Zanzibar - Holiday Destination

Zanzibar, beautiful holiday destination with a rich history ...

Zanzibar, potted history ...

Discovered by Persian traders discovered and used as a base for voyages between Middle East, India, and Africa, Zanzibar is believed to have been populated for over 20,00 years. In fact it was the Persians themselves who established what is now known as Zanzibar City (Stone Town).

As European nations started their colonisation efforts, it was the Portuguese who "first discovered" Zanzibar, and stayed there for nearly 200 years, till the Sultanate of Oman took control in 1698. During the 19th century Zanzibar "fell" again, this time to the British till 1963 when Zanzibar gained full independence.

A few months later after a short lived revolution, Zanzibar was annexed by Tanganyika. This United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar was soon renamed to the United Republic of Tanzania, of which Zanzibar remains a semi-autonomous region.

Zanzibar, weather and climate ...

Zanzibar is located in the Indian Ocean, about 25 miles from the Tanzanian mainland coast, and 6° south of the equator. Zanzibar Island (known locally as Unguja, but as Zanzibar internationally) is 60 miles long and 20 miles wide, occupying a total area of approximately 650 square miles.

It is characterised by beautiful sandy beaches with fringing coral reefs, and the magic of historic Stone Town - said to be the only functioning ancient town in East Africa. The coral reefs that surround the East Coast are rich in marine diversity, and make Zanzibar an ideal location for snorkelling and scuba diving.

Zanzibar experiences ideal holiday weather for most of the year. The heat of summer is seasonally often cooled by windy conditions, resulting in pleasant sea breezes, particularly on the North and East coasts. Being near to the equator, the islands are warm all year round, but officially, summer and winter peak in December and June respectively. Zanzibar is blessed with an average of 7-8 hours of sunshine daily.

Short rains can occur in November but are characterised by short showers which do not last long. The long rains normally occur in April and May although this is often referred to as the 'Green Season', and it typically doesn't rain every day during that time.

Zanzibar, the people ...

Zanzibar's local people are an incredible mixture of ethnic backgrounds, indicative of her colourful history. Zanzibaris speak Swahili (known locally as Kiswahili), a language which is spoken extensively in East Africa. Many believe that the purest form is spoken in Zanzibar as it is the birth place of the language.

Zanzibar's most famous event is the Zanzibar International Film Festival, also known as the Festival of the Dhow Countries. Every July, this event showcases the best of the Swahili Coast arts scene, including Zanzibar's favourite music, Taarab.

Important architectural features in Stone Town are the Livingstone house, the Guliani Bridge, and the House of Wonders. The town of Kidichi features the hammam (Persian baths), built by immigrants from Shiraz, Iran during the reign of Barghash bin Said.

Book your Zanzibar holiday here (Click "Tanzania" under "Destination")