It is very easy to land in Zanzibar and head straight to the beach, however if you want to add a little culture and history to your trip then add a couple of nights in Stone Town to your itinerary.
The capital of Zanzibar, and once the slave trade capital of the world, Stone town has a dark history to discover. Here are some of my suggestions on how to make the best use of your time in this wonderful city…
1. A tour of the city
Be enthralled in the history and stories of old as your wander the streets of Stone Town. Visit the Anglican Cathedral and the Slave markets, the Old Arabic Fort and see the imposing Zanzibar doors.
2. Spice Tour
As the world leader in clove production, a spice tour of Zanzibar is a great way to learn more about this wonderful island. With an expert guide, explore the spice farm and learn the three different smells of the Cinnamon tree and find out why vanilla is so expensive.
3. Prison Island
Just a 30 minute from Stone Town, Prison Island is so called as it was originally used as a prison. It was later used as a quarantine hospital and now accommodates the giant tortoises that were banned from Stone Town!
4. Shopping
As well as the markets and street traders there are also some great tourist shops to stop and shop for your souvenirs and gifts. There are also many shops selling the rare and exclusive Tanzanite…. But if you are looking in invest then do your research in advance so that you know exactly what you are buying.
5. Eat Seafood
From the local markets to fine dining restaurants the seafood in Stone town is as fresh as can be. With lobster, king prawns and fresh calamari on the menu in many establishments you really are in for a treat.
Stone Town is certainly worth a visit, if you would like to build it into your itinerary then please contact the Far and Wild team.