Zanzibar City - Forget everything you have known, or think you may know about a tropical island break.
While the romanticised notion of cocktail sunsets, long romantic walks on the beach and a gentle wash from a warm, crystal-clear ocean fires the imagination, a visit to Zanzibar is all that and so much more. For the past decade or so, more and more South African holidaymakers are discovering and flocking to one of the Indian Ocean’s most incredible and affordable treasures.
Zanzibar, as the collective archipelago is known, lies several kilometres off the Tanzanian mainland and comprises two islands, Unguja (where most of the resorts and capital Stone Town is located) and the smaller Pemba. People have been living in Zanzibar for about 20 000 years, first mentioned in Roman-Greek texts in the 3rd century AD. Since then, it has seen its fair share of migration, slave trade, wars, spice trade and political annexures and colonisation.
The most famous, its One Day War, the shortest conflict in history, occurred without a shot being fired. One of history’s most celebrated rock stars was Queen’s Freddie Mercury, who was also Zanzibari by birth.
A visit to its capital, Stone Town, reveals this rich history with intact architecture and cobbled streets and alleys where the past’s footsteps are traced with every step.
The slave museum, an actual trading post, prompts introspection and lends great understanding to some of Africa and the world’s less savoury past while the bright colours, noisy traders and permanent aroma of spice makes a visit to the local market an absolute must.
Notice the incredible door carvings; a style that is unique to Zanzibar. The island is famous for its heavy doors decked out in some of the most incredible craftsmanship. No wonder the entire Stone Town is a World Heritage Site.
Whatever you do, don’t miss the night market in front of the Old Fort. From about 7pm, visitors can mingle with the locals and enjoy homemade fare ranging from some of the largest prawns and crayfish this side of a Michelin-star restaurant, freshly caught and braaied through to island specialties.
Zanzibar pancakes, with either a savoury or very sweet filling, is a thin pancake made from rice flour and folded over. Irresistibly light and fluffy, one is just never enough.
It’s easy to write volumes just about Stone Town, its history and the hours one can spend wandering through its streets.
But there is so much more to do on the island and, better yet, it’s all pretty affordable for South Africans. The Spice Tour immerses visitors in Zanzibar’s greatest export outside of tourism.
A photo posted by celifly (@celifly) on Jan 31, 2016 at 7:32pm PST
Taste, touch and see how many different spices are grown and harvested. Take a whiff of fresh vanilla or cinnamon. You’ll never look at your spice rack in quite the same way.
Prison Island is great for easy snorkelling and an extra dollop of history while the Safari Blue experience, sailing on a dhow to a sand bank with incredible snorkelling followed by a fresh fish braai, is a photo opportunity of note.
Pack an underwater GoPro because Zanzibar’s coral reefs and its colourful inhabitants are something to behold.
Chumbe Island, a day-trip with one’s own day-room in the bush, is probably the best snorkelling day-trip anywhere.
The Rock, a restaurant literally built on a giant rock, is accessible only by boat during high tide and is world-renowned for its seafood dishes.
No thesaurus could adequately provide synonyms to describe the beaches and reef-protected ocean.
Zanzibar is not just a promise. It fulfils almost every possible tourists desire.
Whether you are a nut for history or a foodie, enjoy roughing it or prefer the 5-star click-of-a-finger kind of holiday.
A photo posted by Ben James (@b_a_james) on Mar 25, 2016 at 11:47pm PDT
Sun, sea and brilliant-white beaches are the stock-standard fare, no matter how much you paid for your room. And it’s close: Just a 3½-hour flight from Joburg on Mango, paradise awaits as the cliché goes.
But, Zanzibar is more than just a tropical island haven for the rat race-weary. It’s an immersion into a world that offers a true escape from the city.
Sunday Argus