September 12 & 13, 2025 | Eat, Pray, Love: Africa Edition
By Day Two in Zanzibar, I realized this part of my journey wasn’t about checking things off a list — Zanzibar started teaching me how to slow down.
Pole Pole is not just a popular Swahili saying — it’s a mindset shift, a lifestyle.
Day 2: Morning Beach Walk… Interrupted 🐕
I woke up, enjoyed my complimentary breakfast, and decided to take a peaceful morning stroll along the beach. Barefoot, sand between my toes, ocean breeze. It was giving…you know a real serene rejuvenating kind of energy.
UNTIL…
Out of absolutely nowhere, I see a large dog — and when I say large, I mean Rottweiler large — running toward me at full speed. 😨
Now mind you… the night before, I did walk past a sign that said “Beware of Dog.” But in my mind, that sign applied to that specific property, not the entire coastline. Clearly, I was wrong.
My spirit immediately said: “Yeah no.” I swiftly hit an about-face and picked up my pace expeditiously.
I thought if I didn’t make eye contact, maybe he’d leave me alone. But no, that big ol’ dog still came running up on me! I kept calm and just kept walking and focused straight ahead. He eventually got the clue that I didn’t want no problems and went on about his way. 😅
But just like that, my peaceful beach walk was over. It was fun while it lasted.
Self-Care, Zanzibar Style 💇🏾♀️ 💅🏾
Once safely back at my villa, I got ready for the day because it was officially self-care o’clock. If you’ve watched Jasmine Giselle’s Zanzibar vlog on YouTube, then you already know a visit to Mashalla’s was a must.
Mahad arranged for one of his drivers on the southeast side of the island to take me to the salon. This driver’s name was Young Boy.
Yes. That’s what he told me to call him.
Yes. It was on his business card.
Hair ✔️
Nails ✔️
Complimentary fresh coconut water ✔️
Experience 10 out of 10.
Y’all, the head massage during shampoo was heavenly. 😌 Bless (@poissonbless on IG) and another stylist braided my hair so gently. And the attention Hans (@nails_by_hans on IG) gave my cuticles! I was like…“Why am I paying what I pay back home for half of this care?”
But that’s neither here nor there. Stay Focused.
⏱️ Time check: I arrived just before 10am and left about 4:30pm. Honestly, not bad for knotless braids, a full set and gel pedi. Worth. Every. Minute.
Good Food + Pole Pole Energy 🌮
After my long (and very necessary) self-care session, Young Boy picked me up and took me to Bento in Paje, an outdoor food court.
I ordered Mexican food from Carnaval of Flavours and those tacos were sooooo good. But more importantly, nothing felt rushed.
I was planning to get my food to go because I didn’t want to make the driver wait around for me, but Young Boy kept saying: “Pole pole. Take your time. Hakuna Matata.”
And for once … I actually did.
I ate slowly savoring every bite, sat in the moment enjoying the vibes, and even browsed for souvenirs at a nearby shop.
By the time I got back to my villa, the sun had already set. I lounged on the daybed for a while, had a late dinner, and called it a night
📌 Day Two Takeaway:
Everything in Zanzibar is hakuna matata and pole pole, meaning “slowly, slowly” or “take it easy.” Nobody rushes you — and honestly? I could get used to this laid-back, “what’s-the-rush” approach to life.
Day Three: Rest Day Realness 🏖️
Day Three was intentionally a do-nothing day — and thank God for that.
My trip was starting to feel “go go go”, and like how often can I say that I’m in my own villa with a pool, so it was time to just chill!
Breakfast recap:
- 🍍 Fresh fruit: very good (as always)
- 🥖 Bread basket: unnecessary
- 🥞 Pancakes: didn’t hit like the French toast from the day before
After breakfast, I finalized my tour plans for the next day through my hotel — which honestly I should’ve just used GetYourGuide or better yet just booked through Mahad. When making the booking arrangements I specifically requested a tour that included:
- A Spice farm WITH a Swahili lunch
- Prison Island
- Stone Town city tour WITH the slave market
The hotel manager called the tour company and confirmed everything was included, so I said book it! (We’ll revisit this later.)
The rest of the day? Pure rest and relaxation. I spent the day “swimming”… well floating… in my private pool, laid out on the daybed, enjoyed the Zanzibar breeze and soaked in views that looked like a screensaver. I even propped my phone up and did a mini photoshoot for myself because why not?
Wrap-Up 💜
Days Two and Three in Zanzibar taught me how to slow down — not just physically, but mentally. This part of my journey wasn’t about doing more, seeing more, or packing the schedule.
It was about being.
And with my body rested, my spirit calmer, and my curiosity wide open, I was ready for a full day of learning about Zanzibar’s land, its people, its history, and the stories that don’t always make it into the brochures.
Up next: Spices, history, truth, and lessons that stayed with me long after the tour ended.
– CYA! ✌🏾
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