Discover Zanzibar

Zanzibar is an exotic land. This 'spice island' is a tropical idyll true to its reputation. Zanzibar town is filled with old historic buildings, and to prove it there is a story behind each one. At the heart of Zanzibar is the fascinating Stone Town where time has seemingly stood till. The island is dotted with several ruins from the turbulent times past. During harvest season between, July and December, the air hangs thick with the scent of clove. Along the east coast there are endless beautiful beaches and inviting aquamarine water.

ATTRACTIONS IN ZANZIBAR

ZANZIBAR  STONE HOUSE

It may not have a particularly romantic name, but Stone Town is the old city and cultural heart of Zanzibar, little changed in the last 200 years. It is a place of winding alleys, bustling bazaars, mosques and grand Arab houses whose original owners vied with each other over the extravagance of their dwellings. This one-upmanship is particularly reflected in the brass-studded, carved, wooden doors - there are more than 500 different examples of this handiwork. You can spend many idle hours and days just wandering through the fascinating labyrinth of narrow streets and alleyways.

Chumbe Island

The lighthouse on this Island, which is eight miles from Zanzibar and opposite Chukwani, was erected in 1990 and now contains an automatic light. There is a mosque near the lighthouse; Ships proceeding to Dar-es-Salaam pass close on the port bow.

The Island has been developed into a Nature Reserve and harbours one of the most spectacular coral gardens in the world and comprises Chumbe Reef Sanctuary - and boasts of 7 Eco-Bungalows en-suite with solar-powered halogen lights, blends perfectly with the surrounding nature and situated between the beach and the forest

Mnarani Beach

Mnarani is based on the northern tip of Zanzibar Island right in the heart of the village of Nungwi. ?Mnarani? means lighthouse in Swahili and here on the eastern ridge of the village you will find the oldest lighthouse in Zanzibar, built in 1886 and still in operation today

Mnemba Island

Mnemba island lies 15 minutes by boat from the North east coast of Zanzibar, protected by a lagoon with over 10 miles of reefs rich in colourful fish and corals.

Pemba Island

Pemba was known by Arab sailors as El Huthera in ancient times , meaning ?the Green?, on account of its dense and lush vegetation. Lying 30 minutes north of Zanzibar by light aircraft, the island is remote and still relatively unknown. In contrast to Zanzibar, which has become increasingly popular in recent years, Pemba still receives very few foreign holiday visitors.

The island is a mixture of natural forests, mangrove swamps and clove plantations, which Pemba exports in even greater quantities than Zanzibar. The traditional villages on Pemba are primarily in the interior and have had little impact on the coast. Consequently the coral reefs around island are largely in pristine condition. It is these two factors - the unspoilt nature of the island and its colourful marine life - that are the main attractions of Pemba.

Prison/Changuu Island

This island is approximately half a mile long and one-eighth of a mile wide and was formerly owned by an Arab and used as a private place of detention for recalcitrant slaves. General Mathews bought it and the Gaul, which still stands, was built in 1893, as a central prison for Zanzibar. It was however never utilized as such. It also housed the infectious disease hospital for Zanzibar. There are many large tortoises here, some of them over 3ft in diameter. Excellent bathing may be had from the shore facing the Town, which is a favourite resort for picnic parties.

Spice Island

The Spice island of Zanzibar lies off the coast of Tanzania in the Indian Ocean. It is famous for once being the commercial centre of East Africa and the last place to abolish the slave trade. Today it combines ancient Islamic ruins, noble Arabic houses with miles of white sandy palm fringed beaches and coves. The ocean offers warm clear blue waters, idyllic islands excellent reefs for snorkelling and diving, fantastic deep sea fishing, water sports and of course delicious fresh fish. And if you thought that wasn't enough, visiting the Spice plantations (cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, cardamom and others) or haggling for carvings in the Central Market is great fun too.