Zanzibar

Stone Town is the old quarter of Zanzibar City and one of the best-preserved Swahili trading towns in East Africa, which earned it UNESCO World Heritage status in 2000. Its narrow, winding alleys are lined with coral-stone buildings, shaded balconies and more than 500 intricately carved wooden doors, many decorated with brass studs and Arabic or Indian motifs that once showed the owner’s wealth and status. Highlights include:

• The House of Wonders (Beit al-Ajaib): Built in 1883 by Sultan Barghash, it was the first building in East Africa to have electricity and an elevator. It is currently undergoing restoration.
• The Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe): Built by the Omani Arabs around 1700, it now hosts craft shops, a cultural centre and an open-air amphitheatre used for performances and festivals.
• The Palace Museum: The former sultans’ residence, it displays royal furniture, portraits and artefacts from the era of the Omani sultanate.
• Christ Church Cathedral and the Former Slave Market: Built on the site of East Africa’s last open slave market, closed in 1873. A memorial and an underground chamber where enslaved people were held tell a moving story of the island’s past.
• Darajani Market: A bustling local market selling spices, tropical fruit, fresh fish and everyday goods, offering an authentic taste of local life.
• Freddie Mercury House: The birthplace of the Queen frontman, who was born in Stone Town in 1946.

A guided walking tour is the best way to explore, as local guides bring the history, architecture and hidden corners of the town to life.

As the sun sets over the harbour, the waterfront gardens in front of the Old Fort transform into a lively open-air food market. Vendors grill freshly caught lobster, prawns, octopus, kingfish and calamari, alongside local favourites such as Zanzibar pizza (a stuffed, pan-fried crepe with sweet or savoury fillings), urojo soup, mishkaki skewers, samosas and fresh sugarcane juice pressed with ginger and lime. Local boys leap from the seawall into the water, and the atmosphere is festive and friendly, making it a perfect first-night experience.

Zanzibar was once the world’s leading producer of cloves, and spices remain central to its identity and economy. Guided tours of plantations around Kizimbani, Kidichi and Dole take visitors through groves of cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, black pepper, vanilla, cardamom, turmeric, ginger and lemongrass. Guides explain how each spice is grown, harvested and used in cooking, medicine and cosmetics. Tours often finish with a tasting of tropical fruits such as jackfruit, rambutan, durian, soursop and passion fruit, and some include a traditional Swahili lunch cooked with spices from the farm. Nearby, the Persian Baths at Kidichi, built in 1850 by Sultan Said for his Persian wife, add a touch of history.

Zanzibar’s only national park protects the island’s last remaining indigenous groundwater forest, along with mangroves, coral rag thicket, and salt marshes. It is the best place to see the endemic Zanzibar red colobus monkey, an endangered primate found nowhere else on earth, known for its striking red coat and playful nature. Visitors may also spot Sykes’s monkeys, bushbabies, Aders’ duikers, suni antelopes and a wide variety of birds and butterflies. A raised wooden boardwalk winds through the mangrove forest, where guides explain the importance of these trees in protecting the coastline and supporting marine life. The nearby Zanzibar Butterfly Centre supports local farmers through butterfly farming and is a pleasant addition to the visit.

Just a 30-minute boat ride from Stone Town, this small island was built as a prison in the 1890s but was never used as one; it instead served as a quarantine station. Today it is home to a colony of Aldabra giant tortoises, originally a gift from the Seychelles, some of which are well over 100 years old. Visitors can feed and photograph the tortoises, explore the colonial ruins, relax on the small beach, and snorkel the surrounding coral reefs.

Located off the northeast coast, Mnemba Atoll is a protected marine conservation area surrounded by vibrant coral reefs and crystal-clear water. It is widely regarded as the finest snorkeling and diving site in Zanzibar, with sightings of green turtles, dolphins, moray eels, octopus, lionfish, clownfish, triggerfish, and large schools of reef fish. Divers can explore sites suitable for beginners and experienced divers alike. Boat trips usually depart from Matemwe, Kiwengwa or Nungwi, and dolphin pods are often seen along the way.

