Joanna James
Blessed with soft sandy beaches, delectable local cuisine, and world-class wildlife parks, Zanzibar is a relatively undiscovered island paradise just off the East African coast. With a plethora of places to visit and things to do, Zanzibar makes for a great travel destination for your next holiday.
Stone Town is the oldest part of Zanzibar city, locally known as Mji Mkongwe, which also means 'Old Town' in English. It is declared as a UNESCO World Heritage site and has several historic buildings worth visiting, such as the House of Wonders and Old Fort.
One of the unique ways you can appreciate Zanzibar is to take a spice tour at one of the many spice farms. Zanzibar is extremely popular for their locally produced spices that it is also known as the 'The Spice Island'. You'll get to taste hundreds of different spices during the tour, and don't forget to buy some to take back home.
Forodhani Gardens is undoubtedly the best place to try some Swahili and Zanzibari dishes. Head off in the late afternoon, where you will find hundreds of food stalls lined up, serving all kinds of local dishes and street food. Zanzibar Pizza, Biryani, and Mishkaki are some of the delectable foods you can taste at Forodhani Gardens.
Take a 30-minute boat ride from Stone Town to visit Prison Island, a former slave prison. There never actually was a prison, but the island has been used to keep enslaved people in the past. Now the island is famous for its dark history and its large population of giant tortoises.
Visit Nungwi Beach to spend some relaxing time sunbathing and swimming in the Indian ocean. Even if you are not feeling like getting yourself in the water, you can relax on the beach and soak up the sun as Nungwi Beach is rarely crowded, unlike most other beaches of Zanzibar.
Experiencing luxury resort living is undoubtedly among the top things to do in Zanzibar. Consider staying at one of the many beachside luxury resorts and villas, including the likes of The Residence Zanzibar. It is one of the best ways you can soak up Zanzibar to its last drop.
The warm, crystal clear waters and colourful coral reefs make Zanzibar a great spot to do some snorkelling and scuba diving. The island has over 30 dive sites for you to choose from, but Mnemba Atoll certainly stands at the top of the list due to its abundant marine life and beautiful coral reefs.
One of the ways you can make your beach time more enjoyable is by indulging yourself in some kitesurfing. The island has some rewarding kitesurfing destinations, and the Paje Beach located on the east coast is undoubtedly the best. You might find the beach a little too crowded, but it has the perfect wind for kitesurfing.
Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park is popular around the world for its abundant population of red colobus monkeys. It is, in fact, the last sanctuary in the world to spot these rare black and white monkeys with red backs. Apart from these creatures, you can also enjoy spotting various other animals such as bushbabies, duiker antelopes, and different species of birds and butterflies.
Zanzibar has a rich history with several historical places worth visiting and the Old Slave Market is one of those places that should not be missed. It is an intriguing and moving museum, which exhibits the dark side of Zanzibar's history.
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