Experience Zanzibar Stone Town

It may not have a particularly romantic name, but Stone Town, is the capital and cultural heart of Zanzibar, little changed in the last 200 years. A labyrinth of winding alleys, bustling bazaars, mosques and houses whose extravagance is reflected in their brass, carved, wooden doors.

The National Museum is a good starting point for finding out more of the history and culture of Zanzibar. It opened in 1925 and contains relics from time of the Sultans and early explorers, as well as traditional carvings and exhibits of local wildlife, including a good collection of birds and reptiles. Another ‘Must’ is the House of Wonders, with its pillars, fretted balconies and intricately carved doors, it was built by Sultan Barghash in 1883 and was occupied by the British in 1911 when the Sultan moved to the much less pretentious palace, now called the People’s palace, on the other side of the street.

Next to the House of Wonders is the Old Fort, built on the site of Portuguese church when the Arabs took over the island, and now the venue for many of Zanzibar’s numerous theatrical and musical events. Perhaps the most impressive, ornate building is the Old Dispensary which has recently undergone excellent restoration work. The High Court and Africa House, a former English Gentleman’s Club and now a boutique hotel offering, supposedly, the best view of the sunset, are also worth a visit as is Livingstone House, where the Scottish explorer lived for three months in 1866 gathering supplies for his last expedition.

At the center of Stone Town are the Persian-styled Hamamni Baths, built at the command of Sultan Barghash at the end of the 19th century while nearby is the Cathedral Church of Christ, completed in 1879 on the site of an open slave market. Echoes of Zanzibar’s more sinister past are also to be found in Tippu Tip House, built for the notorious slave and ivory trader Hamad bin Muhammad el-Marjab, and a former slave pit in nearby Kelele square.