Often tourists do not know to which country this tropical paradise belongs and on which continent it is located. Zanzibar is a picturesque archipelago of 75 islands. It is washed by the Indian Ocean and is located on the equator, near the coast of East Africa. It is the state of Tanzania in Africa, and the island of Zanzibar is a Tanzanian autonomy.
The island and archipelago of Zanzibar are not the same thing. The largest piece of land is called Ugunja, and from it to the coast of the country is only 40 kilometers. It is on it that the capital of Zanzibar, the city of Dodoma, is located. Further north is the island of Pemba, and to the south of them is Mafia. All this together is also called Zanzibar.
Tell you what a tourist needs to know about the islands, interesting facts about Zanzibar and important places with descriptions.
Unguja
Unguja is the main island in an archipelago near Tanzania, with an area of 1,666 km². It stretches for almost 100 kilometers along its eastern coast. It is home to the capital Zanzibar, which is divided into two parts: Stone Town (old) and Ngambo (modern).
The sand on this and other islands is white and fine, and the sea is a beautiful turquoise color. On the beaches you can find unusual starfish and urchins, and a little further in the water float old fishing boats – dhows. The location of the island directly affects its popularity: it is always warm and cozy. Come and see for yourself how beautiful it is.
Stown Town
This historic district is located on a promontory overlooking the Zanzibar Strait. Both the airport and the pier are located here, and since Zanzibar can only be reached by air or water, you won’t get past Stone Town.
The area was once one of the richest in East Africa. Spices, ivory and precious stones were traded here. Numerous wars brought Stone Town into decline and the settlement came to a standstill. The ancient houses, streets, and building
s have been preserved, and now it is a real historical monument that lives a modern life.
Stone Town Attractions
There is a lot to see here: museums, mosques and Christian temples and other memorable sites.
Check out the Old Fort – the ancient Arab fortress of the XII century has been well preserved during this time. The walls, amphitheater and several towers are intact. And inside the castle there is a rich market with souvenirs.
The House of Wonders is a palace built by one of the sultans. It is a three-storey building with open galleries and towers. It was the first place in Zanzibar to have an elevator, running water and electricity, which allowed the building to be called by its modern name.
Check out the old dispensary, a hospital for the poor, housed in an unusual building with stained glass windows, stucco and wooden balconies. The architecture combines European classical and Arabic elements.
The Palace Museum is one of the main attractions of Zanzibar. Once a white coral stone palace with crenellations and lancet windows was the home of a sultan. Now there is a history museum inside, which tells about the local system of government.
Stone Town Beaches
The beach occupies the western part of the island. The shoreline stretches along the city, and at its beginning there are many harbor berths. This area is accessible to vacationers, but the water is dirty due to marine traffic, so it is better not to swim here.
There are beaches that belong to hotels – they clean up garbage, purify water and have the necessary infrastructure. However, they are only used by guests.
The four-star Park Hyatt Zanziba is not bad. Tourists also generally praise the five-star Zanzibar Serena Hotel.
Pemba Island
It is the second largest in the Zanzibar archipelago and is separated from Africa by the Pemba Strait, home to exotic fish. It has beautiful bays, coves and forests. It is also home to dolphins, whales and turtles.
The capital of Pemba is the town of Chake Chake. The people of the island are Arabs and locals, the Wasuahili. They are engaged in agriculture, fishing, and some practice magic. People often come here to see an unusual ritual. These are the subtleties of tourism.
Mafia Island
The southernmost part of the archipelago, which is not part of the autonomy of Zanzibar, but belongs to mainland Tanzania. About 45 thousand people live on Mafia. The port and airport are located in the capital of the island – the town of Kilindoni.
It is a peaceful place where divers, fishermen and lovers of quiet rest often meet. Marine fauna is cared for here: the first Marine Park in Tanzania has been created. It is supported by the World Wide Fund for Nature. In fact, the Marine Park is a part of the coral reef, which protects the Tanzanian shore from big waves. The coral is home to beautiful colorful fish, which can be viewed up close by scuba diving.
It is home to whale sharks, the largest sharks in existence and completely harmless to humans. Any human activity, except diving, is prohibited on the island.
You can get there by airplane or boat.
Travel Tips
1. It is convenient to travel around the island by dala-dala, a local shuttle bus. These are mini-trucks or minibuses, which are usually crowded with passengers, and luggage rides on the roof.
2. The local currency is the Tanzanian shilling (TZS), but dollars are more readily accepted in Zanzibar.
3. The hottest months are January through February, when the temperature rises above 30-35 degrees Celsius and it is also very humid. From March to May there are heavy rains, and the dry season starts in June and lasts until October. But in November-December the precipitation is not prolonged.
4. If you have your own diving equipment, take it on your trip. It is expensive to rent equipment in Tanzania.
