Stone Town - the historic "stone city" in Zanzibar

Stone Town (Zanzibar) is an administrative and cultural center with Arabic architecture and the only port on the most famous island of Tanzania. The sights of the old colonial "Stone City" will be interesting both for those who are already familiar with the history of Zanzibar, and for tourists who came to relax on the turquoise beaches.

General information

Stone Town is not only the capital of Zanzibar, but also the only city on the island. It is located in the central part of the west coast, and is named after the stone buildings erected on the site of a fishing village in the early 19th century. The population is up to 200 thousand people. The area is very small, so you can get around all the attractions in a couple of days.

There are no trams, railway lines, trolleybuses and metro in the Stone Town, but there is only one seaport and international airport, which accepts both domestic and foreign flights.

The city is famous for its ancient history. Its territory was inhabited in the 16th century. Over the long years of its existence, she managed to visit the possessions of various nations, including the Ottoman state. Now Stone Town is one of the most visited places in Tanzania.

Holidays in Stone Town

Stone Town, enchanting with the spirit of antiquity and attracting interesting sights, has a relatively developed tourist infrastructure. For a comfortable stay, there is almost everything here - from souvenir shops and large shopping centers to medical facilities and information centers.

Due to its small size and too narrow streets, it is better to walk around the city. If you wish, you can use a motorcycle (it carries both people and goods) or Daladala, a minibus that acts as a taxi. The main station is in Arajani Market. To get to other settlements by mabasi, trucks converted for transportation of passengers not only in the back, but also on the roof. The main station of this type of transport is located near the slave market. Among other things, you can rent a car - the roads in Tanzania are very good. Those who want to save money are advised to ask someone from the local about the service. The fact is that for them, renting a car will cost significantly less than for visitors.

As for housing, here you can find it for every taste and budget - from fashionable 5 * hotels and comfortable apartments to cozy hostels and bed and breakfast hotels. Most in demand:

• Zanzi Resort;
• Chuini Zanzibar Beach Lodge;
• Park Hyatt Zanzibar;
• Kisiwa House;
• Annex of Tembo Hotel;
• Zanzibar Hotel;
• Africa House Hotel;
• Jafferji House & Spa.

The minimum cost of a separate double room in a 3-4 * hotel in high season is from $ 50 to $ 230.

And the last important factor is nutrition. The capital of Zanzibar Stone Town boasts a considerable number of restaurants, cafes, bars, eateries and other similar establishments.

Among the most popular can be safely attributed:

• Terrace Restaurant at Maru Maru is the best city restaurant located on the roof of the hotel. Here you can take a hookah and enjoy the sunset;
• Tea House Restaurant - offers Persian, vegan and oriental cuisine;
• Zanzibar Coffee House Cafe - differs in an original interior and mouth-watering dinners;
• Tamu Italian Ice Cream - an inexpensive cafe known for delicious ice cream;
• Lazuli - in this cafe you can try fresh juices, smoothies and cocktails made of many different fruits.

The average cost of a lunch or dinner for two in an institution of the middle price category will cost $ 50, in a budget eatery - about $ 20.Find out RATES or book any accommodation using this form

Sights

Numerous attractions of Stone Town are picturesque and truly unique places that remain not only in memory, but also on the instagram of every tourist. Consider the main ones.

The old part of the city of Zanzibar, which is a must-see, is called the Stone Town or Stone Town. Its main distinguishing features are the variegated architecture and narrow confused streets, in the maze of which it is easy to get lost. But this coin also has a downside - tightly standing houses near each other create a thick shadow in which you can walk even in extreme heat. A walk promises to be quite interesting!

Ancient buildings, whose age exceeds 100-150 years, graceful verandas, carved gates, ancient ruins, traditional Arab houses, palaces and small shops - all this takes us a couple of centuries ago. But the most unusual is that on the limited territory of Stone Town there are 2 Catholic churches, 6 Hindu temples and more than 50 Muslim mosques - calls for prayers are heard 5 times a day!

Unfortunately, most of the buildings are in poor condition, and some are completely destroyed, but they still deserve the attention of European tourists. Not so long ago, the Stone City in Zanzibar was included in the UNESCO register - this allows us to hope that in the near future the situation will change for the better.

This attraction will be interesting for both young people and older people. And although at first glance there is nothing special in it, but in this house, located in the very center of Stone Town, the famous Freddie Mercury was born and lived until 6 years old, the legend of world music and the constant leader of the Queen group.

Now the uniqueness of this house, in which the Mercury House Hotel is now located, is given out only by a nameplate and a small honor board mounted on one of the walls. Tourists have the opportunity to take a photo near the famous front door.

Address: Kenyatta Road, Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania.

The Wonder House in Stone Town can be called the main architectural structure of the whole of Zanzibar. Until 1964, it served as the residence of local rulers, which is why it was here that such rare things at that time as electrics and water pipes first appeared.

Today, the palace has lost its former greatness. Well-known politicians no longer live in it, and the elevator, which was used to move between floors, has not been working for a long time. However, the building is alive - several of its rooms are given to the museum dedicated to local crafts and customs. And from the terrace of the house offers a wonderful panorama, allowing you to fully admire the Old Town.

Address: Mizingani Rd, Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania.

The Anglican Church in Stone Town, built in 1887, is considered the most significant architectural landmark of Zanzibar Island. The whole thing is in its extraordinary construction, which does not allow to determine which particular denomination this building belongs to - Muslim or Christian. Meanwhile, Christ Church became the first first Catholic church built in eastern Africa

Christ Church Cathedral is a structure made of coral stone, a beautiful, but not too durable material. Outside, it looks quite strict - stained-glass windows, lancet arches, a simple tiled roof and a bell tower with a clock.

