STONE TOWN

Stone Town Walking Tour

West Coast 4 Hrs Tour 5 Stars

Overview

Stone Town is also known as 'Mji Mkongwe' meaning 'old town', the name "Stone Town" comes from the ubiquitous use of coral stones as the main construction material, this stone gives the town a characteristic, reddish warm color. Stone Town is located on the western coast of Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar Archipelago. Stone Town is a former capital of the Zanzibar Sultanate, and flourishing center of the spice trade as well as the slave trade and the long distance trade since the first millennium. Stone town is the last place where slave-trading was finally terminated. Stone Town is a city of prominent historical and artistic importance in East Africa. It retains its urban fabric and townscape virtually intact and contains many fine buildings that reflect its particular culture, which has brought together and homogenized disparate elements of the cultures of Africa, the Arab region, India, and Europe over more than a millennium. For this reason, the town was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. When Tanganyika and Zanzibar joined each other to form the United Republic of Tanzania, Zanzibar kept a semi-autonomous status, with Stone Town as its local government seat. Stone Town is the old city and cultural heart of Zanzibar where little has changed in the last 3 centuries. It is a place of winding alleys, bustling bazaars, mosques and grand Arab houses whose original owners vied with each other over the extravagance of their dwellings.

Due to its heritage, Stone Town is also a major tourist attraction in Tanzania, and a large part of its economy depends on tourism-related activities. The heart of Stone Town mostly consists of a maze of narrow alleys lined by houses, shops, bazaars and mosques. Since most streets are too narrow for cars, the town is crowded with bicycles and motorbikes. The seafront has wider streets and larger, more regularly placed buildings. The best-known feature of Zanzibari houses are the finely decorated wooden doors, with rich carvings and bas-reliefs, sometimes with big brass studs of Indian tradition. Two main types of doors can be distinguished: those of Indian style have rounded tops, while those in the Omani Arab style are rectangular with Arabic writings. According to Tom Middleton and Mark Horton, the architectural style of these stone houses have no Arab or Persian elements, and should be viewed as an entirely indigenous development of local vernacular architecture. While much of Zanzibar Town's architecture was rebuilt during Omani rule, nearby sites elucidate the general development of Swahili, and Zanzibari, architecture before the 15th century.

Upon arrival at Nakupenda Beach, you will have fresh tropical fruits to snack on, including bananas, watermelon, coconut, mango, pineapple, and a variety of cool, crisp refreshing beverages. You can then lay your towels down and relax in the Tanzanian sun under the shade of our ample tents we will set for you or you can splash around in the ocean. A delicious seafood buffet lunch will then be provided for you. Our beach picnic at Nakupenda isn't merely a meal - it's an entire journey through Zanzibar's culinary landscape. Fresh local fruits and beverages provide a refreshing reprieve from the Tanzanian sun, and a seafood buffet lunch follows, a tantalizing spread featuring lobster, calamari, octopus, squid, tuna fish, and prawns, among other delights. Following lunch, you will have some more time to enjoy beautiful Nakupenda Island and soak it all in - the crystal clear waters, the sun, sand, and views not forgetting snorkeling among Clown fish and Moorish Idols or simply take a walk around the sandbank to witness the birdlife.

Stone Town is punctuated with major historical buildings, several of which are found on the seafront; these include former palaces of the sultans, fortifications, churches, mosques, and other institutional buildings. Following are the most popular buildings in Stone Town; -

The House of Wonders (or "Palace of Wonders", also known as "Beit-al-Ajaib"), in located on the Mizingani Road along the Stone Town seafront, and is probably the most well-known landmarks of Stone Town. It was built in 1883 and restored after the Anglo-Zanzibar War of 1896. Formerly the Sultan's residence, it became the seat of the Afro-Shirazi Party after the revolution. It was the first building in Zanzibar to have electricity as well as the first building in East Africa to have an elevator. Since 2000, its interior has been dedicated to a museum on Swahili and Zanzibar culture. In December 2020, a large part of the building collapsed in a major accident.

