Zanzibar is a great coastal town commonly referred to as “Spice Island” along the shores of the Indian Ocean to the south of Tanzania.it is made of 2 major islands Pemba and Unguja, offering the most eye-catching beaches dotted with several palm trees around which is the crystal-clear ocean, the island is a place of rich history partly remembered for the slave trade transactions during the era of slavery. The historic stone town is spectacular it is a fusion of cultures and exciting places like the Sultan’s palace, spice and food markets, craft markets, and the ancient style of buildings that make up the island.
Zanzibar is a paradise in Africa, a dream destination for almost every traveler to Tanzania the angelic place is all about crystal clear sandy beaches, coral reefs, culture and history, spices, and meeting people who go the extra mile to ensure you have a comfortable stay, the island covers an area space of approximately 1554 square kilometers, the main languages spoken here include English and Kiswahili, their culture is a mixed race due to intermarriages from the many people that gathered the island during slave trade. The island is located about 40 kilometers from Tanzania’s mainland showcasing several architectural designs.
Things to do in Zanzibar include visiting the Stone Town, it is the capital city of Unguja Island, giving a great sense of how old the Swahili town is, the city is a charmingone built on coral stone, and the sound of Islamic prayer at different intervals, the smooth atmosphere with winds blowing from the Indian ocean is great feeling you can only experience. Stone Town has undergone several phases of civilizationover time, it a recognized world heritage sitesince 2000, a tour around the Stone Town takes streets taking you to surprising points, and the tour is always not complete until you visit the Zanzibar National Museum
Jozani forest is a sanctuary world of beauty in Zanzibar, it is the last remaining place in the world to see red colobus monkeys, it is the most green part in the eastern part of the island, there are many trails developed in the forest to enhance the experience of meeting the monkeys, it is advisable to begin this tour in the morning before 9:00 am to avoid the swam of many people as they come in during the day to view monkeys.
Visit the prison island, it was left a virgin island for years until, the island was used to temporarily keep slaves for trade, more so those that were thought to be super rebellious, it was also used to quarantine people who were brought sick from endemics like yellow fever, following the stop of slavery, the British bought the island from the Arabs and went ahead to construct a real prison which was later turned into an angelic hotel.
Visit the many beaches of Zanzibar, it is a lovely experience to spend the day on the warm sandy beaches, feeling the breeze of the waters while enjoying the sight of clear blue waters, each one of the beaches is amazing in its way. There are a thousand things you can engage in while in Zanzibar besides the mentioned, the list seems endless other activities listed include snorkeling, wind surfing, experiencing a full moon party normally organized by the resorts, swimming with the dolphins, swimming with turtles, visit caves to mention a few.
Besides the Pemba and Unguja Islands (they are the largest Islands), Zanzibar has other smaller islands like the Chumbe, Mafia, Kendwa,Nguwi, Matemwe,and Prison Island among others that make up the whole island.
Zanzibar is accessed through Tanzania’s main entry points from Moshi or Dare Salam, Visitors popular fly to the destination, it is best visited during the dry season in the months of December- February and June- early September, it is the most recommendable time more so when you intend to enjoy the Sunday beaches, There is available accommodation in Zanzibar ranging from the best budget to luxury, the hotels of the region are of high quality offering the best experiences to travelers, it is advisable to book these on time to avoid last minute bookings and missing out on space.