Palace Museum (Stone Town, Zanzibar) – this was the official residence of the Sultan of Zanzibar until the island became part of Tanzania in 1964 (when that ruling dynasty came to an end). The ground floor displays details of the formative period of the sultanate from 1828 to 1870 during which commercial treaties were signed […]
Old Fort of Zanzibar (Stone Town, Zanzibar) — the Abusaidi family of Omani Arabs, who had gained control of Zanzibar in 1698, following two centuries of Portuguese occupation, built this massive structure in the 1700s. The Arabs used the fort to defend themselves against the Portuguese and against a rival Omani group. In recent years […]
Old Dispensary (Malindi Road, Zanzibar) – this building was completed in 1894 by Tharia Thopen (one of Zanzibar’s wealthiest residents at the time) to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Britain’s Queen Victoria. It is a grand four story building with a set of decorative balconies. It served as a dispensary during colonial times but fell […]
Mosque of Kizimkazi (Dimbani, Zanzibar) – located toward the southern tip of Zanzibar, this is the site of a Shiraz mosque dating from the early 12th century. It’s considered one of the oldest Islamic buildings on the East African coast. Nearby, just above the high water mark on the beach, are the remains of an […]
Ruinas del palacio Maruhubi (Zanzíbar): ubicado a 4 km de la ciudad de Zanzíbar, este sitio fue construido en 1882 por el sultán Barghash para su harén de lo que se dice que es una esposa y 99 concubinas. Alguna vez fue una de las residencias más impresionantes de la isla. Construida en estilo árabe, […]
Kidichi Persian Baths (Zanzibar)– located about 11 km northeast of Zanzibar Town is this site, which were originally built by Sultan Seyyid Said for his Persian wife back in 1850. The Baths are well maintained both inside and out, with some very good examples of the domed skylights that allowed light to enter the windowless […]
House of Wonders (Mizingani Road, Stone Town, Zanzibar) – this was the palace of Sultan Barghash (1837-1888), which got its name from the fact it was the first building in Zanzibar to have electricity, and the hundreds of light bulbs glowing at night must have made it truly a wondrous house. This four-story building, surrounded […]
Hamamni Persian Baths (Soko Ya Mohogo, Stone Town, Zanzibar) – built by Sultan Said Barghash in the last 19th century, these were the first public baths in existence in Zanzibar. Although they are no longer functioning, the Persian Baths are maintained in near-perfect condition. To go inside the baths, one must ask the caretaker, living […]
Udzungwa Mountains National Park (Kidayi) – located 6 hours (338 km) west of the capital, this park is a hikers mecca, complete with breathtaking forests, waterfall and hiking trails. One of the most popular hikes is the half-day route to the 170-meter Sanje Waterfall, where kids can see monkeys, various birds and butterflies on the […]
Tinga Tinga Arts Co-operative Society (Haile Selassie Road, Morogoro Stores, Dar Es Salaam) – “Tinga Tinga” paintings are the most commonly known tourist art attractions in Tanzania. These forms of art are found all across Tanzania – from small shops to large cooperatives. This co-operative was formed by the originator of this art form (Edward […]