The Old Fort ("Ngome Kongwe" in Swahili), adjacent to the Old Fort, is a heavy stone fortress that was built in the 16th to 17th century by the Omanis. Also known as the Omani fort it was built by the early rulers to protect the city from European invasions. It has a roughly square shape and the internal courtyard is now a cultural center with shops, workshops, and a small arena where live dance and music shows are held daily. The fort location is also used for the Zanzibar International Film Festival.

The Old Dispensary (or "Ithnashiri Dispensary") was built from 1887 to 1894 by a wealthy Indian trader, to serve as a charity hospital for the poor but was later used as a dispensary. It is one of the most finely decorated buildings of Stone Town, with large carved wooden balconies, stained-glass windows, and neo-classical stucco adornments. After falling into decay in the 1970s and 1980s, the building was accurately restored by the AKTC.

The Palace Museum (also known as the "Sultan's Palace", "Beit el-Sahel" in Arab) is another former sultan's palace, on the seafront, to the north of the House of Wonders. It was built in late 19th century and now hosts a museum about the daily life of the Zanzibari royal family, including items that belonged to Sayyida Salme, a former Zanzibar princess who fled to relocate in Europe with her husband.

The Anglican cathedral of Christ Church, on Mkunazini Road, was built at the end of the 19th century by Edward Steere, third bishop of Zanzibar. The cathedral was constructed in a large area at the center of Stone Town that previously hosted the biggest slave market of Zanzibar; the place was deliberately chosen to celebrate the end of slavery, and the altar was in the exact spot where the main whipping post of the market used to be. A monument to the slaves, as well as a museum on the history of slavery, are besides the church.

The Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Joseph was built by French missionaries between 1893 and 1897. The design of the church was based on that of the Marseille Cathedral, its façade, with two high spires, is one of the most well-known landmarks of Stone Town and can be seen from a distance when sailing into the harbor. The church is still operational today and holds regular mass on Sundays.

The Forodhani Gardens (Night Sea Food Markets) are a small park in the main sea walk of Stone Town, right in front of the Old Fort and the House of Wonders. The garden was recently restored for 3 million dollars by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. Every evening after sunset the gardens host a popular Swahili night sea food Market, tourist-oriented market selling grilled seafood and other Zanzibari recipes which attracts both tourists and locals.

Zanzibar Historical affiliations

• - Sultanate of Kilwa before 1503
• - Portuguese Empire 1503–1698
• - Sultanate of Oman 1698–1856
• - Sultanate of Zanzibar 1856–1890
• - British Empire 1890–1963
• - Republic of Zanzibar 1964
• - Tanzania 1964–present

Highlights

Explore Stone Town the UNESCO World Heritage Site with history since the 15th century is a maze of old buildings protected by brass-studded doors, with some streets not having changed for centuries. Buildings include the Arab Fort, the oldest building on Zanzibar, which was built after the Portuguese were expelled from the island in 1699. The building has had a variety of uses from a garrison and a prison to a railway terminal. These days it is the headquarters of the Zanzibar international film festival. Visit the slave market where the city's brutal history is unraveled. See where the East African slave trade flourished - a grim reminder of times past. Stop at the Sultan's Palace, now a museum, that was built in the 19th century for the sultan and his family, becoming a government building after the 1964 revolution and more like the Freddie Mercury museum his birth home. Enjoy some retail therapy in Zanzibar's bustling market and in the many gift shops stocked with souvenirs and handicrafts. Wander down winding alleys and the cities narrow streets, admiring the ornately carved and studded doors, the many mosques, and cathedrals, a testament to Zanzibar's diverse and colorful history. Your knowledgeable local guide will share tales of Stone Town in bygone days and can give you an insight into life in Zanzibar today.

Stone Town Tour Video Highlights