It’s fascinating to explore historic Stone Town—a UNESCO World Heritage Site.The Zanzibar archipelago consist of a group of islands with some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. However Zanzibar is part of Tanzania it remains more independent with residents preferring to consider themselves as Zanzibaris. 99% are muslim in the island and this is because of Arabs (under the Sultan of Oman) ruled the island for centuries after conquering it from the Portuguese. The British later took over control of the Island from the Arabs. Foreign occupation and intermarriages influenced the architecture and cultural heritage of the island. There is a heavy mix of African (Swahili) and Arabic culture.
There are several places to visit and things to do while in Zanzibar. The Islands is a breathtaking spot to escape from the world. Excellent place for tourists who desire a quiet place to enjoy and explore white sand beaches along Indian ocean and all that it has to offer. Zanzibar has great nightlife, restaurants Or just go beach to beach between tiny fishing villages—each one’s better than the next.
Stone Town has is characterised by very narrow streets, bazaars, ancient architecture and several mosques And it’s easy to lose your way in the area’s maze-like, narrow streets. To stay oriented and ensure you don’t miss key highlights.
Visit the mosque and the Temples.
Although Islam is the dominant religion in the island, Zanzibar also has residents who are Christian or Hindu. Stone Town has Hindu temples, Christian Cathedrals and several mosques. The Shakti Temple for example stands out for its unique architecture while the Malindi mosque is the oldest in the island with a rare but simple design. Do not forgetting to visit the Anglican Cathedral which was built in the 19th century. The cathedral is close to one of the largest slave markets in Stone town and is worth a visit
Mtoni Palace Ruins.
Another excellent site worth visiting and is found north of the Town. Built in the 1800s, the Mtoni Palace was destroyed by a fire but its remains still attract a lot of visitors. You can also visit the former old slave market, the house of wonders (one of the six palaces of the sultan), check out other heritage sites and admire the overall architecture of the town.
Visit the Local markets in Stone Town:
While at Stone Town, you can visit the Darajani market and see how people make ends meet or go shopping for fruits, giant see fish, meat and vegetables. You can join in the fish auctioning where fish dealers put a price for the largest catch. Taking part in the fish auction is exciting as it allows you to mingle with the locals and get a chance to see rare and giant ocean creatures. If you have some spare change, you can take part in the auction. You could put on a price on one of the largest fish and donate it to the female fish dealers with less money. While at the market, you can order for fresh fish and have it fried or grilled to be served with potato chips.
The Old Fort also known as Ngome Kongwe is an interesting 17th century building that was built by the Omani Arabs after expelling the Portuguese. It was later used to protect the town against enemies like the Mazrui Arabs in the 1700s.
Prison Island: Prison Island, also known as Changuu Island was left untouched until it was inhabited by the Arabs in the 1860’s. The island was used as a temporary shelter for slaves who were considered rebellious or with potential to lead revolts. The slaves were kept there before being sold abroad. The Island was also used to quarantine those who got sick during yellow fever epidemics. When Zanzibar became a British protectorate, the Island was bought from the Arabs and a real prison was built. The prison was never used on completion and has now been turned into a beautiful resort. In 1919, four giant Aldabra tortoises were introduced in the island as a gift from a British Governor in the Seychelles. By the 1950’s their numbers had increased to the hundreds. Trafficking in later years reduced their numbers considerably but have recovered ever since the government built a large enclosure to keep them safe. Some of the Tortoises are believed to be over 100 years old. After spending time petting and touching the tortoises, you can go swimming on the beach and admire the amazing landscape and bird-life including the amazing peacock. To reach the island from Stone town, you will need to hire a boat and embark on a journey that takes 30 minutes.
The Mangapwani Slave Chambers is arguably a better place to go to if you want to learn about the horrors of slavery and the role of Zanzibar in the trade. Most of the slaves from the mainland and other parts of East African where brought to Zanzibar before being taken for forced labor in different parts of the world. The Mangapwani Slave Chambers are found 12 miles away from Stone Town. The Chambers were built underground and was used to hide slaves even after slavery was abolished. You can end your fact finding mission by going for a swim at the former slave port.
