Zanzibar is made up of the historic Stone Town, warm turquoise waters and sandy beaches with fringing coral reefs. Zanzibar is an ideal place to relax, soak up the sun and take a break from busy sightseeing.
The island is located in the Indian Ocean, approximately 25 miles from the Tanzanian coast, and 6° south of the equator. It’s almost 100km from top to bottom and 30km wide.
Safaris R Us can arrange your flight to Zanzibar from:
• The Serengeti National Park if your safari finishes there.
• Arusha domestic airport after any other Tanzanian safari.
• Nairobi, Kenya on return from the Maasai Mara and other Kenyan National Parks.
• Dar es Salaam, the city closest to Zanzibar, if you wish to start your holiday at Zanzibar.
The beaches in Zanzibar are a paradise separated by picturesque fishing villages, where the people live a simple way of life unchanged over the years. Zanzibar also boasts several small offshore islands which are ideal for a day trip. Prison (or Changu) Island is the most popular among tourists, as it is only a short trip from Stone Town.
Stone Town may not have a particularly romantic name, but it is the oldest city and the cultural heart of Zanzibar, with little changed over the past 200 years. It is a place of winding alleys, bustling bazaars, mosques and grand Arab houses whose original owners vied with one another 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 around Stone Town and you can spend many idle hours and days just wandering through the fascinating labyrinth of narrow streets and alleyways. When coming to Zanzibar, we highly recommend that you do a Stone Town Tour.
The history of Zanzibar would not be complete without the cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, pepper and many other spices which brought the Sultans of Oman to Zanzibar at the beginning of the infamous slave trade. The spices can be seen in plantations just outside Zanzibar town, and a Spice 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 number of spices produced and their incredible value for many ailments. This is also the cheapest place to purchase spices and spice oils.