Another thing is inside! The interior of the Anglican church impresses with its beauty and wealth. So, the altar is decorated with colorful lamps and chic engraving depicting biblical heroes. The wooden crucifix erected in honor of David Livingstone, a scientist and champion of slavery, deserves no less attention. The main highlight of the Church of Christ is the columns turned upside down, installed by black workers and approved by the chief architect.

Near the Anglican Church there are several more attractions - Livingstone's house, a monument to slaves and a former slave square.

Address: Mkunazini, Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Coral island Prizon is located near the Stone Town. Once there was a prison for slaves, now this beautiful place is known for the huge turtles brought from Seychelles.

Most of the inhabitants of Prison Island have long exceeded a hundred years - now they live in a special nursery and delight tourists. And most importantly, turtles are in the public domain, as they walk around the island. You can take photos with them, stroke, feed with leaves, accompany during a walk, etc. The main thing is not to violate the rules of stay in the nursery.

• Address: Off the Coast From Stone Town | Shangani, Stone Town, Zanzibar 3395, Tanzania.
• Opening hours: 9.00 - 16.15.
• Admission Ticket Price: 5$.

Looking at the photos of Stone Town in Zanzibar, it is impossible not to miss the pictures of the Darajani Bazaar market. This place, saturated with African color, is focused not only on guests of the island, but also on local residents. The biggest attraction of the island is located in the historic district of the city. Since its founding in 1904, virtually nothing has changed here. Numerous shops with various spices, interesting fruits and upscale coffee, tents with fresh and dried seafood, long rows of clothes - all this is accompanied by an incredible witchcraft and a variety of aromas.

There is a market Not far from the Anglican Church on Market Street.

A variety of spices and spices is not just a profitable agricultural industry, but also an important part of the cultural and historical heritage of the city of Zanzibar. Recently, more and more specialized farms have been opened on the island, which grow ginger, basil, pepper, vanilla, cardamom, cinnamon, turmeric, nutmeg, lemongrass and cloves. One of these amazing places is Tangawizi Spice Farm. In addition to spicy herbs, a variety of fruits grow here, whose names are unfamiliar to the average European.

For a small fee, you can watch, touch, smell, try and even buy all this. The quality of the spices is very high, prices are appropriate. In the city market, the same spices are sold at 2, or even 3 times cheaper. But even if you are not going to buy anything, be sure to grab some small money. Tangawizi Spice farm owners often give small presents while waiting for small tips.

Address: Kianga - Dole | next to Dole Mosque, Stone Town, Zanzibar city.

Forodhani Gardens can be called the most visited Stone Town attraction in Zanzibar. They represent a spacious platform located near the city promenade. The name of the park, which means “ship unloading point”, is due to long-standing historical events - several centuries ago it was this place that brought slaves intended for sale on the local slave market.

To date, only those memories have remained of those terrible events. Now the gardens of Forodhani are attracted by their market - a mecca for outdoor cooking. With the onset of the evening, an ordinary marina with shady alleys and ancient cannons turns into a huge fast food! Closer to sunset, the entire territory of the square is occupied by cooks, “armed” with their own braziers, najas, barbecues and other culinary appliances. The list of dishes is striking in its variety - shrimp and octopus, lobster and pancakes with fish filling, marlin and lobster, tuna and french fries, sailboat, dorado and much more. Any of these dishes will be cooked right before your eyes.

To do this, just collect on a disposable plate everything that the soul desires and take it to the cooks. Payment is made both before and at the end of the meal. It’s better to check the prices right away, because then you simply can’t prove anything.

Address: On the Waterfront, Stone Town, Zanzibar City, Tanzania.

Beaches

Zanzibar Island boasts a huge variety of beaches. However, in Stone Town itself, the water is quite dirty and swimming on it is dubious pleasure. If you are looking for where to lie on the beach, you have to leave the city. Among the most popular places for a beach holiday, Ping, Nungwi, Kendwa, Kizimkazi, Kiwengwa and many others can be noted. We will consider the nearest beaches located near the capital of Zanzibar.

Bububu Beach, the closest beach to Stone Town, is a 30-minute walk from the city center. This place is called quiet and secluded. The path to it runs through villages with a unique Tanzanian flavor.

Several comfortable hotels have been built on Bububu, but only one has become famous - it is Hakuna Matata, located in a lagoon with clean white sand and surrounded by mango trees that rise directly above the water. The rest of the Bububu coastline is covered with small pebbles. The main advantage of this beach is its low tides and a small number of people, allowing you to immerse yourself in an atmosphere of relaxation and tranquility.

Looking at the photo of the city of Zanzibar, you can notice a small disappearing island located near Prizon. Why disappearing? Yes, because it appears only in the morning, at low tide. Despite its small size, the beach on the island of Nakupenda is very popular and is considered one of the most important natural attractions.

Crystal clear azure water, starfish, several dozen pleasure boats, a dozen souvenir merchants, grilled seafood and not a single tree around ... The special atmosphere of this place is fueled by the realization that in a few hours it will disappear in the deeps of the ocean to reappear in the morning . The only drawback of Nakupenda is the influx of tourists arriving here every day.

Prices on the page are for August 2018.
Compare accommodation prices using this form

Weather and climate - when is it better to come?

Stone Town in Tanzania can be called an ideal place to relax in terms of weather, because it is warm here all year round. The average air temperature is +30 ⁰С, the water warms up to + 26 ⁰С. The rainy season lasts from May to April - during this period some hotels remain closed. If you decide to come to Zanzibar in early February, you can get to Sauti za Busara, an annual music festival, tickets for which are sold out long before it starts.

As you can see, a visit to the city of Stone Town in Zanzibar promises to be bright and eventful. Have a good trip and an unforgettable experience!

Watch the video: HISTORIC STONE TOWN ZANZIBAR! + STREET FOOD (December 2024).