Zanzibar, Tanzania
Hakuna matata is Swahili for "no worries", and this is exactly the spirit that fills the atmosphere of Zanzibar, the Spice Island of Tanzania. A heavenly world sprinkled with charming colonial buildings, white sandy beaches, colourful markets, and flavours of exotic cuisines from all over the world.
Population:
1.3 million, Unguja (main island) ca. 0.9 million
Currency:
Tanzanian shilling (shilingi), 1 TSh = 100 cents
Emergency Numbers:
112
+255 24 223 5669
Opening Hours:
Business hours are usually from 9.00 to 17.00. Businesses and government offices (excluding shops) close around 12.00 on Fridays.
Newspapers:
The Citizen
www.thecitizen.co.tz
Dailynews
www.dailynews.co.tz
Tanzania
Whether it's the mainland or the lesser-known islands of the archipelago, there are plenty of things in Tanzania waiting to be explored.
The Island
The lush tropical forests and heaven-like beaches spread across what is officially called the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar, made up of the Unguja and Pemba islands.
Like mainland Tanzania, Zanzibar is an important centre of Swahili culture, and at the same time the meeting point of several ethnic influences. Following the Portuguese who arrived here in 1498, the island was heavily shaped by the Arabs during the Omani rule until the 18th century. The British empire, another addition to this eclectic mix of cultures, was also an important turning point that brought relief with the abolition of slavery.
Besides slave trade, the island's strategic position also gave way to the rise of relevant commercial activity, and while the new era has brought the end of colonial conflicts (the region was granted independence in 1963), Zanzibar remains an important market for cloves, seaweed, and spices, all sold around the coral stone landmarks of Stone Town.
Do & See
Discover Zanzibar's eventful colonial past, and immerse yourself into the colourful marine world embracing the island.
Beaches
Unwind as you dip your toes in the warm white sand, or go active and try snorkelling or kite-surfing at one of Zanzibar's plenty of pristine beaches.
