Zanzibar Cultural Experiences : Just staying in Zanzibar is a cultural experience in itself. Apart from the intoxicating spices, Stone Town’s exotic, bright environment is a sensory assault, but this UNESCO World Heritage Site is also rich in history. Additionally, you can simply explore it on foot by wandering about.
Swahili culture in Zanzibar is the product of the confluence of influences from Africa, Asia, and Europe. In the past, Zanzibar served as a crucial staging area for explorers and traders, as well as a major hub for the sale of spices and slaves.
People from many ethnic backgrounds, including Iranian, Arab, and African, make up the Zanzibari population. Despite having a majority Muslim population, Zanzibar also has a number of Christian sects, Hindus, and other minor religions. This cultural hub is renowned for its stunning beaches, spice farms, and Stone Town, a historic city with Arabic influences. Its past also includes a darker period because Zanzibar served as East Africa’s principal center for the trade in slaves.
Currently, Zanzibar provides a wide range of cultural activities, but getting to them on a brief visit might be challenging. We frequently advise setting up camp at Stone Town for a few days. Also, we’ve hand-selected a few educational and entertaining day trips, each of which focuses on a distinct cultural component of Zanzibar.
STONE TOWN WALKING TOUR AND HISTORIC SITES
On a personal guided walking tour, you will view the following historic sites in Stone Town: Before setting out to explore on your own, we strongly advise everyone to take a tour to learn about Zanzibar’s history and become familiar with the city’s confusing network of streets and alleyways.
The Stone Town waterfront skyline is dominated by Beit el-Ajab (House of Wonders). Sultan Barghash erected the ceremonial palace in 1883, and among its many noteworthy features, it lived up to its name by being the highest structure in East Africa and the first to have running water, electricity, and an elevator.
The Palace Museum, The former palace of Zanzibar’s final sultan was overthrown in 1964 as part of the movement for the island’s freedom and eventual merger with Tanganyika’s mainland to become the Republic of Tanzania. Memorabilia that wasn’t removed in the commotion is spread across three floors. Although the exhibits are labeled, there are educated interpreters at the entrance who have lots of interesting anecdotes to share.
The Omanis, who drove the Portuguese from the island, built the Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe) in approximately 1700. It has undergone numerous transformations over the years and now includes a number of craft stores, a cafe, tourist information, and an outdoor amphitheater, Zanzibar Cultural Experiences
Forodhani Gardens: Next to all of the aforementioned are well-kept gardens on the waterfront. Although it’s a nice place to relax in the shade, it truly comes to life at night when a street food market opens up, offering a wide variety of freshly prepared, regionally inspired cuisine (with a focus on seafood), fresh fruit drinks, and more. Visitors to the island are now catered to, so feel free to indulge without stress!
Anglican Cathedral and Slave Market: In the 19th century, slavery was prohibited on the island thanks to the strong influence of the British Empire. The British constructed their cathedral on the site of the slave market in 1873 to send a message. The cramped, gloomy quarters where slaves were kept can still be found in the basement of the ancient mission hospital next door.
Central Market: The city’s major outdoor market is where you can buy everything, including the newest releases of regional Taarab music as well as fresh fish, spices, hardware, and other goods. Be ready for a sensory overload!
More than 500 intricately carved wooden doors still exist in Stone Town, many of which are older than the homes in which they are installed. The doors functioned as a representation of a household’s riches and prestige. While you stroll the streets, pay attention!
Several European missionaries and explorers utilized the Livingstone House, which was constructed in 1860 for Sultan Majid, as their center of operations before venturing across the Zanzibar canal and into the interior of Africa. The most well-known of them all, David Livingstone, slept in this mansion prior to his final, disastrous journey in 1866. (Seen on the walking tour but is 2 km north of Stone Town.)
SPICE TOUR
A tour of a spice plantation, where visitors can see, smell, taste, and learn about the many uses of the various spices grown on the island, is a well-liked half-day activity. The journey includes stops at the historic ruins of the Sultans’ country residence, the Persian baths constructed for a 19th-century ruler’s wife, and a seaside shop where skilled artisans create traditional sailing dhows using techniques passed down through generations. A longer tour might include going to the village of Mwangapwani to see an underground coral cave and old slave chambers, going to the Jozani Forest Reserve for a relaxing walk and the chance to see the red colobus monkey, which is unique to that area, or going to a distinctive mangrove swamp, which serves as nature’s barrier against beach erosion.
FESTIVALS AND EVENTS
The holy month of Ramadan for Muslims comes to a conclusion on Eid al-Fitr. The island is in a festive atmosphere that might extend for days, both physically and figuratively. Everyone dresses to the nines, and there is much eating and Taarab music concerts. At this moment, Stone Town might be an especially thrilling location, Zanzibar Cultural Experiences
Shirazi New Year, Mwaka Kogwa, is observed at the end of July. The best location to witness this event is Makunduchi, a community in the southern region of Zanzibar, where enormous bonfires are lit and men engage in pretend fights while brandishing banana stems. Women wander over the field, singing songs about life and love, as the men fight.
African music is celebrated over four days during Sauti Za Busara (“Voices of Wisdom”), which attracts artists from all over the continent and beyond. Every year in February, it takes place in Stone Town. A 10-day cultural extravaganza featuring film screenings, music, workshops, exhibits, and more is called the Zanzibar International Film Festival. July in Stone Town, Zanzibar Cultural Experiences
PRISON ISLAND
The tranquil Changuu (Prison) Island, which got its name from the jail for dangerous offenders that was established in 1893 on instructions from Zanzibar’s British rule, is just 4 kilometers and a 20-minute boat ride from the bustle of Stone Town. The structures were never used for that and were instead a quarantine facility for many years. The cells may be seen, and the ruins are still largely undamaged. The island is home to a protected colony of giant tortoises, some of which are over a century old. Moreover, the island is home to a variety of endangered bird species. The beach is fantastic, and the waters are crystal clear and perfect for diving, fishing, and swimming.
