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Stone Town of Zanzibar, Tanzania

From series “The Unesco World Heritage Sites in Africa”
Year: 19th century.

The Stone Town of Zanzibar, a unique historical district with a lot of preserved buildings, is one of the most interesting historical sights in Tanzania. The unusual name of the historical district is due to a lot of stone buildings, the first of which were built at the beginning of the 19th century. At that time, Zanzibar was a large trading city. At the time of the reign of Said ibn Sultan, Zanzibar was proclaimed the capital of the Ottoman Empire.

Stone Town of Zanzibar, Tanzania For years the Stone Town remained the great center of the slave trade. Buildings of the old slave market can also be found today. In its place a beautiful Anglican cathedral was built, beside which one can see a few cages - once they contained people. The historic district is ideal for walks. Many old houses are now a location of interesting shops and restaurants. In addition, the Stone Town has several colourful markets. Lovers of cultural programs can admire local museums and beautiful mosques.

Among the historical sights one must mention the Palace of Beit al Ajaib, also known under the unofficial name 'House of Miracles'. Once this ceremonial palace was used for the most solemn events. It managed to retain some of the original decoration. The ancient Arab fort, built in the 18th century, is also worth seeing. In total, there are more than 1700 old buildings on the territory of the Stone Town of Zanzibar, most of which, unfortunately, are under the threat of complete destruction. To the beginning - Tassili Ajjer

Stone Town of Zanzibar - interactive map

Useful staff nearby

ATM bankomat: 'NBC' located in 0.67 km ( check the route on the map).
Car rental office: 'Zanzibar Rent A Car' is located in 1.55 km ( on the map).
Fuel station: 'Petrol Station' in 0.63 km
Supermarket: 'Kwality Supermarket' in 0.35 km
Parking: 'Kwa Kinyangunya' in 3.5 km
Apotheek: 'Kiswandui Dispensary' in 0.28 km
Police station: 'Mkunazini Police Post' in 0.64 km
Cafe/restaurant: 'DREAMS HOTEL ZANZIBAR' in 0.33 km
 Cities nearby

Best hotels near Stone Town of Zanzibar

Zanzibar Palace Hotel

Located in 0 km from Stone Town of Zanzibar
Route on the map:
Rooms: 9
All suites feature Zanzibari, Arabic and English décor and are fitted with tiled floors. Each one includes a seating area with a flat-screen TV, DVD … More: photo, rates and booking
Kisiwa House

Located in 1 km from Stone Town of Zanzibar
Route on the map:
Rooms: 11
As one of the oldest buildings in Stown Town, Kisiwa House combines historical elements with fresh and modern design. Decorated in Swahili style, the … More: photo, rates and booking
Mbweni Ruins Hotel

Located in 5 km from Stone Town of Zanzibar
Route on the map:
Rooms: 13
All suites boast interiors with Zanzibari and Swahili style and contain a four-poster bed with mosquito net. It also features air-conditioning and a … More: photo, rates and booking
Zanzi Resort

Located in 6 km from Stone Town of Zanzibar
Route on the map:
Rooms: 7
Each luxurious villa is spacious and offers an intimate environment. It features a private patio with a pool, a lush tropical garden, a gazebo draped … More: photo, rates and booking

Nearest unique sightseeing spots to visit

Mnemba island
43 km - Mnemba island
Not far from the Zanzibar Island is the uninhabited Mnemba Island, which is part of the marine conservation area. The length of the island's circumference is about 1.5 km. Nearby is the incredibly beautiful coral reef, which the divers from all over the world in …
Swimming pool at Camping Sanctuary Swala
477 km - Swimming pool at Camping Sanctuary Swala
From the series 'Most Scary Swiiming Pools'

Sanctuary Swala Lodge offers amazing entertainment to its guests. It is located in the scenic Tarangire National Park in Tanzania. It is surrounded by wildlife. You can watch wild animals while relaxing in the surrounding area of the Lodge. There are a few dangerous …
Lake Natron
547 km - Lake Natron
In Tanzania, near the Kenyan border is the salt lake Natron. Its depth does not exceed 3 meters. One of the main characteristics of the lake is the high alkalinity. Notwithstanding such harsh conditions, the lake is not lifeless, some species of aquatic plants and …
Masai
617 km - Masai
The Maasai people of East Africa live in the savanna between southern Kenia and nothern Tanzania. The tribe has some 900 000. They differ by a special way of life, which has absolutely not changed over the past century. A tribal structure is based on the so-called …
Serengeti National Park
644 km - Serengeti National Park
On the border between the two African countries, Tanzania and Kenya, there is a unique natural reserve, Serengeti. Tourists from all over the world come here to admire its beauty. Lions are among the main inhabitants of the nature reserve. Serengeti is one of the few …
Lake Rukwa
849 km - Lake Rukwa
Travelers who want to visit places once inhabited by the largest dinosaurs of the planet have to go to Tanzania. Here are a few years ago, a scientific group has found a skeleton of a titanosaur, a large long-necked reptile that lived about 100 million years ago. …

Top destination around Stone Town of Zanzibar - Zanzibar Island

As for schoolers, offer them going to Changuu Island. It would be rather informative as they will learn interesting facts about the history of slavery. In addition, there is a park of giant turtles there. We would highly recommend big families to visit the island altogether – adults with babies and teenagers. You can give turtles some grass to chew that you will get at the entrance. You definitely have to swim at the end of your trip, people can see a lot of small colourful fishes – especially kids should approve it.
It would be also great to take your children for a walk around Stone Town. The ancient city with its cobbled streets is especially marvellous in the night time. It would be peculiar for kids to take a look at unusual buildings and especially doors, each one is unique. They are decorated with drawings, carvings, coloured in all the possible colours – a child of any age will be attracted by it. Then, you can have dinner in one of the local restaurants and see a magnificent sunset after a walk.

In case you’ll still have energy, go to the Forodhani Park on the coast. It’s rather entertaining there in the night, you can listen to music, try street food including different sweets and nuts, or just walk along the embankment.
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