Zanzibar is not one island; it’s a group of islands just off the coast of East Africa. There are two large main islands, Pemba and Unguja – the latter is sometimes informally (and incorrectly) referred to as “Zanzibar”.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ZANZIBAR
SPICE ISLANDS
Zanzibar is known as the Spice Islands because of its production of cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and black pepper. Spice farming is a major contributor to Zanzibar’s economy, second only
to tourism.
STONE TOWN
Zanzibar’s historic center, Stone Town, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s home to 50 mosques and four Hindu temples. You can also see where Freddie Mercury lived in the center of Stone Town.
RARE ANIMALS
The rare Kirk’s Red Colobus monkey is only found in Zanzibar, mainly in Jozani Forest. The Zanzibar archipelago is also home to the Zanzibar servaline genet and the extinct or rare Zanzibar leopard.
KITESURFING
Zanzibar is a great location for kitesurfing, with the best time to go being December to mid-March and June to October.
THE SHORTEST WAR
The shortest war in history was fought in Zanzibar
in 1896.
SWAHILI
The native language of Zanzibar is Kiswahili, which comes from the Arab word sawahil meaning “coast”
THE HOUSE OF WONDERS
One of the first buildings in East Africa to have electricity, and Stone Town’s oldest existing building
THE KIZIMKAZI MOSQUE
Zanzibar’s oldest remaining building is the 11th century moique at Kizimkazi
