Zanzibar

Tour overview

Zanzibar consists of two Indian Ocean tropical islands, Pemba and Unguja, surrounded by several islets, near Dar es Salaam in Tanzania on the East African coast. The capital is Stone Town.

People have lived in Zanzibar for 20 000 years and the islands were used as a base for traders on their way between Arabia, India and Africa. Persian traders settled in Zanzibar City (Stone Town) because the island of Unguja offered a protected and defensible harbour and a convenient trading point to other coastal towns, although the archipelago had few valuable products to offer traders. The traders established garrisons and the first mosque in the Southern hemisphere on the island.

The Portuguese Empire was the first European power to gain control of Zanzibar, which it ruled for nearly 200 years, until 1698, when Zanzibar became part of the Sultanate of Oman. Zanzibar became an important trading station for spices, ivory and slaves. Plantations were established to grow spices and Zanzibar became known as the Spice Islands. Ivory and slaves from mainland Africa contributed to the thriving economy of Zanzibar.

Zanzibar became a British protectorate in 1890 and in 1896 the islands became part of the shortest war in history, the Anglo-Zanzibar War, when the sultan died and the British did not approve of his successor.

The islands gained independence from Britain in December 1963 and became a constitutional monarchy. A month later, the bloody Zanzibar Revolution caused the death of many Arabs and Indians and thousands were expelled and expropriated. This led to the founding of the Republic of Zanzibar and Pemba. In April 1964, the Republic merged with mainland Tanganyika, which later became the Republic of Tanzania. Zanzibar remains a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania.

Over the centuries Zanzibar was influenced by many different cultures. China, Arabia and Persia, as well as the Portuguese and the English, all contributed to the unique history and diverse culture of Zanzibar.

The capital, Stone Town, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001 with its eclectic mix of cultures, architecture and languages. Visitors can clearly see the impact of the different cultures on the architecture and the people of Stone Town. The houses built from coral and stone have imposing wooden doors, set with brass studs and often containing carvings of scripts from the Quraan.

Zanzibar is therefore a unique destination filled with history and character, beautiful beaches and wonderful people.

Zanzibar is an archipelago of islands – the most famous being Unguja located 25 kms from the mainland coast at Dar es Salaam. The island is famous for its mix of exotic beaches, famous spice plantations, history (Stone Town being the capital) and diverse culture. Unguja (the main island in Zanzibar) is also home to many endangered species including the red colobus monkey and green turtle.

The North and East Coast of Unguja have particularly inviting beaches with powder white sand lapped by turquoise blue warm waters of the Indian Ocean and framed by many coconut and wild date palms.  This makes for an ideal location to relax particularly after a safari or trek up Kilimanjaro.  There are many excursions and water sports for people to indulge in and a whole range of accommodations to choose from (see below).

What makes Zanzibar special?

What makes Zanzibar different to other tropical island destinations is the eclectic mix of sun, sea, sand and spice. But there is much more – vivid history, culture and a variety of excursions that makes this one of the most popular all-round beach destinations for people of all ages and interests.  Apart from this, a whole range of endangered species can be found in the warm tropical waters around the archipelago – from bottlenose dolphins and green turtles to the once assumed extinct coelecanth!

Zanzibar also hosts annual festivals and events drawing people from all over East Africa and the world.