Zanzibar

★★★ Stone Town — UNESCO World Heritage

Stone Town is the beating heart of Zanzibar and one of Africa's most fascinating old towns. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000, this labyrinthine old town is a living museum of Arabic, Indian, Persian, Portuguese, and African architecture. The narrow alleys, the intricately carved doors (over 500 historic doors are cataloged), the bustling souks, and the crumbling grandeur of the sultans' palaces create an atmosphere found nowhere else in the world.

For centuries, Stone Town was the center of East African trade — in spices, ivory, and unfortunately, slaves. The Omani sultans ruled their trading empire from here, Indian merchants brought wealth and architecture, and Swahili culture fused all influences into something unique.

Top Attractions

• Carved Doors: The symbol of Stone Town. Each door tells a story: Arabic doors have pointed arches, Indian ones are richly decorated with flowers and animals. The most beautiful can be found on Hurumzi Street and around Forodhani Park.
• House of Wonders (Beit al-Ajaib): The former sultan's palace was the first building in East Africa with electricity and an elevator. Currently under renovation, but the facade is impressive.
• Old Slave Market & Anglican Cathedral: Where East Africa's largest slave market once stood, the Christ Church Cathedral now stands. The former slave chambers are preserved in the basement — a harrowing, important visit.
• Sultan's Palace (Beit el-Sahel): A small museum on the history of the Omani sultans. Beautiful view from the terrace.
• Darajani Market: The central food market. Most lively in the morning: fish, spices, fruits, meat. Not for sensitive noses, but incredibly authentic.
• Hammam (Hamamni Persian Baths): The historic Persian baths from the 19th century. Now a museum, but the architecture is fascinating.

★★★ Forodhani Night Market

Every evening from 6:00 PM, Forodhani Park by the sea transforms into Zanzibar's most famous night market. Dozens of stalls serve freshly prepared specialties:

• Zanzibar Pizza: Not pizza in the European sense, but a filled crepe with meat, vegetables, egg, and cheese — fried on a hot plate. THE street food of Zanzibar.
• Grilled Octopus: Freshly caught and tender, with lime and spices.
• Sugar Cane Juice: Freshly pressed, with ginger and lime. Incredibly refreshing.
• Urojo (Zanzibar Mix): A spicy soup with bhajia, coconut, and chili — Zanzibar's national dish.

The sunset over the sea, the smells from the grill, and the atmosphere make the Forodhani Night Market one of the best culinary experiences in East Africa.

★★★ Nungwi & Kendwa — The Dream Beaches of the North

The north coast of Zanzibar offers the island's most beautiful and least tide-dependent beaches. Here you can swim all day without the sea receding a kilometer.

• Nungwi: Zanzibar's most popular beach. Brilliant white sand, turquoise water, spectacular sunsets. The former fishing village has transformed into a relaxed backpacker and boutique hotel paradise. Traditional dhows are built on the beach — a fascinating insight into ancient craftsmanship. Lively nightlife.
• Kendwa: Directly south of Nungwi, somewhat quieter and more exclusive. The widest beach in Zanzibar, hardly affected by tides. The famous Full Moon Parties take place here (Kendwa Rocks). Mix of budget accommodations and luxury resorts.

★★★ Paje — Kitesurfer's Paradise

Located on the east coast, Paje is one of Africa's best kitesurfing spots. The strong, constant wind (especially June–September and December–February) and the knee-deep water at low tide make Paje a mecca for kiters. Numerous kite schools offer courses for beginners (approx. 60–80 USD per hour). Even without a kite, Paje is beautiful: Huge white beach, colorful dhows, and at low tide, women in colorful kanga cloths collect sea urchins and seaweed — an iconic Zanzibar image.

★★ Other Beaches

• Jambiani: South of Paje, longer and quieter. Authentic village life, fewer tourists. Sea urchin farming and seaweed farms. Cheapest accommodations on the east coast.
• Matemwe: Quiet and secluded on the northeast coast. Starting point for boat tours to Mnemba Atoll. Few, but exclusive accommodations.
• Michamvi: The peninsula between Paje and Chwaka Bay. Untouched, somewhat rocky, but with breathtaking scenery. Two of Zanzibar's most exclusive hotels are located here.

★★★ Spice Tour — Zanzibar's Most Fragrant Experience

Zanzibar is rightly called the "Spice Island". In the 19th century, the island was the world's largest producer of cloves, and to this day, vanilla, cinnamon, pepper, nutmeg, cardamom, turmeric, ginger, and lemongrass grow on the inland plantations in a density that overwhelms all the senses.

A Spice Tour is a must for every Zanzibar visitor. The guided tours (approx. 3–4 hours) take you to plantations where you can:

• See, smell, taste, and touch fresh spices
• Learn how vanilla pods grow (as an orchid!), where pepper comes from (a climbing plant!), and what nutmeg looks like (with its bright red mace covering)
• Drink fresh coconut and taste exotic fruits (jackfruit, rambutan, durian)
• Prepare and enjoy a spice meal
• Receive lipstick from turmeric and weave wreaths from palm leaves

The best tours lead to the area around Kizimbani or Kidichi (north of Stone Town). Book through your hotel or a local provider (20–30 USD per person, incl. transport and lunch).

★★ Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park

The only national park in Zanzibar protects the island's last significant rainforest and is home to the Zanzibar Red Colobus monkeys — one of the rarest primate species in the world. Only about 5,000 animals exist, exclusively on Zanzibar.

The charming monkeys with their red fur are accustomed to visitors and can be observed and photographed up close. A guided walk through the forest (approx. 1 hour) is the highlight. Additionally, the park offers a mangrove forest boardwalk over the swamp area — fascinating aerial roots and crabs.

Entrance: 12 USD adults, 8 USD children. Daily 7:30 AM–5:00 PM. Approx. 45 min. south of Stone Town.

★★ Prison Island (Changuu Island)

The small island 5.6 km off Stone Town has a varied history: first a quarantine station, then a prison (never used), now a popular excursion destination. The main attraction is the giant tortoises — a colony of Aldabra tortoises brought here from the Seychelles in the 19th century. Some are over 100 years old and weigh over 200 kg. You can feed and pet them.

Additionally, Prison Island offers a small, pretty beach for snorkeling and the abandoned prison building to explore. Boat tour from Stone Town: 15–25 USD (30 min. ride). Best booked in the morning, as the sea gets rough in the afternoon.

★★★ Mnemba Atoll

The Mnemba Atoll off the northeast coast is Zanzibar's number one snorkeling and diving hotspot. The circular reef offers crystal-clear water (visibility up to 30 m), colorful coral gardens, and an overwhelming variety: dolphins, sea turtles, giant groupers, moray eels, lionfish, and — in the right season (October–March) — whale sharks.

Snorkeling boat tours from Nungwi, Kendwa, or Matemwe cost 25–45 USD and last half a day. Diving (2 tanks) approx. 80–120 USD. The island itself is private (the exclusive Mnemba Island Lodge resort), but the surrounding reef is accessible to everyone.