Mbweni Ruins
Mbweni ruins were once St. Mary's School for Freed Slave Girls
and were built between 1871 and 1874. The grounds contained dormitory
living quarters, schoolrooms, a chapel and, later, an industrial
area. |
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Maruhubi Ruins
Constructed by Sultan Barghash in 1880 to house his harem (which
reputedly consisted of one wife and 99 concubines), the Palace was
one of the most impressive residences on the island. An overhead
aqueduct and lily-covered cisterns (or 'pleasure ponds') can also
be seen on the site and are evidence of the extensive Persian Baths.
The Palace was destroyed in a fire in 1899. |
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Kadichi Baths
Kidichi is a village in the heart of the spice plantations and it
is home to bath ruins, built in 1850 by Sultan Said for his Persian
wife. The baths are the only ones of their kind on the island, where
visitors can see the Persian detailing on the inner walls. The Kidichi
bath ruins are unusual in that they exhibit interesting and obvious
portrayals of birds and flowers in the bas-relief detailing of the
inner walls. |
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| Chunguu Island(Prison)
The island is approximately half a mile long and one-eighth of
a mile wide and was formerly owned by an Arab and used as a private
place of detention for recalcitrant slaves. The Prison, which
still stands, was built in 1893. It is fringed with a beautiful
coral reef, ideal for snorkeling, and has a lovely white beach
for sunbathing. It is also home to a family of giant tortoises. |
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Chumbe Island Coral Park
Chumbe Island is not to be missed. This coral rag island is a Forest
Reserve and was the first Marine National Park of Tanzania. There's
a lighthouse, erected in 1990, on the island that is slated and
converted into an observation tower and there is an old mosque that
was built in an Indian style and is unique to Tanzania. The surrounding
coral reef is said to be one of the best in the world and is truly
an excellent snorkeling spot. The island is home to the rare giant
coconut crab (on the red list of IUCN), the "largest land crabs
on earth", able to climb palm trees and eat young coconuts. |
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Nungwi Village
This area of Zanzibar has some fantastic beaches, and nearby coral
reefs which are ideal for diving and snorkeling. It is the dhow
building capital of Zanzibar, so you will be able to see the traditional
methods of dhow construction in action. The local villagers have
built a turtle sanctuary where injured turtles and other marine
animals are nursed back to health before being released back into
the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. Close to Nungwi you can visit
Kidoti village to see the local spice soap factory and a close look
at a traditional blacksmith. |
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Spice Farms
The history of Zanzibar would be incomplete without the cloves,
nutmeg, cinnamon, pepper and many other spices, which brought the
Sultans of Oman and the beginnings of the infamous slave trade.
When visit the spice farms a detailed description is given about
a variety of spices, and their uses in cooking and cosmetics. |
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Jozani Forest
The Jozani Natural Forest Reserve is a protected forest and the
only remaining natural forest on Zanzibar and is home to the rare
Red Colobus Monkey, which is endemic to Zanzibar. Jozani is home
to other species including Syke's monkeys, small buck and bush pigs.
Nature walks are offered through the forest and is a great way to
see the wildlife on the island. |
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Zala Park
Zala (Zanzibar Land Animals) Park, a small zoo that is privately
run by a local man, who is known in the area as 'Mwalimo Nyoka'
or 'the teacher of snakes'. The zoo specializes in reptiles and
endemic species and is well worth a visit. |
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Kizimkazi
Situated on the southern point of the island, Kizimbazi fishing
village is home to several schools of bottle-nosed dolphins which
can often be sighted following a short boat trip from the village.
If you are lucky, you may be able to swim quite close to the dolphins,
which can be a very rewarding experience. |
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