Zanzibar

Introduction

Situated in the Indian Ocean, 36 km off the coastline of mainland Tanzania lies Zanzibar. Zanzibar officially refers to the archipelago that include Unguja and Pemba, surrounded by about 50 smaller ones.

Covering an area of 1464 sq km, Zanzibar is a mainly low lying island, with it's highest point at 120 meters.

Zanzibar is an island state within the United Republic of Tanzania, and has its own semi-autonomous government made up of a Revolutionary Council and House of Representatives.

Once the trading centre of the whole of East Africa, Zanzibar attracted Sumerians, Assyrians, Phoenicians, Arabs, Chinese and Malays. The great explorers, Burton, Speke, Livingstone and Krapf continued their journeys from these shores.

It is characterised by beautiful sandy beaches with fringing coral reefs, warm clear blue waters, idyllic islands, excellent reefs for snorkelling and diving, fantastic deep sea fishing and water sports activities.

The historic Stone Town with its narrow winding streets, vivid markets and colourful bazaars makes for an interesting cultural visit.

Commonly known as the "Spice Island"; famous for spices such as cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, cardamom, peper and others). Spice tours are a popular excursion.

The Africa Guide's recommended book
		Zanzibar, 6th: Pemba and Mafia (Sept 06)  (amazon.com) - USA    (amazon.co.uk) - Europe by Bradt Travel Guide the first travel guide to concentrate exclusively on Zanzibar and Pemba. This sixth edition brings every aspect of travel on the islands up to date, from sourcing hotels to creating an individual itinerary from the selection of landmarks, markets, and activities detailed in the guide. Fascinating background on the history and culture of the islands, a thorough section on land and marine wildlife, and a guide to the architectural treasures of Stone Town will help the traveler discover many aspects of Zanzibar.

The Africa Guide's recommended Map
		Zanzibar Island Map   (Maps Worldwide) Published by Harms Verlag - Series Touring Maps Format Folded Map, Scale 1:100 000 . Language English, Dutch Italien A touring map of Zanzibar with town plans. Includes colour shading and contours.