Top Travel Destinations – Zanzibar (Tanzania)

Once the trading centre for the whole of East Africa, Zanzibar is part of a coral reef stretching down Africa’s Indian Ocean coast. As early as the 10th century, Persian merchants migrated here. Portuguese influence secured a foothold with Vasco da Gama’s visit in 1499. Later came the Germans and the British. Over the centuries it shipped out fortunes in ivory, rhinoceros horn, gold, copper and spices. But to its infamy, it also provided the market for the great slave route which ran from Ujiji on Lake Tanganyika.

Today Zanzibar and nearby Pemba island, grow 75 percent of the world’s cloves. It is a beautiful island, relatively unspoilt by tourism and offers the combination of isolated beach resorts with the mystery and romance of historical Stone Town. Here the narrow streets are lined with Arab architecture and the main attractions include the Museum, the Arab Fort, the Anglican Cathedral built on the site of the old slave market, the Sultan’s Palace the clove market and the Indian Bazaar.

From the heady fragrance of the spice groves to the restful sight of a dhow’s triangular sails billowing in the wind, the charms of Zanzibar make it one of Africa’s most fascinating islands.