Islands of Africa: Zanzibar

Islands of Africa: Zanzibar
By admin


The very name Zanzibar evokes the exotic – this is paradise with a kick. Renowned as the Spice Island, even the coffee comes with bite as ginger spice added to the blend is an island specialty. Measuring less than 100km in length, its size has not diminished its importance in spice production, particularly the cultivation of the most expensive spice in the world, saffron. 

Zanzibar boasts an ancient quarter called Stone Town, which is the oldest productive town in East Africa. Arabic houses and bazaars like Darajani market transport you to Morocco while Persian baths, forts and narrow alleys make you want to get lost. Arabic letters are scrawled onto faded peach walls, men stand behind wooden carts of fruit, motorbikes scoot around blind corners and women wear long dresses and headscarves. Despite being centuries old, Stone Town remains a thriving community with children, workers and old men sitting along walls.  

The white of the sand beneath the low-lying water serves to intensify the pale blue Indian Ocean water. The ocean is so startlingly bright that it outshines the sky. And forget the sun, you’ll need sunglasses just to look at the blinding sand. Located off the coast of Tanzania, its position just below the equator blesses the island with perfect year-round weather.   

Kangas are the local dress and they have proverbs or riddles embroidered on the edge of the boldly patterned gowns. The wisdom varies from the cheeky “silence is the answer to a fool” to the obvious “the world is round”. Elaborate palaces exist as a testament to Omani sultanate rule in centuries past but the best way to understand the island is to sail its waters in a dhow – a boat made without nails and yet able to withstand monsoonal winds. It is resilient without sacrificing aesthetics, much like the island itself. Sail to the coral reefs to see that the water is just as beautiful from above as from below. 

Latest News

  • Cruise

P&O rescues Rotary volunteers after collapse of Air Vanuatu

P&O Cruises Australia has answered a plea for help from a group of young Australian Rotary volunteers, stranded in Vanuatu following the collapse of Air Vanuatu. The students, many of them teenagers from Albury, NSW, were volunteering for a youth project run by the Hive Rotary Club Australia when the airline abruptly cancelled all flights, […]

  • Destinations

Intrepid continues expansions with launch of first DMC in Jordan

Intrepid has increased its presence in the Middle East with the opening of its first destination management company in Jordan. Based in Amman, the local team will operate Intrepid’s range of nine experiential small group tours in Jordan from this summer, with a view to expanding the range for 2025 and beyond. Zina Bencheikh, managing […]

  • Appointments

Minor hotels appoints Puneet Dhawan to key Asia role

Global hotel owner and operator Minor Hotels has appointed Puneet Dhawan as head of Asia as the group plots its growth in Asia and India. From July, Dhawan will be responsible for the performance of all Minor Hotels properties in Asia, working in close collaboration with the Minor Hotels senior leadership team and will report […]

  • Appointments

Abercrombie & Kent and Crystal appoint Evon Ler to director of sales, Asia

Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group have announced that Evon Ler will join them in the new role of director of sales, Asia. She will work closely with Tony Archbold (VP, Sales, APAC, Crystal) and Susan Haberle (VP, Sales & Partnerships, APAC, A&K) with trade support across the region. Ler comes to the A&K family with more […]