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Zanzibar is an island of the Tanzania, part of the namesake archipelago.
To know
The historic center of the capital of Zanzibar, Stone Town, rich in architectural and historical evidence of Swahili culture, has been declared a World Heritage Site UNESCO.
The name Zanzibar (زنگبار) most likely derives from the Persian zanj, with which the Persians indicated the blacks; zang-i bar would mean "Land of the blacks".
In recent decades the tourism sector has experienced a continuous and rapid development, which exploits the natural, landscape and cultural heritage of the island.
Geographical notes
Zanzibar geographically corresponding to the archipelago of the same name, consisting of two main islands, Unguja and Pemba, and numerous smaller islands.
When to go
The months from December to February are the most suitable for snorkeling, because the water temperature rises up to 30 ° C. The months from August to September are the intermediate season, with less sultry heat and temperatures up to 30 ° C. This is the ideal time to organize tours and excursions.
The months of October and November, on the other hand, are considered the period of short rains, with rainfall of 10 minutes (sometimes even pleasant) .The equatorial geographical position causes a low temperature range during the solar year, generating average temperatures around 25 °. C. The climate in Zanzibar is divided into two main seasons. Two dry and two rainy. The dry seasons range from December to February and from June to October and are the hottest with temperatures reaching over 30 ° C, while the rainy seasons cover the months from March to May and the month of November where the brusque frequent and sudden thunderstorms characterize the wet seasons.
Background
Zanzibar and the continental part of Tanzania (then Tanganyika) only joined in 1964, shortly after the Zanzibar revolution; previously, Zanzibar was a distinct political entity, first a sultanate and then a British protectorate and finally, briefly, a constitutional monarchy.
Zanzibar was also a central place of the slave trade to the east of Africa, as well as the spice route, and even today a significant part of its economy is based on the production of cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, pepper and ginger.
Spoken languages
Due to the joint influence of Arab, Persian and Bantu cultures, and the frenetic commercial activity that has linked Zanzibar to the Middle East and even toIndia and to China, the archipelago is one of the most representative places of Swahili culture, whose language was for a long time the predominant one in commercial exchanges between Asia is Africa, and still plays the role of lingua franca in much of East Africa.
Territories and tourist destinations
Zanzibar: full screen map.Urban centers
Other destinations
- Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park - Located in the central eastern region of the island, it is home to the rare Red Colobus Monkey.
- Prison Island - A prison island where undisciplined slaves were locked up, the island is located not far from the old city. It is crowned by a coral reef, and there are also giant tortoises imported from Seychelles in the late 19th century.
How to get
By plane
There are several charter flights that depart from Italy reach Abeid Amani Karume International Airport in the city of Zanzibar Town.There are no direct scheduled flights to Zanzibar.You can find flights to Mombasa, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam from where it is possible continue by ferry or local microvoli.Air companies that operated charter flights from Italy in 2016 are listed below:
- Neos - From Milan, Rome, Verona, Bologna - with a 9-hour direct flight
- Blue Panorama - From Milan, Rome, Bologna - with stopovers.
From Dar es Salaam, in Tanzania, there is a scheduled connection with Zanzibar.
How to get around
What see
- 1 Stone Town. It is the oldest part of Zanzibar City. Its name translated from English, means city of stone, while in Swahili language Mji Mkongwe its meaning is "old city". Due to its historical importance and its architecture, the city has been declared a World Heritage Site by theUNESCO. There are several buildings that recall the dominations suffered by the island.
- L'High Court of Justice
- THE Persian baths of Hamamni
- There David Livingston's home
- the Anglican cathedral Church of Christ
- There Cathedral of San Giuseppe
- The strong Arab
- The Darajani market
- There Aga Khan mosque
- There Malindi mosque
- The Peace Memorial Museum
- The Palace Museum
- The Palace of Wonders
- The shakti temple
- The Old Dispensary
- Spice plantations. You can find a few kilometers from the city of Zanzibar, ancient plantations of cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, which saw their birth with the domination of the Sultanate of Oman, when the slave trade began.
Events and parties
Ramadan is the ninth and holiest month in the Islamic calendar and lasts 29-30 days. Muslims fast every day for its entire duration and most restaurants will be closed until dusk. Nothing (including water and cigarettes) should pass through the lips from sunrise to sunset. Foreigners and travelers are exempt, but should still refrain from eating or drinking in public as it is considered rude. Working hours are also decreasing in the corporate world. The exact dates of Ramadan depend on local astronomical observations and may vary from country to country. Ramadan ends with the feast of Eid al-Fitr, which can take several days, usually three in most countries.
- 13 April - 12 May 2021 (1442 AH)
- 2 April - 1 May 2022 (1443 AH)
- 23 March - 20 April 2023 (1444 AH)
- 11 March - 9 April 2024 (1445 AH)
- 1 March - 29 March 2025 (1446 AH)
If you are planning to travel to Zanzibar during Ramadan, consider reading the article Traveling during Ramadan.
- Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF). Annual film festival commonly considered one of the most important cultural events of theEast Africa. The main center of the festival is Stone Town, but film screenings are also organized for the occasion in smaller urban centers, including rural ones.
- Revolution day. On 12 January the anniversary of the 1964 Revolution is celebrated with a regatta of ngalawa, the typical double outrigger canoes of the Swahili tradition, starting in front of the people's palace.
What to do
- Spice tour.
- Jet ski rental.
- Quad excursion.
- Kuza Cave excursion. With a stop at the Rock restaurant.
- Swim with the dolphins.
Shopping
How to have fun
Where to eat
Moderate prices
- Ocean restaurant, Arabian Nights Annex, Paje 791, ☎ 255 689316432.
11€-22€. An excellent restaurant with an excellent quality / price ratio located in the island of paje offering Mediterranean cuisine, uses a lot of fish. It is located on the coast, has a swimming pool and has both indoor and outdoor seating.
11€-22€. An excellent restaurant with an excellent quality / price ratio located in the island of paje offering Mediterranean cuisine, uses a lot of fish. It is located on the coast, has a swimming pool and has both indoor and outdoor seating.Where stay
Safety
How to keep in touch
Around
Useful information
About 97% of the population from Zanzibar is of Muslim faith.
