Zanzibar Beyond the Beach: Stone Town, Spice Farms and a Slower Clock
The beaches are as good as the photos. The island is better when you leave the sun lounger.
Zanzibar has a way of getting filed under beach holiday and left there. The water really is that colour and the sand really is that white. But the island has centuries of history as a trading hub on the Indian Ocean, and the best trips leave room for it.
Get lost in Stone Town
Stone Town, the old quarter of Zanzibar City, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a maze of narrow lanes, carved wooden doors and coral stone buildings shaped by African, Arab, Indian and European influences. Do not over plan it. Walk without a map for an afternoon, then hire a local guide for a morning to explain what you saw. The order matters.
In the evening, the Forodhani Gardens waterfront fills with food stalls. Go hungry and go with cash.
See where the spice comes from
Zanzibar earned the name Spice Island for a reason. Cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla all grow here, and a spice farm tour is one of those things that sounds touristy and turns out to be fascinating. You will smell, taste and probably wear something you have only ever seen in a jar.
Meet the locals with tails
Jozani Forest is home to the Zanzibar red colobus, a monkey found almost nowhere else on earth. The walk is easy, family friendly and a nice break from the heat of the coast.
Pick your coast
- North (Nungwi, Kendwa): swimmable at most tides, great sunsets, more energy.
- East (Paje, Jambiani and nearby): big tidal swings, kitesurfing, a quieter village feel.
- South and southeast: calmer and less developed, good for a real switch off.
A few things worth knowing
Zanzibar is predominantly Muslim, and in Stone Town and the villages it is respectful to cover shoulders and knees. Bring small bills for markets and tips. And give yourself more days than you think. Zanzibar runs on a slower clock, and the trip gets better once you set your watch to it.
