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 Profile
| Zanzibar
- the Spice Island located 25 miles off the mainland of Tanzania on the east coast
of Africa, just south of the Equator, Zanzibar is the largest of an archipelago
of some 50 small tropical islands and coral atolls.
| History
| Zanzibar,
and its sister island, Pemba to the north, have been populated for more than 2,000
years with settlers from mainland Africa, Samaria, Assyria, Egypt, Portugal, Oman,
India, Goa and northern Europe. In the mid Nineteenth Century the Sultan of Oman
moved his court to Zanzibar making it an important trading post between Africa
and the middle and far East. The islands were administered by the British from
1890 until 1963. A Revolution in 1964 witnessed the overthrow of the Government;
soon afterwards Zanzibar joined with Tanganyika to form the United Republic of
Tanzania.
| Appreciate
the Heritage
| To
appreciate the rich heritage, history and architecture of Zanzibar; wander the
labyrinth of narrow alleys of Stone Town (a UNESCO World Heritage site); visit
the Sultans' palaces, the Old (Arab) Fort, Persian baths, the site of the slave
market and the nearby dungeons where slaves were kept before being auctioned;
witness the hustle and bustle of the market, the dhow harbour which for centuries
saw the (sometimes illegal) trade in ivory.
| Excursions
from Stone Town
| Excursions
from Stone Town include visits to spice farms to understand why Zanzibar became
known as The Spice Island; boat trips to Changu (Prison) Island with its giant
tortoises; day trips to the marine reserve of Chumbe Island Coral Park; full day
dhow safaris and evening sunset cruises.
| Relaxation
| Spend
time totally relaxing at the east or north coast where traditional fishing villages
fringe miles of unspoiled beach beside the turquoise ocean. Stay at an hotel of
your choice, from those of international standards with a wide range of facilities,
to more intimate, often locally owned, hotels.
| Scuba
diving
| Scuba
diving and snorkelling locations over the reefs which surround Zanzibar and Pemba
Island rate with the best to be found anywhere.
| Low
tide
| For
the less intrepid at low tide walk out toward the reef where people harvest seaweed,
men bring in their catch of the day, the younger generation catch octopus and
the local entrepreneurs use their fishing boats (ngalawas) to take visitors snorkelling
near the coral reef which surrounds much of the island.
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