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Everyone has heard of Zanzibar, but few know where it is. It could
almost be fictitious, one of those mythical names that conjure up
exotic spices, tropical fruit and magnificent Sultans.
Happily for us, it does exist, sitting just off the coast of
Tanzania (Tanganyika) in east Africa. And so do the exotic spices
and tropical fruit: bananas, pineapples, cloves, passion fruit,
coconuts and palms are everywhere. The Sultans exist too - or they
did until recently - trading these commodities, as well as slaves,
with the Arab and Indian world. Which is how it came to be known as
the spice islands.
Zanzibar consists of two larger islands - Unguja (the main one) and
Pemba - as well as a dozen smaller ones. Further south is the
archipelago of Mafia. All
of them are ringed by dazzlingly white beaches, turquoise
waters and colourful corals. Put on a mask and flippers and you
have a ready-made aquatic safari - easily combined with a
terrestrial safari by taking a short flight across the
Indian Ocean to some of Africa’s best game parks. See our Tanzania
safari guide .
The Zanzibari people are friendly and colourful, their pace
is unashamedly African, their seafood is top notch. The climate is
hot and bright for 10 months of the year, and only a couple of time
zones away from Europe. And there are some idyllic places to
stay.
It’s one of the poorest countries in the world, so
don’t expect much infrastructure. Outside the capital, Stone
Town, there’s little sightseeing. Its remoteness and high
tourist levies make it quite expensive. It’s often humid, and
distinctly wet in April and May. You'll need to take anti-malarial
precautions. Gay travellers beware - gay sex is now illegal. As
with all African countries, you may encounter creepy crawlies,
stinging fish, stomach bugs and other troublesome creatures. And
you should be aware of the implications of travelling in a Muslim
country, albeit not a hardline one.
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In Zanzibar:
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