ZANZIBAR HOLIDAY

Known for its fascinating history, Zanzibar Island Tanzania is among the Islands in East African Coast where Arabs dominated and trades all over the world. Zanzibar Island in Africa was once the center of slave trade that has a negative perception when it comes to human rights.

Zanzibar is among the biggest Islands in the East African coast comprises of two main Islands Unguja and Pemba, Unguja being the largest with about 1,464 sq km while Pemba is about 686 sq km The name Zanzibar is derived from Arabic words ‘Zinj el bar which means the Land of Black people. Unguja, Pemba and many other islets together are making the semi-autonomous part of the United Republic of Tanzania. Unguja Island is referred by many to be Zanzibar and in that case, all the time when travel to Unguja, we say we are going to Zanzibar. Stone Town is the capital of Zanzibar with its fascinating history.

Thinking of Zanzibar Island history and pictures of the very romantic past, white sails dhows in Indian ocean, swinging palms along the beautiful white sand beaches as the sun setting, ruin of the most historical buildings, women in black veils, the exotic spice plantations and the fascinating history of this Island, today, all these are reflecting in people’s culture and traditions.

Zanzibar island offers from the white tropical sand beaches, spices, history and culture pattern of this cosmopolitan Island.  As a ground handling we are in a position of arranging various activities in this historical Island ranging from Spice plantation tours, Dolphin tours to the Southern beaches at Kizimkazi, walking culture tour at Jambian village, A visit to Jozani forest home to the Red Colubus monkeys, known in Swahili as the ‘Kima Punju’, Prison Island trip with an engine wooded dhow this can be combined with either Spice tour or Stone Town tour. A visit of the old town of Zanzibar “The Stone town” with its narrow lines and old buildings from Beit el Ajaib which means The House of Wonders, to Sultan Palace and many many more including the site of The former slave market at darajani.

Zanzibar Island tours can be arranged independently before your arrival to this island but can be the best tour when combined with Tanzania wildlife safari or Mountain climbing (Kilimanjaro) or both.

Stone Town Tour

Stone town is the oldest part of Zanzibar built in 95 acres peninsula consisting of 2,500 buildings all built with coral stones lime and clay, therefore the Name Stone Town. Among these buildings 45 were mosques’ two Christian church, two Hindu halls and of course two huge baobab trees. But recently a lot of renovation has been done and some building has been changed from its origin. Stone town tour will take you to most of the famous and historical building such as the House of wonders built in 1883 saved as a ceremonial Palace for the third Sultan of Zanzibar Sultan Said Barghash bin Sultan. The tour will also take you to Sultan Palace used by most of sultan as a resident place from there you will visit the old fish Market which today saves as a general market, and then to the former slave market. There will be a walking along the narrow lines with shopping if you wish and to many other places of interest. The tour can take about 2 to three hours.    

Spice Tour

Spices Tour can be done in the morning or afternoon the tour include short drive and walking depending on where you are. Spice Tour is a visit to the spice farms  it is a walking tour were you can see, touch, taste and smell most of the spices grown on this island  ranging from cardamom, cinnamon, black paper, ginger, nutmeg, vanilla, turmeric and many more. The tour will also give you a chance to test most of the tropical fruits such as Jacky fruit, passion fruits, mangoes, papaya including the famous one durian local people call them hell and heaven fruit.  All the fruits will depend on the season. This tour takes about 3 to 4 hours and can be done from stone town hotel on the way to the beach hotel, depending on the time and your program of the day.