If you’ve ever dreamed of visiting paradise, this can be something very close. Since you touch the floor of this island, you will feel a different vibe. The first thing you will hear will be a greeting of joy “Jambo Mambo!” That will make you smile. All people are very friendly and they seem to have known you for a lifetime because they care about you. This is where I first heard someone really say it and understood the meaning of Hakuna Matata. People here take everything easy and find the happy side to everything. Although they have little, they have fun and are very happy people.
If you come by plane or by ferry, you will arrive at Stone Town, (Mji Mkongwe in Swahili for “old town”) a very diverse city where different cultures such as Persian, Arabic, European and African are mixed. Walking its small streets and getting lost in the city is something you will love. You will discover different spice markets, local shops and tea houses where you can enjoy a good afternoon.
Understanding this city is a bit complex because it has been through a lot of things, it was part of the Portuguese empire, it was the capital of the Sultanate of Oman, it had a revolution and it became its own Sultanate, it was ruled by the British until 1963, it had again a revolution and remained as an independent republic until they decided to join with Tanganyika to form what we know today as Tanzania. All this together made everything different from any other city. You will find many pieces of ancient history as it was one of the most important ports for the export of slaves and spices to the British Empire. All the history that it contains made this city become a world heritage site by UNESCO in 2000.
There is something that you have to understand here and I suppose that it is the same throughout Africa, if you come from America, Europe, or some parts of Asia, you are and they will always treat you as a “Muzungu” I don’t know what the exact translation is, but for you to understand, you will always be a tourist. In the street they will look at you as if you were an alien especially children because they are not used to seeing many people with white skin. If you travel to less touristy regions or towns, it will be the worst, this implies something ugly on some occasions and it is that they will offer you things a little more expensive so you have to know how to negotiate.
Places to visit within the city:
- Palace of Wonders – Built in the 19th century, it was the house of the Sultan and today is a museum dedicated to the culture of Zanzibar and Swahili.
- Old fort – Built in the 17th century by the Omanis to protect European invasions, today it is a place where you can find some markets and cultural activities.
- Former dispensary – Built at the end of the 18th century by a Hindu merchant, it was intended to be a hospital for the poor until it became the current dispensary on the island.
- Palace Museum – another former residence of the Sultan, is a museum dedicated to the ancient life of the Sultans in Zanzibar before they were exiled.
- Forodhani Gardens – The city’s current boardwalk, a perfect place to walk. A market opens every night where you can try different flavors of the island such as Pizza Zanzibar.
- Tembo Hotel – I mention it because it may interest you, although it was a great disappointment for me. It is the place where the legend and singer Freddie Mercury was born. I thought it was going to be a museum because they show it quite as an important place, but more than a sign that says “Here Freddie Mercury was born” and a small biography at the entrance, there is nothing else.
If you want to get out of the chaos a bit and get some rest there are two cities you can go to. To the north you will find Nungwi, a town where you will find chains of resorts and a lot of luxury. Right there you can go to enjoy “beautiful” spas and beaches, sadly, because of some rain, the beaches where full with rubbish and I could not enjoy it as much as I wanted. I know that if it had not been for this amount of garbage, it would have been something totally different and I would have been speechless. If you come here try to do some diving and sail on a boat for a sunset cruise because its sea is very beautiful.
On the other hand, there is Jambiani or Paje, these are some towns located southeast of the island where you can relax like never before. Its beaches are much cleaner and even much more solitary. In Paje, you will find a slightly larger town so there are a little more people, but if you go down a little more to Jambiani, there are small hotels that you can enjoy with the best view of the sea. If you have the opportunity to come this way and extreme sports are your thing, I recommend you prepare for kitesurfing. You can learn right here or rent the equipment and enjoy good waves and good wind. It is also a good place to go snorkeling and enjoy some of the sea life.
A tour that I insist you do in the Island is the Spice Tour. If you enjoy trying different flavors, learn a little about the food of different cultures, this is your tour. As I said, Zanzibar was a very important port for the spice trade, so you will find so many spices not native to this region. Very close to Stone Town, there are many farms that offer you the tour so it is easy to get. The tour begins with a tour of the farm and they will show you the different trees, they will explain the different spices that come out of each and how they are used. Then you will have the opportunity to try some spices and fruits of the island to end with a local lunch where you will enjoy different homemade flavors.
Recommendations:
Lodging:
- Mango Beach House – Jambiani
- Aluna Beach Lodge – Nungwi
- Ten to Ten – Stone Town
Food:
The food and menus of the whole island are very similar so you will not find much variety unless you go inside expensive restaurants. But if you like to try something different and walk through some markets, I recommend the following:
- Zanzibar Pizza at the Forodhani Gardens market or in Paje
- Good tea at Cafe Turquoise – Stone Town
- Rooftop Restaurant – Paje
Transport:
- Stone Town – Jambiani
- Taxi: USD 30-40 for 50 minutes of travel
- Daladala: 1 USD for 1 hour and a half of travel
- Stone Town – Nungwi
- Taxi: USD 30-40 for 1 hour and a half of travel
- Daladala: 1 USD for 3 hours of travel
