This short video clip shows Zanzibar and its harbor from the House of Wonders, the former royal palace.
On 28 January 2009 Barbara and I arrived off the island of Zanzibar on the 296-passenger Silversea cruise ship Silver Wind, which had sailed overnight from Dar es Salaam during a 16-day cruise from Cape Town to Mombasa via Mozambique, Madagascar and Tanzania. During our ship's one-day call at fabled Zanzibar we visited the House of Wonders and the Palace Museum and then took a stroll through Stone Town.
Exotic-sounding Zanzibar, which merged with Tanganyika in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanzania, consists of two major islands, Unguja and Pemba. Somewhat confusingly, Unguja Island is often called Zanzibar also; and Zanzibar Town is situated on Unguja. 96 km/60 miles long and some 35 km/22 miles from the mainland, the island of Zanzibar is steeped in history.
Both Livingstone and Stanley spent time in Zanzibar in the late nineteenth century; and other explorers such as Burton, Grant and Speke all passed through. From the 1890s onward Zanzibar was a British protectorate. With the exception of the sinking of one British ship in Zanzibar's harbor during World War I, Zanzibar saw no action during either of the world wars. Movement toward self-government followed the Second World War. Finally self-government was granted by Britain in 1963. Although briefly Zanzibar was an independent sultanate, a full member of the British Commonwealth and a member state of the United Nations, it opted to become part of Tanzania four months later in 1964.
After taking a tender ashore from Silver Wind, our initial destination was the House of Wonders. The first building on the island to have electricity, it acquired its name from the seemingly wondrous features it contained, such as Zanzibar's first elevator. The structure, which until recently housed the local government bureaucracy, was for long the tallest building in Zanzibar. Four stories high and built in 1883 by Sultan Seyyid Barghash, it has lovely big verandas and today offers, among various other things, an exhibit on Zanzibar's struggle for independence. The entrance of the House of Wonders sports two bronze cannons dating back to the sixteenth century. One of those cannons bears the royal arms of Portugal. The building's carved Arab-style doors are inscribed with verses from the Koran, and its marble flooring and silver decorations were imported from Europe. In 1896 the House of Wonders was bombarded by the British navy in an attempt to convince the sultan to abdicate!
Our next stop was the three-story Palace Museum, which is located amid gardens along the waterfront next to the House of Wonders. This was the abode of the sultans and their families from the 1880s until the revolution in 1964, and today the museum tells their story. A great number of pieces of furniture are exhibited, and from the top floor there are superb views of dhows sailing out in the harbor.
Stone Town consists of a maze of narrow streets where occasionally it seems as if one can almost touch the buildings on both sides. Here it is the nineteenth-century architecture which catches one's eye. Visitors to the old city walk past white-washed houses and ornately-carved teak doors galore. The arches and latticework trim are especially attractive. It's easy to get lost in Stone Town. But it's safe enough, and locals will gladly point visitors in the right direction. The Anglican cathedral was built on the site of the former slave market, and its high altar sits where there was once a whipping post. The Old Fort was built near the harbor by the Portuguese in 1700. It's worth a look as there are some interesting handicrafts shops inside.
Situated south of the equator, Zanzibar, which is warm and can be visited year-round, offers excellent swimming and diving. In fact, its east coast beaches are some of the finest in the world. The island's climate is similar to that of coastal Kenya and Tanzania. The long rainy season lasts from March into early June. During this period tropical downpours occur on many days and the humidity is high. However, there can be pleasant sea breezes then and Zanzibar is very green during that period. This is followed by the long dry season from late June through October. Skies are mostly clear during then. In November and December there is a short rainy season when the rains are lighter and more variable. Typically there are just short showers during this period. This is followed by a short dry season in January and February.
Many travelers choose to conclude their safari in East Africa with a relaxing visit to fabled and exotic Zanzibar.
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