas of Zanzibar?
Welcome to a different kind of journey—one rooted in flavor, resilience, and the Zanzibari Real hospitality.
The Mamas of Zanzibar began in Ngalawa, Bububu, when a single mother of three, Maskat, decided to rebuild her life after a difficult divorce. With years of hospitality experience behind her, Maskat chose not just her children, but her community to rise together. She saw women around her—neighbors, friends, sisters—each carrying the wisdom of their kitchens, each holding recipes and stories passed down through generations.
What started with Maskat and a few neighbors has grown into a vibrant collective. Over four years, she has supported 38 women and welcomed more than 200 guests per month—travelers who come not just for the cuisine, but for the traditions, stories, culture, and the connection.
What You’ll Experience:
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Authentic Swahili culture, far beyond the touristy trail
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A home-cooked meal in a real Zanzibari home, made side by side with the Mamas
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Warm, genuine connection — through food, stories, and laughter
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The joy of knowing your visit directly empowers women, supports local families, and helps preserve Zanzibar’s rich cultural traditions
Whether it’s your first visit to Zanzibar or your fifth, this is the experience people say they’ll never forget. Cook with us. Laugh with us. Taste the soul of Zanzibar.
You’ll arrive as a guest — and leave as family.
What We Offer
We offer more than just a cooking experience — we are heritage keepers, crafting cultural and culinary journeys in Zanzibar that go far beyond the guidebook.
You’ll get to cook traditional Swahili food, walk through local markets, meet women who live their heritage every day, and share real conversations. Every package is designed so you leave not just fed, but connected — to community, culture, and purpose.
In a fast-changing world, where traditions risk being lost to time, the Mamas of Zanzibar stand proudly as guardians of our culture. From our small community in Ngalawa, Bububu, we preserve the rituals, recipes, and rhythms of everyday Swahili life — just as our mothers and grandmothers did before us.
Each meal we share, each story we tell, is an act of cultural preservation. As neighbors, sisters, and friends, we work together not only to feed our families, but to keep our heritage alive — with honesty, warmth, and joy. When you cook with us, you’re not stepping into an experience — you’re stepping into real Zanzibar, held in the hands of the women who live it every day.
Heritage Keepers of Zanzibar
Why Travelers Love Us:
It’s not just a cooking class — it’s a cultural experience.
You’re not just watching someone cook — you're rolling dough, grinding spices, and learning the stories behind every dish from the women who’ve cooked them their whole lives.
You experience the real Zanzibar.
Far from tourist crowds and generic tours, you’ll step into a warm, welcoming local home, market and kitchen where everything is fresh, hands-on, and real. Its about the authenticity, not a Tourist Trap
Your hosts are amazing. A human connection with Locals
The Mamas are the heart of the experience — loving, funny, wise, warm, and passionate. Guests often say the best part of their trip wasn’t the food (though it's delicious!) — it was the connection with the women behind it.
You create something meaningful, you can make your money, make a difference
Whether you're traveling solo, as a couple, or with a group, this is the kind of memory that stays with you. People leave saying: “I felt like part of the community.”
And yes — it’s Insta-worthy.
From colorful spice tables to beautiful platters of Swahili dishes, everything is as photogenic as it is delicious.
Heritage You Can Feel. Cuisine You Can Taste. Connections That Last.
Choose Your Experience
3 hr
