Tanzania travel Forum

Zanzibar
Sunset at Matemwe beach
Located about 22 miles (35km) off the east coast of Tanzania, Zanzibar is an archipelago consisting of the main island of Unguja (commonly known as Zanzibar), Pemba Island famous for its deep-sea fishing, and about 50 smaller surrounding islands and coral reefs.

Also known as 'Spice Island', Zanzibar evokes images of an exotic paradise with white palm-fringed beaches and turquoise coves, dreamy dhows with billowing white sails, and ancient Islamic ruins. Today's idyllic beach resorts belie the island's haunting history of slavery, and Zanzibar combines Arabic alleyways and historic monuments with coral reefs and excellent diving and snorkelling opportunities.

The island's varied history has brought with it seafarers, explorers and traders, and it became a major centre for the slave industry. Its heyday was during the 19th century, when the island became the world's leading producer of cloves; its plantations still produce more than 50 different spices and fruit, and guided spice tours are a Zanzibar speciality.

Stone Town, Zanzibar's capital, is a captivating place built by Arab and Indian merchants in the 19th century from the island's coral stone. A walk through the disordered twisting alleys, past intricately-carved wooden doors and beneath ornate balconies, and with the lingering scent of spices in the air, takes one back in time to the days of a prosperous slave and spice industry. Decaying architecture, numerous mosques, a bathhouse and old fort, cool interior courtyards and lively markets are the remaining influence of the Persians and the Omani Arabs who established themselves as the ruling power here.

For centuries Zanzibar has enticed those in search of business; today it remains an irresistible attraction for those seeking a heavenly beach holiday or an exploration into its exotic heritage - or a bit of both.




Attractions

Anglican Cathedral, Stone Town

Anglican Cathedral and Slave Market

The colossal Anglican Cathedral in Stone Town is located on the grounds of the islands largest slave market, which closed down in 1873. The cathedral's altar stands on the exact location of the former whipping post, a tree where slaves were brutalised to...  see full details



Stone Town market © Tom Pitman

Central Market

A vibrant array of colours and spicy scents lure visitors to the animated Central Market in Stone Town. Opened in 1904 as the Seyyidieh Market, the numerous stalls run over with tropical fruits, exotic spices, brightly coloured khangas (worn by local women) and rare...  see full details



Façade and Clocktower, House of Wonders

House of Wonders (Beit el-Ajaib)

The first building in Zanzibar to have electricity and the first building in East Africa to have an elevator, Beit el-Ajaib (which translates into the House of Wonders) was the former ceremonial palace of Sultan Barghash and was built in 1883 on the...  see full details



Colobo Red Monkey © marcveraart

Jozani Chwaka Bay Conservation Area

The largest conservation area in Zanzibar and the only remaining natural mangrove forest on the island, the Jozani Chwaka Bay Conservation Area is renowned for its hairy ape residents, the Red Columbus Monkey. Endemic to Zanzibar, visitors come from far and wide to view...  see full details



Mafia Island © gill_penney

Mafia Island

Mafia Island, along with Pemba and Zanzibar, form the famous Spice Islands off the coast of Tanzania. While the name conjures images of shady criminals and glamorous heists, the real riches of Mafia Island lie underwater in its magnificent coral reef system. Mafia Island...  see full details



Tanzanian Cave © aslakr

Mangapwani Caves

After the abolition of slavery in 1897, the industry literally went underground and the Mangapwani Caves stand testament to this with a natural cave and a man-made cavern on site used for the incarceration of slaves. The slaves were kept here until they...  see full details



Mtoni Ruins © Mtoni Marine

Maruhubi and Mtoni Palace Ruins

If you are looking for a place to escape the bustle of Stone Town for a few hours, head north to the peaceful Maruhubi and Mtoni Palace ruins. Sultan Said bin Sultan first built Mtoni between 1828 and 1834 after he left Muscat...  see full details



Peace Memorial Museum © Zanzibar Exotic Tours

National Museum (Peace Memorial Museum)

Home to a wealth of Zanzibar's memorabilia, the National Museum is a great place to discover the intriguing history and culture of the islands. With exhibits including traditional carvings and local wildlife displays covering reptiles and birds, visitors can also view relics from the...  see full details



Northern Beach © Judith Duk

Northern Beaches

There are many superb white beaches, warm waters and picturesque villages around Zanzibar ideal for those wanting to get away from the bustling town life, particularly along the northern east coast. Modestly veiled women make bright splashes of colour along white sandy stretches of...  see full details



Entrance, Old Dispensary

Old Dispensary (Aga Khan Cultural Centre)

An architectural symbol of the mixed bag of cultures evident in Zanzibar's history, the elaborate Old Dispensary was so named because it long housed a dispensary on the ground floor, with a pharmacy and resident doctor. An affluent Ismaili Indian merchant, Tharia Topan, who...  see full details



Old Fort Walls © Imagine Africa

Old Fort

Built at the turn of the 17th century on the remains of a Portuguese church and crumbling Arab garrison, the burly Old Fort was constructed to fend off the enterprising Portuguese seafarers and Mazrui Arabs of Mombassa keen to gain power of the...  see full details



View From Ocean

Palace Museum

Illuminating the lifestyle of the Sultan legacy in Zanzibar, the Palace Museum, (originally called the Sultan's Palace), became the official residence of the Al Busid dynasty in 1911. Built in the 1890s the extensive white building situated on harbour road with breathtaking sea views,...  see full details



Events

Zanzibar craft © delayed gratification

Zanzibar Cultural Festival

Drawing contributions from artists and performers from other African countries such as Mozambique, Kenya and the Comoro Islands, the Zanzibar Cultural Festival is a popular annual event with a predominantly local flavour. Expressive of Tanzania's rich cultural diversity, the festival showcases traditional and contemporary dance,...  see full details



A Dhow on the water

Zanzibar International Film Festival

The Zanzibar International Film Festival claims to be the biggest cultural event in East Africa. It is a celebration of the various East African and Middle Eastern cultures with a variety of expressions not limited to film, but including music, literature and dancing. The...  see full details



Yunasi at Sauti Za Busara © Birgit Quade

Sauti Za Busara Music Festival

East Africa's finest music festival, the Sauti Za Busara (sounds for wisdom) Festival, plays out annually in central Stone Town, with enlivening music, poetry and dance acts from Africa's most dazzling talent. Five years in the running, the festival demonstrates current musical trends in...  see full details


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