After having spent 14 days on safari in Northern Tanzania, I flew to Zanzibar for a relaxing week on the beach. I stayed for 6 days at Matemwe Beach Village on the north-eastern tip of the island, followed by 2 days at the Mtoni Marine Hotel in the capital.
During my stay I managed to go diving/snorkling at the Kichwani reef at Mnemba Island, visit a spice farm, and spend a couple of days in Zanzibar City. I had a guided tour in the historic Stone Town, with visits to the House of Wonders, the Palace Museum and the Arab Fort, and saw some of Zanzibar's bustling markets, winding alleyways, and ornately carved and studded doors.
All in all, a great end to my visit to Tanzania!
The sultan himself (Sayyid Majid bin Said ruled Zanzibar between 1856-1870). The muhammed worshipers ruled Zanzibar until 1963
Dhow in sunset. Ultimate Zanzibar view
Narrow street in Stone Town
Street in Stone Town
Street in Stone Town
Vegetable and fruit market
One of those Stone Town doors
Spice market
For an unknown reason, these old carved wooden doors are popular among the tourists
Carved wooden door in Stone Town
Stone Town slave museum
Old and new. The coastal area of Kenya and Tanzania are 90% muslim. The "religion of peace" came to Zanzibar in the 8th century
Stone Town's tallest building in 2007 - the House of Wonders
Stone Town Arab Fort
Forodhani Gardens night food market, Zanzibar Town
Forodhani Gardens market
Forodhani Gardens seafood market
Delicious seafood; shrimps, squid, octopus, crabs ..
Fish market with Blue Marlin surrounded by flies in Zanzibar Town
Food market, Zanzibar Town Food market, Zanzibar Town
Seafront
Zanzibar city
Zanzibar plant
The green is taking over Stone Town
Another sunset
Dhow
Local aquaculture, harvesting mwani or seaweed (Eucheuma sp.)
The women havest seaweed, while the men fish in the lagoon
Fisherman
Mwani (seaweed) harvest
Locals scaring fish in the lagoon
Mwani harvest
Nice, it was 26°C in the water
Old wooden Arab dhow in the moonlight
North-Eastern Zanzibar
Check out the color of the water!
Zanzibar diving trip
Diving on the reef, at Kichwani spot at Mnemba Island
Dinner in the "boma" at the Matemwe Beach Village resort
Tinga-tinga, popular East-African art
Bushbabies (might be Brown Greater Galago) in a Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera)
Beans of the Vanilla Orchid (Vanilla planifolia), Zanzibar spice plantation
Spice plantation worker climbing the palm the traditional way
Herbsman. The "ultimate herb" at the spice plantation ..