Tourist Places to Visit in Zanzibar, Tanzania, East Africa, Africa

Tourist Places to Visit in Zanzibar, Tanzania, East Africa, Africa

Zanzibar is an archipelago and semi-autonomous region belonging to the African country, Tanzania. It is a group of two large islands Unguja and Pemba and many smaller islands, located an approximate distance between 25 and 50 km from the mainland Tanzania. Zanzibar City is the capital of Zanzibar, situated on the island of Unguja. Zanzibar covers a total area of 2,650 sq. km and is located at 6°8′ S 39°19′ E.

Zanzibar is noted for its several of typical features like for the production of black pepper, nutmeg and cinnamon, for which Zanzibar, together with the country’s another major island Mafia Island, is popularly called the Spice Islands. Zanzibar is also well known for the population of endemic Zanzibar Red Colobus Monkey.

History of Zanzibar:

The history of Zanzibar dates back from the early Later Stone Age around 20,000 years, when it was originally inhabited by humans, according to the microlithic tools found in the area. The history of Zanzibar also includes diverse features as it was ruled by many European powers, including British and Arabs.

Getting Zanzibar:

Abeid Amani Karume International Airport is the major airport serving Zanzibar and is situated on Unguja Island, around 5 kilometers from the Zanzibar city. It covers many global cities like Amsterdam, Dar es Salaam, Brussels, Nairobi, Muscat and Johannesburg.

Zanzibar can be reached by boat from the mainland Tanzania, from the city of Dar es Salaam. Small minivans, taxis and rental cars are the prevalent options to get around Zanzibar.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Zanzibar:

Zanzibar is rich in culture, home to a wide range of music and dance events, including the Festival of the Dhow Countries and Sauti za Busara, which take place at Old Fort of Zanzibar.

Old Stone Town Market is a perfect place to have a memorable shopping experience. Some famous restaurants in Zanzibar include:

Terrace Restaurant
Amore Mio
Passing Show Restaurant

Things to do in Zanzibar:

Divine Diving
Safari Blue Tour
Zanzibar Spice Tour
Visiting spas

Places to see in Zanzibar:

Zanzibar City:

Zanzibar City itself is one of the top tourist destinations of Zanzibar, situated on the west coast of the island of Unguja. Stone Town is the historic part of Zanzibar City, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, considering its unique architectural and cultural features.

House of Wonders:

The House of Wonders is an iconic building in Stone Town, situated in front of Forodhani Gardens, between the Palace Museum and Old Fort. Constructed by the second Sultan of Zanzibar, Barghash bin Said, the house is currently home to the Museum of History & Culture of Zanzibar.

Forodhani Gardens:

The Forodhani Gardens is a nice and attractive park located in the historic Stone Town. It is located on the sea coast, getting crowded during the evening time by both locals and tourists.

Sultan’s Palace:

Situated on the seafront on Mizingani Road, Stone Town, the Sultan’s Palace is a landmark structure, having 3-floors that are dedicated to showcase the history of the sultans who ruled the island. It was constructed in the late 19th century.

Old Fort of Zanzibar:

The Old Fort of Zanzibar is considered as the oldest building of the historic Stone Town, built in the late 17th century to guard island from the Portuguese attacks. It is also venue for the Festival of the Dhow Countries.

List of other places of interest in Zanzibar includes:

Paje Beach
Mtoni Palace Ruins
Zanzibar Butterfly Centre
Prison Island
Mnarani Marine Turtles Conservation Pond
Uroa Bay
Obama Beach Zanzibar
Maisha Mazuri Horse Riding Club
Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park
Nungwi Natural Aquarium
Kiwengwa Caves

Best time to visit Zanzibar:

Zanzibar generally experiences a warm climate year round and it sees heavy rainfall from March to April. The most popular time to visit Zanzibar is from July to October.

Accommodation options in Zanzibar:

Being a heaven of tourists, Zanzibar owns an amazing hospitality industry with dozens of superior hotels with world class facilities and services, served with a great degree of love and care in an engaging manner. Some reputed hotels in Zanzibar include: