Zanzibar – White beaches with sand that looks like talcum powder, crystal clear sea, backdrops with corals and colorful fish, lush forests, palm trees and exotic animals…

Hospitality

The Zanzibar archipelago is still today one of the most pristine land paradises in the world: most of the tourism is run by tour operators but here there is also the possibility of managing the main islands on your own, relying on the hospitality of the inhabitants local.

Politics & history

Today Zanzibar is part of the United Republic of Tanzania and includes the main island (often erroneously identified with the name of Zanzibar) Unguja and other large and small islands that surround it: previously it was a sultanate and then British protectorate.

The origins of the name of Zanzibar are obscure. There are those who do traces back to Persian the “land of the blacks” and those who bind them to the Arabic “ginger”. The island of Unguja is home to the capital, the city of Zanzibar, famous above all for the ancient district of Stone Town and the beaches of the coasts, where there are numerous tourist villages. A few miles south of the island of Unguja there is Mafia Island, still unknown to mass tourism: white beaches, rich sea beds, forests, hills and fishing landscapes. North of Unguja, on the other hand, lies Pemba, known as the “evergreen island” due to its abundance and the fact that it is still one of the least contaminated places in the world.

Here, there are few tourist villages and travel from one village to another is still difficult due to unpaved and winding roads. The strong point of the island is the sea and the seabed surrounding the island, rich in life, but suitable for experienced divers due to the strong currents. The beaches remain deserted to this day and those who are lucky enough to get there have the impression of having reached the earthly paradise.

Tongue

Kiswahili or Swahili and English are the official languages.

Religion

In Zanzibar, as in the rest of Tanzania, most of the population is Islamic, but in the city there are also Catholic and Anglican churches. In crowded public places it is advisable that women do not wear provocative clothes; to avoid nudism on the beaches.

Currency

Tanzanian shilling.