About
Zanzibar
Zanzibar, famous for its production of spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, attracts countless visitors with its welcoming and multicultural population, its tropical climate and its stunning coastal scenery. The scent of cloves and the unfurling sails of the dhow boats on turquoise waters invite visitors to the islands.
Stone Town is an inviting and intriguing historic town, recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll past the town’s many shops and bazaars, and take your pick from the antique shops and stores selling spices, jewellery, paintings and carved wooden chests. Stone Town’s narrow streets take you to many historic buildings and ruins. Tourist attractions include the House of Wonders, the People's Palace Museum, the historic Arab Fort and Dr Livingstone's House. Stone Town is the cultural heart of the islands and boasts grand mosques, a cathedral, and extravagant Arab houses with carved doors. For a taste of the history of Zanzibar, take a tour to a spice plantation. The plantations, for nutmeg, pepper, cloves, cinnamon and other spices, offer both an insight into the past lives of the slaves and plantation owners but also a taste of the quality of the spices and information on their uses.
The beaches of the main island on Zanzibar, Unguja, are a major draw for holidaymakers. More than 25 picturesque beaches line Zanzibar’s coastline, characterised by white sand, palm trees and a calm blue ocean. Nungwi, on the island’s north tip, is famous for its dhow craftsmen. On the west coast, Mangapwani beach attracts visitors looking for a paradise setting. The east coast boasts some of the best beaches on the island, including Kiwengwa, Matemwe, Bwejuu, Uroa, Pwani Mchangani and Jambiani, which all possess deserted patches of white sand.
Zanzibar is also home to many other smaller islands, ideal for day trips. Tumbatu Island, to the north-west of Unguja Island in Zanzibar, is an attractive spot for an organised tour as it is not set up for overnight visitors, as is Chapwani Island and Changuu Island, otherwise known as the Prison Island. Pemba, Unguja’s sister island, is smaller and much more isolated than Zanzibar Island. Many more visitors, however, are discovering its far-flung charms, amazing beaches, beautiful forests and diving. The East Coast is particularly rich in marine life and boasts crystal clear waters, multicoloured coral and beautiful white sand beaches. In the North of the island is the Nungwi Peninsular, a paradise of coral lagoons and turtles. The South boasts some deserted and remote beaches, full of charm and beauty. You can take part in a variety of activities from dolphin and turtle watching to horse riding, wind surfing and kite surfing. Zanzibar offers a variety of big-game fishing experiences where you can sail into the Indian Ocean on the look-out for prime fish species. And don’t forget the diving –Zanzibar is famous for the quality of its scuba diving and you can see a huge variety of underwater life when you take a diving or snorkelling tour in the clear waters. Dive courses cater for the beginner and the experienced diver. Enjoy wall dives, stunning coral formations and drift dives in this island paradise. In addition to the quality of the marine life, the water off Zanzibar is usually warm and visibility is very good.
Chumbe Island has a coral park, a protected marine park to preserve the coral and underwater life. Mnemba Island is surrounded by a conservation zone that protects sea creatures and coral. Mnemba Island is also a nesting site of the green turtle, an endangered species. Misali Island is home to coral reefs and a rich forest with an abundance of wildlife. The Menai Bay Conservation Area and other marine parks offer stunning dive sites featuring cliffs, caves, canyons, wrecks, and reefs. Wildlife includes octopus, lobster, rays, dolphins and scorpion fish. If you’d like to see the beauty of the islands at a leisurely pace, take a dhow cruise. A dhow is a traditional sailing boat made of wood and cruises take in the sunrise with lunch and drinks served onboard.
Pemba has a surface area of around 608 square miles while Unguja is about 995 square miles in size. The average high temperature in July is 81 degrees F and 88 degrees F in February – part of the northern monsoon season which lasts from December to March. The rainy season is generally in March or April, to May. The dry season in Zanzibar lasts from June to October, and this is a popular time to visit.