The
Spices, Tropical Warmth
The Spice island of Zanzibar lies off the coast of
Tanzania in the Indian Ocean (see map). It is famous for
once being the commercial centre of East Africa and the
last place to abolish the slave trade.
Today it combines ancient Islamic ruins, noble Arabic
houses with miles of white sandy palm fringed beaches
and coves.
The ocean offers warm clear blue waters, idyllic islands
excellent reefs for snorkeling and diving, fantastic
deep sea fishing, water sports and of course delicious
fresh fish. You can also opt to go for an early morning
boat ride to catch site of dolphins playing around you.
And if you thought that wasn't enough, visiting the
Spice plantations (cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla,
cardamom and others) or haggling for carvings in the
Central Market is great fun too.
Beaches
(Zanzibar
Beach Holiday)
Brilliant white beaches lapped by the warm waters of the
Indian Ocean provide the perfect places to relax, soak
up the busy sightseeing.
Modern resorts nestle in the shade of coconut palms,
providing cool and comfortable retreats. The beaches are
paradise.
Most
indigenous people live in fishing villages where they live a
simple way of life, unchanged through the years.
Just south of Zanzibar town are Fuji Beach and
Chuini Beach, which both offer facilities for a
range of water sports, while to the north there
is Mangapwani where the only noise is likely to
be the sound of the ocean.
On the northern tip of the Island is Nungwi,
where visitors can watch fishermen's boats being built
or swim in the coral lagoons.
On
Zanzibar's north-east coast are the beaches of
Matemwe, Mapenzi, Kiwenga and Uroa,
with their wide stretches of un-crowded sands and
opportunities to explore the underwater world.
Other well developed resorts Pingwe, Bwejuu
and Jambiani are to be found on the south-eastern
coast. As well as water sports there are also
opportunities for fishing or for observing the
activities of the local fishermen.
Old Culture
Tours of Zanzibar island are rewarding experience.
Visitors will travel past fragrant plantation of
cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and other
spices on their way to a number of places of historical
interest.
To the south of the island is the walled city of
Kizimkazi, where the ruins of Shirazi mosque,
part of which dates back nearly 900 years, are found. A
coral stone inscription provides evidence of its age,
making it one of the earliest Islamic buildings in this
part of Africa.
Head north from Zanzibar town and visitors will
encounter the palace ruins of Maruhubi and Mtoni. The
ruins of Maruhubi offer a
tantalising
glimpse of former grandeur of this palace built by
Sultan Bargash in 1880 to house his harem, but burnt
down in 1889.
The palace of Mtoni suffered a similar fate. Dating back
to the early part of 19 century, it once housed 1,000
people. These are few examples of historical ruins that
dotted throughout the island. Others to be found at
Chuini, Dunga, Kidichi, Kizimbani
and Bungi.
Jozani Forest
35
km southeast from the city is Jozani Forest Reserve,
an area of 10 sq.km whose thick forest, with trees over 100
years old, are one of the last remaining sanctuaries of red
colubus monkey.
Another popular option is a trip to Changuu, or
Prison Island. The island was used to contain
awkwaard slaves and jail was built in 1893 but never
used.
Today the island's most famous inhabitants are giant tortoise
and it is a popular place for a swim, a stroll or a picnic.
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