Zanzibar

Getting There

Fly into Zanzibar (ZNZ), either directly from several European cities in season or via Dar es Salaam (45-minute connecting flight) or Nairobi. The northern beaches (Nungwi, Kendwa) are about 70km from Stone Town — shared minibuses (daladala) cover the distance for very little; private transfers take 70–90 minutes and cost around $40–60.

Stone Town

The old trading port of Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site — a labyrinth of narrow streets with carved Arabic doors, mosques, and the former Sultan's palace, reflecting the centuries of Omani, Persian, Indian, and African influence that made Zanzibar one of the Indian Ocean's most important trading ports. The spice trade (cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, black pepper) made it wealthy. The slave trade that also ran through here is documented honestly at the Old Slave Market museum.

Walk the streets. Get lost deliberately. Find the Darajani Market for spices, fish, and produce bought and sold in exactly the way it has been for hundreds of years. The rooftop bars of Stone Town (the Mercury Lounge, Africa House Hotel) are the correct place to watch the dhow-filled harbour at sunset.

The Beaches

The north coast (Nungwi, Kendwa) has the best swimming — the tide variation is minimal here compared to the east coast, meaning the water stays accessible regardless of tide. The east coast (Paje, Jambiani) is better for kite surfing, has a more local atmosphere, and the sandbanks visible at low tide are spectacular. The south coast is quieter and least developed.

The Spice Tours

A half-day spice tour into the farms north of Stone Town is one of the most sensory experiences available on the island — vanilla, lemongrass, jackfruit, pineapple, star anise, and the clove trees that built the island's economy all encountered live in the tropical heat. Every guesthouse can arrange these; choose a tour that goes to working farms rather than demonstration gardens.

The Seafood

The Indian Ocean seafood here is extraordinary — lobster, king prawns, octopus, and fresh fish grilled over coconut-husk charcoal. The Forodhani Gardens night market in Stone Town (evening only) is the most affordable and most theatrical setting, with the sea behind and the old fort alongside.