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

$$
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

Top photo credit: Gallery Tours

Christine M. (USA)

January 13, 2016

“We truly enjoyed our trip to Tanzania with Access to Tanzania. From the beginning, Karen did an excellent job of listening to our needs and explaining everything we had questions about. She even called us after her usual work hours so it was more convenient for us to plan our trip. She created an itinerary for us based on her knowledge of Tanzania and what we wanted to do. Everything on our trip went smoothly. We couldn’t be more pleased with our choice in companies and would refer Access to Tanzania to anyone interested in visiting this wonderful place. There are many companies out there to choose from. We used the internet reviews to pick Access to Tanzania, and we are so very glad that we did. Their slogan is “No worries. We know Tanzania.” Their slogan is very true. They do know Tanzania, and they know what they are doing in terms of planning the best safari vacation that one could experience.”