Travel Guide

Zanzibar Travel Guide

Ancient Stone Town, powder beaches, clove-scented air — and some of the Indian Ocean's best diving just below the surface.

Getting Oriented

Stone Town, Zanzibar Archipelago, Tanzania

Stone Town (officially Zanzibar City) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Africa's most atmospheric old quarters. A dense maze of alleys lined with intricately carved wooden doors, crumbling coral-stone mansions and the smell of cloves in the air — it looks and feels like the 19th-century Indian Ocean spice port it once was. The Forodhani Gardens night market, the House of Wonders, the Arab Fort and the Old Dispensary are the anchor points for an afternoon's exploration.

Culture

What Makes Zanzibar Distinct

In Zanzibar, every carved door has a story — of a merchant who came from Oman, an architect trained in Gujarat, and a craftsman whose name was never written down but whose work is still standing.

Eat

What to Eat in Zanzibar

Zanzibar Pizza

Nothing to do with Italian pizza — this is a crispy, egg-based street crepe folded around minced meat, vegetables and cheese, made to order at Forodhani Gardens every evening. One of the great street foods of East Africa.

Urojo (Zanzibar Mix)

A rich coconut and mango soup served with bhajias, cassava chips, boiled eggs and lime juice — deeply savoury, faintly sweet. Available at Forodhani Gardens and local tea houses.

Grilled Lobster & Seafood

Rock lobster, red snapper, tuna and octopus all appear on local menus for a fraction of what you'd pay in Europe. Best version: simply grilled over charcoal at Forodhani Gardens, dressed with lemon and chilli.

Zanzibari Pilau & Biryani

Rice cooked in ghee with cardamom, cloves, cumin and cinnamon, served with slow-cooked meat. Richer and more aromatic than its mainland cousin — comfort food from the spice trade era.

Shop

What to Bring Back from Zanzibar

FAQs

Zanzibar Travel Guide — Common Questions

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