Zanzibar Island Things to Do Tips by grets Top 5 Page for this destination

Spice Garden

I found this excursion very enjoyable and natural, not like some spice tours I've taken in other places.

The spice gardens were obviously genuine growing patches, not just laid on for tourists, and we wandered over quite an area to see the various spices. The guide would pick up a piece of each spice, letting us touch, smell and taste, as well as guessing what some of the more unusual spices might be.

We tasted fresh coconut juice, agiant pamplemousse as well as seeing a bsket making demonstration.

I love spices, so for me this was an enjoyable hour spent in lovely countryside. One of our party was very critical of the trip however.

There was the ubiquitos "shop" at the end of the tour, which for me was one of the reasons for coming!

Maruhubi Palace

Built in 1882 for Sultan Barghash and although it was once reputed to be the most ornate building on the island, the palace is now almost completely in ruins after being destroyed by fire in 1899. It is said that the sultan, although he himself lived in Stone Town, kept 100 women here - his wife and 99 concubines! WOW! Some stamina that man had!

Directions: On the coast, about 4km north of Stone Town.

National Museum

Also known as the Peace Memorial Museum

Also known as Beit el Amani (house of peace)

Various rooms have exhibits on various topcs: slavery, archaeology, missionaries, sultans, explorers, traditional crafts, natural history (including the bones of a dodo) and many other interesting things.

My favourite object was Livingtone's medical chest, it was kind of strange to think that such a famous explorer had used medicines from that chest....

The museum is not too big as to make it overwhelming, but large enough to make it worth a visit.

Open from 09.00-18.00 every day except Sunday.

There is a small entrance fee, I can't remember how much.

Directions: In an area in the southern end of Stone Town called Mnazi Moja, near the junction of Creek Road and Kaunda Road in

Slave Monument

This very poignant tribute to the horrors of the slave trade stand near where the slave market was held up until the abolition of the slave trade in 1897. A reminder to the world of some of the cruel fates suffered at the hands of greedy merchants.

Slave Cellar

The cellar of St Monica's Hostel is where the slaves would have been kept prior to being sold at teh Slave Market.

Cramped conditions and no daylight, no sanitation, overcrowding and mistreatment, I find it very hard to imagine what would have gone through the minds of those slaves. Not knowing what the future would bring, having seen many friends and family perish in the long journey overland and by boat to get this far.

Before being sold at the market, many slaves would be made to run to show they could work hard, or tied to a tree and whipped to show they were strong and brave.

In this small room up to 75 slaves would be held, and the chains were still there attached to the floor. I could almost feel the presence of those poor, lost souls... Even with just five of us in there I felt claustrophobic and couldn't wait to get out in daylight again. A really spooky place!

Slave Market

During the Omani rule of Zanzibar in the late 1600s, the slave trade flourished. The rules of Islam forbade the enslavement of Muslims, so Africans were imported to Oman in large numbers, many through Zanzibar. About 3000 slaves a year were traded in Zanzibar by the 1770s, by the mid 19th century, that number had increased to 20,000.

Slaves came from the interior of Africa, often tribal enemies being captured and sold, and were cruelly marched to the coast. Tied together by long chains, shackles on the ankles and heavy yokes on their shoulders, many slaves would die on the journey. Those too weak to continue were either killed or abandoned.

The boat journey from the coast to Zanzibar was harsh and pitiless, with slaves either placed below deck on “shelves” of no more than a couple of feet in height or on open boats exposed to the elements. Without the height to sit or the space to lie down, the journey must have been crippling. It’s hard to imagine what the slaves would have gone through. There can be no dignity left with such conditions, with no sanitation, disease was rife and the situation must have been unbearable – especially for those on the bottom “shelf” – everybody else’s waste from above running through the floors……..

Those who didn’t die on the journey or weren’t thrown overboard because they had contracted a disease or were too weak to fetch a good price, would reach Zanzibar unable to straighten their legs for several days as a result of the cramped conditions. After being cleaned up, the slaves would be paraded through the streets whilst being checked out by potential buyers. Slaves would either be bought to work on plantations in Zanzibar or continue to Oman or elsewhere.

On 5th April 1897 Sultan Hamoud signed a treaty to abolish the legal status of slavery in Zanzibar.

Directions: Near the junction of New Mkunazini Road and Creek Road. The Anglican Cathedral now stands on the spot previously occupied by the Slave Market, and a plaque on the floor in front of the altar marks the spot where slaves where sold!

Tippu Tip's House

Tippu Tip was a local slave trader whose real name was Hamed bin Mohammed el Merjebi. His nickname comes from a word meaning "blink", referring to a nervous twitch.

Tippu Tip became very wealthy and by 1895 he owned seven plantations on Zanzibar as well as 10,000 slaves.

The house is not open to visitors and has unfortunately fallen into disrepair. You cna still marvel at his beautifully carved front door.

The door was always the first to be erected during the building of a house in Zanzibar, and the intricacy of the carving was a symbol of a person’s wealth and social status. Many doors are studded with brass spikes and bosses, though to originate from the Indian practice to protect it from being battered by wild elephants. (Elephants were once prevalent in Zanzibar, but are now extinct here.)

Directions: Near Africa House Hotel, behind the offices of Jasfa Tours

The Old Fort

Built in 1698 for the Omani ruler, the fort has since been used as a prison, a depot for the railway line and a ladies' tennis club!

The fort is now open to the public with spice and craft shops in its grounds.

Directions: Next to House of Wonders

The House of Wonders

Built in 1883 as a ceremonial palace for the Sultan, it became known as the House of Wonder due to the fact that it was the first house in Zanzibar to have electric lighting. It is still one of the largest buildings in Zanzibar with marble floors and panelled walls. At the time of our visit it was not open to the public.

Palace Museum

The former Sultan's Palace was turned into a well-organised museum in 1994. Amazingly, much of the period furniture survived the revolution and are now on display in the rooms of the palace.

Exhibits include thrones, banqueting tables, ceremonial furniture, beds and other peronal items.

One room is dedicated to Princess Salme, Sultan Said's pregnant and somewhat rebelleous daughter who eloped to Germany in 1866 to marry a German merchant much against her family's wishes. She converted to Christianity and lived out her days in exile.

The museum is open from 09.00-18.00 Tuesday to Saturday and 09.00-15.00 Sundays, Mondays and holidays. Entrance fee $2.