This popular full-day excursion explores Menai Bay Conservation Area in the southwest on a traditional wooden dhow. The day includes snorkeling on coral reefs, a stop on a dazzling white sandbank that appears at low tide, a swim in a natural mangrove lagoon on Kwale Island, and a visit to a giant, centuries-old baobab tree. Lunch is a generous seafood feast of grilled fish, lobster, calamari, and tropical fruit served on the island, and the trip ends with a relaxing sail back to the mainland, often accompanied by dolphins.

On the southern tip of the island, the fishing village of Kizimkazi is the starting point for morning boat trips to see bottlenose and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins in their natural habitat. Kizimkazi is also home to one of the oldest mosques in East Africa, with a Kufic inscription dating to 1107 AD, showing the island’s long history of trade and Islamic culture.

The northern tip of Zanzibar has some of the island’s most beautiful beaches, where the tides are less extreme, so swimming is possible throughout the day.

• Nungwi is a lively village known for its traditional dhow-building yards, where craftsmen still build boats by hand using age-old techniques. The Mnarani Marine Turtle Conservation Pond rescues and rehabilitates sea turtles and welcomes visitors. Nungwi also has a vibrant choice of beach bars, restaurants and water-sports centres.
• Kendwa, just south of Nungwi, has wide, powdery white beaches and calm water, famous for its spectacular sunsets and monthly full-moon beach parties.

The east coast features long stretches of white sand lined with palm trees and a dramatic tidal range that reveals rock pools, seagrass beds and sandbanks at low tide.

• Paje is one of the world’s top kitesurfing destinations, with steady trade winds and shallow lagoons ideal for beginners and experts alike.
• Jambiani is a laid-back village where visitors can meet the women seaweed farmers who tend underwater farms in the lagoon and learn how seaweed is turned into soaps, oils and cosmetics.
• Bwejuu and Michamvi offer quiet, relaxing beaches and boutique lodges, perfect for honeymooners and travellers seeking tranquillity.

One of Zanzibar’s most iconic sights, The Rock Restaurant sits on a small coral outcrop just off the beach at Michamvi Pingwe. At low tide, guests can walk across the sand to reach it, while at high tide, a small boat ferries them across. The restaurant specialises in fresh seafood and offers panoramic views of the Indian Ocean, making it a memorable lunch or dinner experience. Advance booking is recommended.

• Maruhubi Palace Ruins: Built in 1882 by Sultan Barghash and later destroyed by fire, the ruins, with their columns, baths, and gardens, give a glimpse into the lives of the sultans.
• Mangapwani Slave Chamber and Coral Cave: On the northwest coast, this underground chamber was used to hide enslaved people after the slave trade was officially abolished, and the nearby natural coral cave was a source of fresh water.

Sailing on a traditional wooden dhow as the sun sets over the Indian Ocean is one of Zanzibar’s most romantic experiences. Cruises depart from Stone Town, Nungwi and Kendwa, often accompanied by taarab or Swahili music, light snacks and refreshments. The changing colours of the sky over the water and the silhouettes of other dhows create an unforgettable scene.

Zanzibar’s culture is a fusion of African, Arab, Persian, Indian, and European influences, reflected in its music, food, and daily life. Visitors can join a Swahili cooking class to learn dishes such as pilau rice, coconut fish curry and chapati, enjoy traditional taarab music, or get henna art painted by local women. The island also hosts major events, including Sauti za Busara, one of Africa’s most celebrated music festivals held each February, and the Zanzibar International Film Festival, held in the middle of the year.

With short, frequent flights from Arusha, Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti, and other mainland parks, Zanzibar is the ideal place to unwind after a Tanzanian safari. Accommodation ranges from boutique hotels in Stone Town and eco-lodges to luxury beach resorts and private island retreats, making it equally suited to honeymooners, families, groups and adventure seekers. Whether it’s history, culture, wildlife, water sports or simply relaxing on a beautiful beach, Zanzibar offers an unforgettable end to any East African journey.