The romantic islands of Zanzibar are celebrated around the world for their beauty, beaches and history with Stone Town being one of the islands biggest attractions. Stone Town rose to prominence in the 17th century is the old city and cultural centre of Zanzibar. the haunting history of Stone Town is enough to make you shiver, the old slave castle and market are reminders of what the island was most famous for. David Livingstone used Stone Town as his base for preparing for his final expedition in 1866. Meandering alleys and noisy bazaars characterize Stone Town as one of the few intact historical Swahili coastal trading towns of East Africa. The 2,500 buildings of Stone Town are all made from coral stone, lime and clay including 45 mosques, 2 christian churches and 4 hindu halls. Since UNESCO declated Stone Town a world heritage site, several buildings have been renovated and restored by the duly appointed Stone Town conservation authority.
Stone Town is jam-packed with historical architecture and a rich ethnic culture and in the towns narrow streets, every sight, every glance conjures up the romantic pasthowever, for most visitors Zanzibar is about the sea, the corals, and the dolphins. While visiting the islands you should schedule for the fascinating walk through Stone Town that is rewarding. The contrast in Zanzibar between the main town area, Stone Town and the tourist venues on the islands are startling. As you walk through the town, please remember that stone town is very much a real community, where real people live and work. Stone Town is a popular destination in Zanzibar with its narrow alleyways, intricately carved doors and ornate balconies. You will lose your bearings here for sure, but getting lost in Stone Town is normal, fun and harmless. Key attractions in stone town include the old dispensary, Livingstone’s house, the peace memorial museum, the palace museum, the Arab fort and the house of wonders (which translates from its local name, Beit el Jaib). Beyond Stone Town clad in spice gardens are silver sandy beaches bejeweled by superb resorts.
There are one or two good wreck dives in the port area of Stone Town. I would suggest maybe two day dives in and around stone town and then move to the beaches and islands for the more exciting diving experiences.
You can book your trip to Stone Town and Zanzibar with Explorer Travel by calling 0208 816 8789 or visit their website – http://www.big5.explorertravel.co.uk/StoneTown.htm
Tags: africa travel, explorer travel, stone town, tanzania, zanzibar, zanzibar holidays, zanzibar travel