Also known as Spice Island, this paradise off Tanzania's north coast is steeped in history, with beautiful beaches and forests, great diving and fascinating towns and villages.
- Rich cultural heritage
- Famous for its variety of spices
- Some of the world's best diving
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| Zanzibar travel info | |
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Zanzibar travel info The old Stone Town of Zanzibar is one of the most fascinating places on the African East Coast. It's a chaotic, labyrinthine cluster of winding streets lined with whitewashed houses with carved brass-studded doors.
Endless little shops, bazaars, courtyards and fortresses, mosques, two former sultans' palaces, faded colonial mansions, two huge cathedrals, a disused Persian-style public bathhouse and a quite bizarre collection of foreign consulates. Dotted around the island are historical sites such as the ruined Maruhhubi Palace, built in 1882 by Sultan Barghash to house his harem.
To take it all in, a guided tour is highly recommended. Plenty of guides are on offer for such tours, which include several palace ruins, the Mangapwani Slave Cave, and the various spice and fruit plantations at the island's heart. There's also Jozani Forest, 24km southeast of Zanzibar town, a sanctuary for the rare red colobus monkey and the small Zanzibar antelope. While most travellers tour Zanzibar, very few make the journey a little further on to the laid-back island of Pemba. There are lots of historic sites to visit, but there is little public transport.
Swimming with dolphins is very popular on the island of Zanzibar with snorkelling and scuba diving being equally enjoyed around the world-class coral reefs off the nearby Pemba and Mafia islands.
Seasons
Zanzibar can be enjoyed throughout the year, except for April and May, which are the rainy months. Rain may fall in November, but these showers do not last long. Annual temperatures average at around 25 degrees Celsius.
Precautions
Malaria area - minimize mosquito bites by wearing light, long sleeved clothing and using effective insect repellents (containing Diethyltoluamide DEET) on exposed skin. Sleep under treated mosquito netting or ensure that the doors and windows of your accommodation are screened against mosquitoes. Having a fan or air-conditioner on at night will further suppress mosquito activity. Currently, the three effective anti-malaria tablets are Mefloquine (Lariam or Mefliam), Doxycycline and Malarone (Malanil). It is still possible to contract malaria while on malaria prophylaxis. Note that Lariam may present serious side-effects - please test before you depart. back to Zanzibar top
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