Zanzibar
The Indian Ocean archipelago of Zanzibar, off the east coast of Tanzania, is steeped in a romantic history of traders, explorers, sailors and sultans. Zanzibar is made up of two main islands, primarily Unguja or 'Zanzibar Island', and the more remote island of Pemba. Each is dotted around with tiny coral atolls, which include the magical island of Mnemba, off the the northeast tip of Zanzibar Island.
Visitors to Mnemba Island will certainly experience the exotic fruits, spices and luxurious seafood that this area grows and produces in abundance. They might also choose to spend some time on nearby Zanzibar Island, exploring the sights and scents and sounds of this charismatic and unusual place.
Arriving in Zanzibar by air or by sea, visitors will be struck by the translucent hues of the surrounding sea over dazzling coral sands, coconut palms bending improbably over long stretches of beach, and the elegant pale sails of wooden dhows fishing these shores as they have for generations.
Zanzibar people
The people of Zanzibar are mainly fishermen and farmers, living
from the fruit of the abundant Indian Ocean and traditionally
farming coconuts and cloves since the days of the sultans.
Plantations at the island centre still harvest a range of aromatic
spices and continue to excite the senses of foreign visitors as
they once did for bygone traders.
Zanzibar Stone Town
The capital and heart of the main island is Stone Town, a
wonderfully labyrinthine web of narrow, mostly pedestrian streets
winding from market to coast, alive with small traders plying local
and tourist goods. This old city remains a living monument to the
culture and histories of its curious mix of East African, Arab,
Indian, Persian and European conquerors, traders and seafarers, and
continues to thrive as a commercial centre.
The ancient maze of narrow streets is a romantic hotchpotch of historic old stone buildings built close for cool respite from the tropical island sun, and shaded by elegantly carved balconies, loggias and verandas that cling precipitously overhead - close enough to catch a whisper, or a kiss.
For More information about Zanzibar Beaches and Zanzibar's Stone Town please follow these links