Visit the Beaches: Zanzibar has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Each island has unique beaches with interesting activities to offer. The beaches in the western part of Zanzibar provide some of the most beautiful sunsets while those in the south are known for
having a high concentration of dolphins. Nungwi is arguably the best and most beautiful beach in Zanzibar. It’s white sands and beautiful turquoise waters will impress almost anyone who visits it. It has a variety of accommodation facilities, clubs, bars and restaurants and is where most of the island residents go to for the best parties and beach experience. The other popular beaches are Kendwa (known for its nightlife) and Paje on the eastern side of the coastline. All the beaches have beautiful white sands and waters which are excellent for swimming and diving. In order to visit all the beaches in a short time, it is important to choose a hotel that is strategically located to allow easy accessibility to the different islands. All beaches in Zanzibar are free to the public.
Visit the Seaweed Centre: The seaweed Centre is managed by a group of women in Zanzibar. The women have taken advantage of the abundant seaweed at the ocean shores to make products like smoothies, juices, organic soap and oils. During your visit to the Centre, you will meet the women and learn how they make their products. You will be offered an opportunity to taste a seaweed smoothie and find out how it is like. There are many ways in which you can support the women at the Zanzibar Seaweed Centre. The easiest way is to buy some of their products.
Go on a Sunset Dhow Cruise: Hire one of the dhows (wooden boats) and head to the ocean as you watch the town/Island disappear from the horizon. Most of the dhows ensure that there are enough
supplies for the day including delicious snacks, sea food (grilled fish, lobsters, octopus and calamari) and drinks to keep everyone excited and happy. A Dhow cruise will allow you appreciate the sheer beauty of the Indian ocean, and usually starts from the main Island all the way to Kwale Island and Fishing villages like Fumba. Once you reach these islands or fishing villages, you can go ashore and explore the area or climb old baobab trees. During the cruise, you may spot dolphins, swim along the beautiful green lagoons, fish or snorkel along the coral reefs and mangroves.
Quad Biking: There is no better way to experience all that is beautiful about Zanzibar than to take a Quad bike from one of the islands and into the interior. With a Quad bike, you can ride through the sugar cane and pineapple plantations, rice field, villages on the island, coconut plantations fruit and spice fields.
Snorkeling, windsurfing, Parasailing and Scuba Diving: There are several water sports that one can choose to take part in while in Zanzibar. The parasailing experience is one example of a fun sport
that will take your breath away as you discover beautiful aerial views of the island and its other hidden spots. Parasailing can be done alone, with friends, as a family or with your hubby. Apart from parasailing, the clear waters and coral reefs provide excellent opportunities for Scuba diving and Snorkeling. The best beaches for snorkeling in Zanzibar are Kendwa Beach, Matemwe Beach, Nakupenda Beach, Nungwi Beach and Paje Beach. The Pange Sandbank is arguably the best part of the ocean for snorkeling (especially for beginners). The waters at the Sandbank are calmer and shallower.
The best hotel to book for water sports is Mnemba Island Lodge. The lodge is built on a private island and has 10 luxury bandas. Mnemba Island Lodge arranges kayaking, windsurfing, snorkeling and two scuba dives each day. If you are planning to do scuba diving, then you need to be experienced and qualified. If not, then you will have to undergo training before they let you anywhere near the deep waters. The best dive spots may involve going further into the ocean with speed boats.
Cheetah’s Rock.
For those who love wildlife and animals in general, this is a place you must go to while in Zanzibar. The facility has got Cheetahs, lions, zebras and many of Africa’s famous wildlife. The facility allows visitors to get a taste of what to expect while visiting Tanzania’s amazing wildlife reserves. The facility opens on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday (between 2 and 6pm) and is located in a place called Kama.
