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Stone Town, Spice Tours, Beaches & Excursions

Zanzibar

Tony Clemens
2005-08-31 21:53:07

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I don't like resorts. Don't get me wrong, I like relaxing in the sun doing nothing except maybe reading a book, swimming in warm ocean water and even snorkeling. But I don't like resorts.

Before I started my trip to Tanzania, the only thing I knew about Zanzibar was that it was in the title of a science fiction novel called Stand on Zanzibar which does not even take place in Zanzibar, and that Freddie Mercury of Queen was born there. After some preliminary research I knew it was a former Oman colony and terminus of the Arab slave trade, the world's largest producer of cloves and its beaches were largely untouched by commercial tourism. Sounded like the perfect place to end a safari.

The first thing you notice about Zanzibar when you arrive, whether by air or water is that even though Zanzibar is part of Tanzania the authorities will stamp your passport again and check your yellow card (yellow fever innoculation). Zanzibar, although a poor underdeveloped island, appears richer than the rest of Tanzania and enjoys a degree of autonomy from the rest of Tanzania. Probably something similar to what Quebec might want.

Zanzibar is often the collective name of Tanzania's offshore islands, with the largest called Unguja which most people think of when Zanzibar is mentioned. Two other large islands, which I never visited, are Pemba where the real centre of clove production is located and Mafia island which might become the location of Tanzania's first marine park and at the moment seems to be a haven for sport fishermen and scuba divers.

Stone Town

The largest community on Unguja is called Zanzibar Town or Stone Town, although Stone Town generally refers to the older section of the town. If you have never being to an Arab community, Stone Town is a good example of one with its Arab architecture, marketplaces, and winding narrow ...