Zanzibar:
60 miles long, 20 miles wide, 650 square milesSet in the crystal blue waters of the Indian Ocean, Zanzibar with its tropical climate, white powder beaches, rich cultural heritage and abundant coral reefs offers some of the best diving in the world. It is one of the last remaining areas of outstanding natural beauty unspoilt by tourism. Indeed Nungwi beach has recently been voted the 5th best beach in the world by the UK newspaper, The Guardian, which describes it as “to die for”.
The Island’s capital Stone Town is a designated World Heritage site and blends a culture steeped in the opulence of the Sultans with influences from Europe. Zanzibar then formed part of the Portuguese, British, Italian, and German Empires creating a unique legacy and almost mythical atmosphere. The collective name for two the 2 Islands Uguja (known as Zanzibar) and Pemba. In the Indian Ocean, 35 miles off the Tanzanian coast 6° south of the equator.
Aside from the white powder beaches and crystal Blue Ocean for which Zanzibar is famous, there is a wealth of other fascinating features to discover. For animal lovers, a number of very rare animals live on the Island: The Jozani Forest is home to the endangered Red Colobus monkey, a species unique to Zanzibar, they are very social creatures and will emerge from the trees to greet you; Kizimkazi is at the southern tip of Zanzibar where you can swim with some very friendly dolphins. Or for the more reptilian inclined, Prison Island, just off the coast of Stone Town, is famous for its giant tortoises. Imported from Aldabra in the Seychelles in the late 19th century, they grow up to one metre tall and are thought to be hundreds of years old. The Mnarani Turtle Sanctuary, a few hundred metres along the beach from the Z hotel, is a pretty, natural rock pool formed in a coral inlet and has been expanded into a protected aquarium. The sanctuary is home for the shiny shelled Green and Hawksbill Turtles.
There are numerous tours, which explore Zanzibar’s wealth of history. In Stone Town you can find a rich culture inherited from the Sultans and Empires, which ruled over Zanzibar for over 5 centuries. You may also uncover the Island’s past as a hub for the international slave trade. For those of a more culinary bent, a tour of the Island’s spice plantations will leave your senses dazzled by more than 40 fresh spices grown on Zanzibar.
