Top things to see and do in Zanzibar

Top things to see and do in Zanzibar : Zanzibar is a beautiful tropical paradise to visit for travelers seeking to soak themselves in the tropical sun, dive in the clear waters and take a walk in the crystal white sands, Zanzibar Island is located off the Eastern Coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean , a two-hour (15 miles) ferry ride from Dar es Salaam, a major city in Tanzania.

Zanzibar is not a country, it is a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania  and politically part of Tanzania, Zanzibar is not just one island but an archipelago (Zanzibar Archipelago) consisting of main islands that are Pemba Island, Unguja Island, Mafia Island as the major Islands and several small islands.

In Zanzibar there memorable and exciting activities to do during your visit, here are the top things do in Zanzibar.

THINGS TO DO IN ZANZIBAR

Exploring the Stone Town

Stone Town also known as Mji Mkongwe is the ancient part of Zanzibar City and the capital town of Zanzibar (Unguja Island), the town is a historic heart of Zanzibar with bewildering maze of streets and alleyways that form the westernmost tip Zanzibar Town. Exploring the Stone Town recognized as an important UNESCO World Heritage Site offers you a trace to the origins of Zanzibar through its buildings which still maintain their original architectural structure. The old Façade of the buildings are one of the aspects giving Stone Town a unique charm.

The Stone Town was initially a fishing village but later turned into a trading point, like Zanzibar the town has plenty of cultural influences. During a guided walking tour in the Stone Town which lasts for about 3-4 days offers an opportunity tour the town, learn more about the town and visit of the remarkable sites such as visiting the birth place of Freddie Mercury, admire the Old Fort, visit the House of Wonders among others.

·         Admire the intricate doors of Stone Town

During walking tour you will admire the fascinating architecture of the old buildings with their intricate doors, as you wander through the narrow streets make it appoint to look around at the beautiful, carved doors which are a special feature of the town. These doors feature intricate designs and carvings which tell more about the residents who live in these houses, these doors also tell if the residents are Swahili, Indian or Arabs basing on the shape and design of the door.

·         See the birth place of Freddie Mercury

If you are a fun of Queen, you can visit the birth place where Mercury Freddie was born which on a tour in Zanzibar, this place is located right in the city center. Though people state that it might not be the real house due to constant moving of Freddie’s father moved several times while Freddie was young, however visiting this site is a great opportunity to learn more about the background and upbringing of Freddie.

·         Visiting the Old Fort

The Old Fort is a landmark in Stone Town and Zanzibar, the fort was built by the Omani Arabs in 1699 and it is one of the oldest buildings in Town. Visiting the Old Fort offer an opportunity to learn about the history and contributions of the Arabs to the development of the town.

Other sites you visit as you tour the Stone Town include the Forodhani Gardens, wander around Darajani Market, eat out at one of the Rooftop restaurants, visit the Slave Museum to learn about the Slave trade and visiting the House of Wonders.

Visit Jozani Forest

Jozani Forest is one of the most places not to miss during your visit to Zanzibar, this forest is a nature and wildlife sanctuary and one of the loosest places on the island located in the Eastern part of the  Island. During your visit to Jozani Forest you will be able enjoy the green nature created by the Jozani forest and Mangrove forest situated across the street. During a guided walk in Jozani Forest using several you will be able to see the Zanzibar red colobus monkeys which are only found in this forest in the whole world.

Go to the Seaweed Center

Another fascinating site to visit in Zanzibar is Seaweed Center situated right in Paje, the Seaweed center currently known as Mwani Zanzibar is a women’s initiative that employs only women to make products from the abundant seaweed around the Island. During your visit, you will be able to witness the daily tasks of the seaweed farmers and also relax at the shop with a glass of seaweed fruit juice.

Visit the House of Wonders

The House of Wonders is the tallest building in Stone Town and the main Zanzibar point of interest, this site is situated right next to the Old Fort. While visiting the House of Wonders you will see the first elevator in all of East Africa, learn about the history of Stone Town and view old exhibits and rooms.

House of Wonders also called the Palace of Wonders comes from the house’s modern amenities first in Stone Town such as plumbing and electricity. The house has none of these wonders currently as it is under renovation.

