Welcome to Zanzibar
Zanzibar… the very name conjures up exotic feelings and thoughts. Zanzibar, the name derives from “zenzi” the name the locals used meaning black and “bar” which is an Arabic word meaning coast or shore. Zanzibar or Unguja in Swahili, is one of the larger islands in the Archipelago and is situated about 35 km from the Tanzanian coast. It is reached by a fleet of high-speed ferries or slower car and truck ferries. The capital city is called Zanzibar city and its historical Centre is called Stone Town. This is a World Heritage Site. I was only gonna visit Stone Town this trip and to take the bike was impossible. Stone Town is a myriad of small alleyways with no parking. It is constructed in the old Arabic way with and is known as a “Medina”. I really love staying in these. You become a part of local life as everything is on top of each other.
Stone Town, Zanzibar: The Dispensary, World Heritage Site
Saturday morning begun with an early morning walk on the beach with Farouk, followed by breakfast. Farouk gave me a lift to the ferry terminal where I negotiated the milling people all waiting to board. This was an experience not to be missed. The crossing took one and a half hours. The boat was really comfortable.
The chaos as everyone tries to get on at the same time… 
The ferry to Zanzibar
Zanzibar and the Zanzibar archipelago, along with Tanzania’s Mafia Island, are known as the spice islands. It was from here that most of the cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and black pepper was shipped in the old days. Nowadays tourism is the main industry, but the region is also a major spice producer and producer of Raffia. Raffia is used in basket weaving and comes from the leaves of the Raphia Farinifera palm.
Approaching Zanzibar
Stone Town Zanzibar
I had rented a small apartment in the middle of Stone Town. It was in an old traditional house.
My room in my small apartment in Stone Town
My first impression of Stone Town Zanzibar
Medina, Stone Town Zanzibar
Raphia Farinifera palm Stone Town, Zanzibar
Stone Town, Zanzibar
To be honest I never cooked once. The local street food is amazing. Every morning a woman was sitting outside my door, in the alleyway, making a type of porridge or millet. I bought a bowl of her every morning. It was really nice. Other people are walking around selling tea and coffee. Also, there were loads of people selling fresh fruit, oranges already peeled and cut in half ready to eat, along with watermelon and pineapple. Fresh coconuts were opened up for you and of course nuts and dates. It was a paradise.
Market or Souk, Stone Town, Zanzibar
Souk, Stone Town, Zanzibar
Market, Stone Town
Market, Stone Town, Zanzibar
Art Market, Stone Town, Zanzibar
But the absolute topper had to be the nighttime food market. Every evening the Forodhani Gardens becomes a nighttime food market. Here you can eat local sea food, local food dishes and of course the famous Zanzibar pizza. This can be eaten as a sweat version or as a hearty one. I ate here every night. Sat on the sea wall drinking Zanzibar spice tea and chatting to the locals or imagining this place in a time long gone by.
Night Time Foodmarket Stone Town, Zanzibar
Night Time Foodmarket Stone Town, Zanzibar
Night Time Foodmarket Stone Town, Zanzibar
I also did a spice tour and went to a spice farm. This is a community run effort and was well worth the visit. To see how the spices are grown and cultivated, the harvesting and the drying. One of the guys climbed up a coconut tree and brought me down a fresh coconut. The coconut milk is really refreshing, and the fresh coconut also tastes really good, soft, and delicious. Worth a visit.
Spice Plantation, Zanzibar
Spice Plantation… used to make food dye
Climbing a coconut tree
Also visited the old slave market were there is now a memorial to that dark side of history. It is also the site of an Anglican cathedral built by Bishop Edward Steere, the friend of the slaves, missionary and traveler. But also, an interpreter of East African languages, especially Swahili.
Slave memorial on the slave market Stone Town, Zanzibar
Detention Centre slave market Stone Town, Zanzibar
Anglican Cathedral, Stone Town, Zanzibar
Old Fort, Stone Town, Zanzibar
This homeless guy feeds the stray cats and he has a name for them all. Stone Town, Zanzibar
Freddy Mercury Museum Stone Town, Zanzibar
Sunset at Stone Town, Zanzibar
Then back to the mainland. This was just a short trip to explore Stone Town. I will come back here again next trip out.
If you would like to see more of Stone Town Zanzibar, then plop yourself down in your favourite chair with a nice big cup of tea and slice of cake and click your way through the like named photo album on my Facebook page. Facebook Photo Album Stone Town, Zanzibar
Thank you for reading the posts, looking at the albums, liking and commenting. Thank you for sharing this incredible journey with me, I appreciate it. My real time location is back in Amsterdam, Netherlands now!
Asante Kawaheri hadi wakati mwingine ……. Swahili for “Thank you bye until next time”