Homework 8 :: Zanzibar Brochure

The Island

Stone Town

Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous part of the United Republic of Tanzania, in East Africa. It comprises the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, 25– 50 kilometres (16–31 mi) off the coast of the mainland, and consists of numerous small islands and two large ones: Unguja (the main island, informally referred to as Zanzibar), and Pemba. Other nearby island countries and territories include Comoros and Mayotte to the south, Mauritius and Réunion to the far East, and the Seychelles Islands about 1500km north. Zanzibar was once a separate state with a long trading history within the Arab world; it united with Tanganyika to form Tanzania in 1964 and still enjoys a high degree of autonomy within the union. The capital of Zanzibar, located on the island of Unguja, is Zanzibar City, and its historic center, known as Stone Town, is a World Heritage Site.

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.

The Culture Zanzibar's local people are an incredible mixture of ethnic backgrounds, indicative of her colourful history. Zanzibaris speak Swahili (known locally as Kiswahili), a language which is spoken extensively in East Africa. Many believe that the purest form is spoken in Zanzibar as it is the birth place of the language. Zanzibar's most famous event is the Zanzibar International Film Festival, also known as the Festival of the Dhow Countries. Every July, this event showcases the best of the Swahili Coast arts scene, including Zanzibar's favourite music, Taarab. Important architectural features in Stone Town are the Livingstone house, the Guliani Bridge, the House of Wonders, and the Persian baths.

Most of the houses that can be seen today were built in the 19th century when Zanzibar was one of the most important trading centres in the Indian Ocean region. The coraline rock of Zanzibar was a good building material, but it is also easily eroded. This is evident by the large number of houses that are in a bad state of repair. Several buildings have already been renovated and the Stone Town Conservation Authority has been established to co-ordinate the restoration of the town

to its original magnificence. As a result of sensible policy, nearly all of the major hotels built in Stone Town are housed in renovated buildings. Pictured below is a typical winding alley in Stone Town, where it is quite easy to get lost.

zanzibar tanzania

BY AIR

Spice Plantations

The principal carrier to Zanzibar is Kenya Airways transit at Nairobi. Other carriers are Qatar Airline, Ethiopian Airline, Air India, South African Airways, British Airways and KLM stopping over Dar es Salaam, where you catch a ferry to Zanzibar. There are also a number of regular charter flights from Europe travelling directly to Zanzibar.

The history of Zanzibar would be incomplete without the cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, pepper and many other spices which brought the Sultans of Oman and the beginning of the infamous slave trade. They can be seen in the plantations just outside Zanzibar town, and a good tour includes opportunities to dazzle the senses with fresh spices. A detailed description is given about a variety of spices and their uses in cooking and cosmetics. Visitors will be fascinated by the sheer number of spices produced and their incredible value for many ailments.

If your air ticket takes you only to Dar es Salaam, local air carriers such as Coastal Travel, Zan Air, and Precision Air all provide scheduled flights in small twin-engined planes. BY SEA

culture

beaches history spices

Regular ferries operate between Dar Es Salaam, Zanzibar and Pemba. The services between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar range from 75 to 90 minutes and Pemba can take about 3 hours, depending on weather. Timetables and prices are displayed on boards outside each office.

Mustapha's Nest PO Box 3414 Bwejuu, Western Coast Zanzibar Island, Tanzania +255-244-0069 [email protected]

Prison Island Once the site of a gaol for misbehaving slaves, the island lies just off the old Stone Town. It is fringed with a beautiful coral reef, ideal for snorkelling, and has a lovely white beach for sun-bathing.

It is also home to a family of giant tortoises, imported from the Seychelles in the late 19th century. This island is ideal for a day-trip with refreshments available throughout the day. It also has a small restaurant where you can enjoy freshly caught fish.