.Spice Tour

Zanzibar is often referred to as “Spice Island” and this is due to the growing of various spices such as cloves, nutmeg, vanilla and cinnamon which has been taking place on the island for centuries. The island has several large spice plantations which are unmissable during your holiday to Zanzibar, during the spice tour you will be able to visit the spice farms, see, and touch several flavours of the species.

While going for a spice tour we recommend you carry comfortable and well fitting shoes as it may be muddy and extra cash in case you want to buy some species and take them home.

Safari Blue Cruise

Sailing in a dhow is a memorable activity to do in Zanzibar and you shouldn’t miss it, the dhow cruise also referred to as Safari Blue Cruise departs from the fishing town of Fumba to a little sandbank off the coast of Zanzibar taking about 3 hours to be swallowed in the high tide. During the boat ride you get to enjoy the best views of the blue ocean and the cool breeze of the Ocean.

Prison Island

Prison Island is one of the great sites of interest on Zanzibar Island, this iconic island is reached on a boat ride just 5 kilometers away from Stone Town the capital of Zanzibar, the Prison Island also known as Changuu Island served as an island or prison for the slaves, violent prisoners and quarantined individuals identified with chronicle diseases. The prison was built in the late 1800s, the thrilling part of visiting this island is that you will get to visit the tortoise sanctuary where you will see some of the giant Aldabross tortoises.

Have Dinner At The Tea House Restaurant

The Tea House Restaurant is a beautiful place and must visit in Zanzibar’s Stone Town, the Tea House Restaurant is located at Emerson on Hurumzi and is located on top of the boutique hotel in the middle of the Kasbah. The restaurant boosts some of the best views of Stone Town which is why it is one of the favorite places to visit in Zanzibar, the restaurant is a popular place for sundowners and dinner  and to get a spot you need to make a reservation beforehand.  While at the restaurant, you get to enjoy spicy cocktails, live Zanzibar Music and the delicious Persian-inspired cuisines.

Dining at the Rock Restaurant

The Rock Restaurant is a must visit place on the island and dining at this fascinating restaurant is a must do, the restaurant is located in Pongwe – the southeastern part of the island and is famously known for its iconic location, fabulous food and character. The Rock Restaurant is accessible by a motorbike or taxi cab from Paje, if you visit the restaurant during high tide, you will use a boat to reach the rock unless you prefer swimming.

To avoid disappointment, it is essential to make a reservation.

Go Shopping At Darajani Market

The Darajani Market also called Bazaar is the main bazaar in Stone Town, Zanzibar is the most popular place in Zanzibar for spices, dates, bread, fruits and almost everything and anything you can think of. Shopping in Darajani Market gives you an opportunity to shop for various species of spices, fruits and souvenirs among others, the market is also a fantastic place to soak in to the culture and interact with the locals.

Learn About The Slave Trade

Though Zanzibar is best known for its white sandy beaches and inviting turquoise waters, the island has a darker past which is unknown to most of travelers. Zanzibar was the Africa Great Lake’s main slave-trading point, according to history over 50,000 slaves passed through Zanzibar Island in the 19^th century and they were sold at several slave markets until the 18000s. One of the last places to host open slave markets on Zanzibar Island is the Stone Town, this town which is the capital of the island  still has the former slave market site which you can visit to learn more about the history of slave trade.

Enjoy The Many Beaches

You can never miss visiting the beautiful beaches of Zanzibar, the island is dotted with numerous beautiful beaches with crystal white sands fringed with palm trees and inviting turquoise waters. Visiting these beaches is a must do during your visit to Zanzibar, the beaches are a great spot for relaxation and offer exciting water sports such as diving, kite surfing, kayaking, snorkeling, sunbathing and swimming.

Some of the beautiful beaches not miss in Zanzibar include Paje Beach, Jambiani Beach, Nungwi Beach among others.

Snorkeling and diving

Snorkeling and diving are fantastic activities to do in Zanzibar most especially for water sport lovers, Zanzibar has some of the great places to do snorkeling and diving and one of the them is Mnemba Atoll located right off the north-east Coast. During these activities you will be able to discover the underground water of Indian Ocean and you will be able to see all sorts of beautiful fish. If you are going to do snorkeling, do not forget to bring your own snorkeling mask.

To reach Mnemba Atoll you will take a boat from either Kigomani or Matemwe beach village to get there.

Other water activities you can do in Zanzibar include Kite surfing, jet skiing among others.

Zanzibar is a beautiful tropical destination to visit for a relaxation experience after your Tanzania safari.