Tanzania's Zanzibar
Zanzibar
Once the domain of sultans and slave traders, a visit to this ancient island off the coast of Tanzania immediately transports you through the ages and across the globe. Return to a time of ancient Persia, to the Oman caliphs of days past, and to the sensual rhythms and pungent aromas of India’s west coast. This is Zanzibar, a brilliantly faceted island of narrow cobbled alleyways, where elderly men where kanzu and sit on stone benches playing a ceaseless game of bao and young children chase balls through the streets as their mothers, veiled in their flowing black bui bui pause to share the latest gossip.
Formerly known as the Spice Island, so named for its export of cloves, Zanzibar’s exotic flavor now roots in its captivating landscapes and wonderful preservation of a dynamic history. Today, the two major islands that compose the Tanzania archipelago, Unguja and Pemba, both prove well worth a visit. Upon Unguja, find the slumbering gem of Stone Town, where the decadent aroma of cloves melds sweetly with the pungent scent of coconut growing against the rice fields of the island. Mimicking the color of the cloves, discover the rare monkeys that find respite in the lush forests of the Jozani Forest Reserve, also home to the diminutive antelope known for its dusty blue grey coat.
Get lost in the ornate architecture lining the narrow streets of Stone Town, or explore the underwater paradise that thrives just off the coast of Pemba. Venture to any one of the intriguing remains spotting the island or simply forget reality on the sparkling sands of one of Zanzibar’s fantastic beaches.
