Zanzibar Stone Town
Description: Stone Town is said to be the only functioning ancient town in East Africa. It was an ancient trading port of the sultans of Oman in the 19th century.
During your stay you can take a tour (self-guided or guided) of the historic sites such as the Arab Fort, the House of Wonders and the Palace Museum – all taking you back in time. It is a place of winding alleys, bustling bazaars, mosques and grand Arab houses whose original owners vied with each other over the extravagance of their dwellings.
This neighborly rivalry is particularly reflected in the brass-studded, carved, wooden doors – there are more than 500 different examples of this handiwork. Most people enjoy ‘getting lost’ in the maze of Stonetown’s narrow, winding and criss-crossing streets.
Location: Off the coast of Tanzania, a 2 hour ferry ride from Dar es Salaam or fly in to Zanzibar via the Northern Parks, Arusha, Dar es Salaam or the Southern Parks
Things 2 Do:Spice Tour, Museum Visits, Visit Jozani Forest, and Visit Changuu Island’s Giant Tortoises
Time: Requires at least one day to see most of Stone Town.
Accommodations
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236 Hurumzi
Africa House
Chavda Hotel
Dhow Palace
Mbweni Ruins Hotel
Seyyida Hotel and Spa
Tembo House Hotel
Zanzibar Coffee House
Zanzibar Hotel
$$$
Beyt al Chai/ The Stone Town Inn
Swahili House
Zanzibar Palace Hotel
Zanzibar Serena Inn
“The entire trip was superbly planned, down to the tiniest details. In the planning stages, Casey was very receptive to what we were looking to do and was very straightforward about the pros and cons of each aspect of the trip. Once it was booked, he was very helpful with helping us plan and figure out what to expect when we got there. All of his recommendations and bits of advice were spot on. In particular, they went above and beyond when we had a problem during the trip. My wife had a reaction to one of the medications she was taking and we needed to seek out a doctor. Casey, our guide Maningo, and the rest of the A2T crew were on top of it, calling us in the middle of Ngorongoro Crater to make sure we got what we needed. Casey and Maningo got a local American doctor on the phone to consult, and we managed to fix the problem pretty quickly. Everybody was wonderful in a moment where we were feeling a bit nervous about what to do.”