Zanzibar Stone Town
The stone town of Zanzibar, also known as Mkongwe Mji (in Swahili meaning "old city"), is the ancient part of Zanzibar, and the main city in the Autonomous Region of Zanzibar, in Tanzania. It is located on the west coast of Unguja Island, the main island in the Zanzibar Archipelago. It was previously the capital and it formed a prosperous center for the spice trade as well as the slave trade in the 19th century. its importance as the main city in the country was kept during a period of British protection, hence why it became the capital of the United Republic of Tanzania and the main seat of its government after the Union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.
The city has outstanding historical and artistic importance in East Africa. Its architecture, predominantly dating back to the 19th century, reflects the diverse influences upon which Swahili culture is based, with a unique blend of Arab, Persian, Indian and European cultures. For this reason, the city was included in the World Heritage List in 2000.
Best attractions:
- Prison Island:
Prison Island may not seem like a magical destination that everyone wants to see because it was a prison in the past, but it is definitely one of the most beautiful tourist destinations to see, a small island located just 30 minutes by boat from Stone Town, and home for more than a hundred turtles that you can interact with.
- Zanzibar Gates:
You will only find these gigantic wooden masterpieces represented by the gates of Zanzibar in a few places around the world, which are elaborately constructed and detailed in surprising detail with unique decorations, and serve as a valuable glimpse into the place of origin, profession and economic situation of the homeowner.
- Darajani Market:
This bazaar is frequented by most of the locals and it is a colorful and bustling square full of local products from all over the island, where you can enjoy discovering the different spices that the island is famous for, as well as wonderful souvenirs of dresses, traditional Indian shoes, and jewelry with various handicrafts that find popular. Great among visitors.
- Old Palace:
This large fort on the waterfront was built by the Omani Arabs in the early eighteenth century as a defense against the Portuguese, but by the nineteenth century, this historic building turned into a prison, but if you visit it today you will find shops, a restaurant, a cultural center and an open-air theater Acting as a site for musical performances, the castle also hosts the Zanzibar International Film Festival.
what are you going to see?
- Spice plantations:
The Zanzibar archipelago is called the “Spice Islands,” so a wonderful tour of the spice plantations that dot everywhere in the city awaits you, ensuring that you see some of your favorite spices in their natural form or when harvested, including cinnamon, nutmeg and black pepper.
- Scuba diving at Chumbi Island:
Many tourists see that this island is the best place to dive in Zanzibar, and it is no wonder that, as it includes nearly 200 species of coral reefs and fish in a giant underwater park, and it is characterized by being clean and protected, and you need a permit to dive, where researchers travel from All over the world to the island to study the delicate ecosystem, with the diversity, colors and size of tropical fish hugely.
- Forodhani night markets:
The night food market along the waterfront is a bustling hub of local cuisine that is well worth trying, with the splendor of grilled seafood and cooked meat, served with fresh sugar cane juice.
Best time to visit:
In Zanzibar there are two dry seasons, one cold and the other hot, the best period during which you may go on a tourist trip to Zanzibar is the cold and dry months at the same time, in the period between June and October, which is called the spring season, and this season is best suited for those wishing to dive in The northern side of the island's coast. The weather is dry during the period between mid-December and February, but it is characterized by high temperatures, and despite this, many prefer to travel during this time for an African beach vacation. If you are traveling during this period and want to enjoy scuba diving, you should Head to the southern coast of the island.
The main rainy season is usually during the period from March, April and May, with tropical rains every afternoon, and the humidity and daily temperatures rise to 30 degrees Celsius. As for the second rainy season, it will be during the months of November and December, but it is hardly raining. Arab travelers to Zanzibar do not recommend visiting it during the two rainy seasons, as these months are not the best time to book your trip if you want to spend a beach holiday, especially with the occasional monsoon.