Experience the Full Moon Party at Kendwa Rocks: The full moon party is a monthly beach party organised by resorts (mostly in the northern part like Kendwa) in Zanzibar. The Island of Kendwa has its fair share of beautiful, broad, shallow and sandy beaches with clear waters. The full moon party brings together tourists, locals and other revelers for a night of great fun and partying. Expect colourful fireworks, acrobatics, drumming, dance, noise, food and great partying. A main stage is set up on the beach as well as tables, chairs and mobile bars to be used by the revellers. If you happen to be part of the celebration expect to be entertained by some of the best local DJ’s, musicians, acrobats and fire-eaters. The full moon party was introduced all the way from Finland. The main difference is that it carried out in great tropical climate surrounded by the great Indian ocean. The Full Moon party is so popular that residents travel all the way from Dar es Salaam and other parts of Tanzania just to enjoy one night of fun.
Coffee Shops:
For the best tea, coffee and inter-continental food, you should consider visiting the luxury Tea House in Stone Town. Tea House is a rooftop restaurant. The facility is set up with comfortable chairs, tables and painted walls. Customer service and food is excellent because of the class of customers who visit it. Reservations need to be made in advance online or through a friend physically because it is a very popular place. Apart from tea and coffee, you can also order for espresso meringue dessert, massaman goat curry, crab cakes and saffron chillies.
Visit the Nungwi Masaai Village Market and local community: The Masai Market in Nungwi village is an excellent spot for buying local souvenirs, clothes and paintings. The street market offers an opportunity to meet the locals and strike friendly conversations about business and life in the island. While touring the village and market, you will observe their unique dressing styles, traditional homes, bazaars, schools and playgrounds to get an idea about the kind of life lived by the island dwellers. After visiting Nungwi Village, you could also check out the night food market for a taste of the local cuisines. These night markets crop up every evening as local chefs begin preparing roasted meat, pizza, samosas, sugar cane juice and sea food from the roadsides.
Have dinner at a top restaurant: The Rock restaurant in the island of Paje and is one of the best places to visit while in Zanzibar. CNN described it as one of the quirkiest restaurants in the world and for a good reason. The restaurant is built on a rock and designed to give the lucky clients a romantic feeling when with their partners. The restaurant serves tasty sea food and wine which can be consumed from the terraces while gazing at the Indian ocean. One other restaurant to consider while in Zanzibar is The Beach House Restaurant. This restaurant also offers amazing views of the ocean and serves clients delicious French, Italian and Mediterranean cuisines. Last but not least is 6 Degrees South. This eating facility is an excellent choice for those who want to go for a romantic dinner while enjoying amazing views of the ocean with a date.
Apart from the primates, visitors should expect to spot duikers and several species of butterfly. The Zanzibar Butterfly Project is also found in the park. Tourists can go for a tour of the project facilities to learn about how local farmers benefit from breeding butterfly pupas till adulthood. Other activities in the park include birding (Over 50 species) and exploring the mangrove swamps using boardwalk.
Swim with Humpback Dolphins:
The best place to swim with dolphins is on the small fishing village of Kizimkazi. Dolphin tours are organized using boats/dhows. Tourists board the boats and go out into the ocean in search of the dolphins. The tours can be organized as a group or in private. Dolphin tours also offer opportunities to observe other sea creatures, large sea fish, prawns and lobsters. After swimming with the dolphins, guests are normally taken to a smaller island for a meal that may include fried prawns, calamari, pilau rice and tropical fruits. The dolphin tour starts at 06:00 am.
Things to Take into consideration when visiting Zanzibar
Zanzibar is made up of a several islands. Pemba and Unguja are the largest but there is also Mnemba, Chumbe, Mafia, Kendwa, Nungwi, Matemwe, Michamvi, Pongwe, Bwejuu, Paje and Jambiani. The capital is Stone Town in Unguja.
Before arriving in Zanzibar, you need to have a Tanzanian Visa. The easiest way to get a visa is on arrival at the airport. A yellow fever vaccination card is a must and will be asked at all entry points including the airport. To protect yourself and your belonging while visiting Zanzibar, we recommend that you get travel insurance before showing up.
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