Stone Town, at the heart of Zanzibar Town, with its whitewashed houses, quaint shops, bazaars, mosques, courtyards and squares is the island’s main attraction. Explore by foot its labyrinthine alleyways that lead you to interesting sites such as the former Slave Market, the Anglican Cathedral, the House of Wonders, the Sultans’ Palace Museum, the Old Arab Fort and the Dispensary. After retracing the steps of Zanzibar’s past, visit the local markets filled with fresh seafood, fresh bread, fresh fruits and fresh vegetables and gain an insight into modern island life.
Within easy reach of Stone Town is a collection of fine white sand beaches fringed by coconut palms and lapped by the warm turquoise waters of Indian Ocean. The east coast of the island is particularly renowned for it’s excellent beaches where you can relax, soak up the sun and take a break from some busy sightseeing. At the northern tip of the island visit Nungwi, the dhow building capital of Zanzibar, to see traditional craftsmen at work or take a day trip to one of several small offshore islands including Prison Island, home to a large population of ancient Aldabra tortoises, and Chumbe Island, a natural reserve with one of the most spectacular coral gardens in Africa.
Pemba Island has long been overshadowed by Zanzibar and although the islands are only separated by 50 km of water, relatively few visitors make their way across the channel meaning that tourism on the island is still relatively low key, which is a large part of the island’s charm. Once referred to as ‘the Green Island’ by Arab traders, Pemba’s landscaped is filled with lush vegetation. It is not a beach destination, as much of the coast is lined with mangroves, however there are some idyllic offshore islets and the waters of the Pemba channel are filled with untouched coral reefs and an abundance of colourful fish.