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Zanzibar Island
Zanzibar is an archipelago located in
the Indian Ocean consisting of two main
islands Unguja (known as Zanzibar
internationally) and Pemba (also known by
its Arabic name Al Khundra meaning Green
Island) along with several smaller islets.
Located roughly 6°
south of the equator, and 20-50km off the
Tanzanian mainland, Zanzibar is world
renowned for its pristine white sand
beaches, beautiful world heritage site
capital, seaweed and spice production,
tropical climate and colourful history.
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General Information
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Time Zone –
GMT + 3 |
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Currency –
Tanzanian Shilling (please see a
reputable beau de change for
exchange rates)
>> click here for a currency
converter |
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Official
languages - Kiswahili and
English |
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Religion -
95% Islam followed by Hinduism and
Christianity (please be sensitive to
this by covering shoulders and knees
whilst in Stonetown. Standard
swimwear on the beach is fine but
topless is discouraged). |
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Electricity
– 200-240 V AC, 50 Hz (British three
pronged plug sockets) |
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Driving – a
valid international drivers licence
is required to drive or heir a car
on Zanzibar. Alternatively you may
use your national driving licence in
conjunction with a month long permit
which you pay for at a local police
station. |
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International
dialling code - +255 (then drop
the first 0 then the local number) |
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Weather -
Tropical. The kasikazi winds are
from the north and occur in October
and November bringing short rains.
The long rains, known as mwaka,
arrive in March and last until late
May or June. Annual average
temperature is 26C but it will feel
a great deal warmer in the summer
and winter months. |
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Visa
requirements – All visitors
require a passport that is valid for
the duration of their stay. Tourist
visas may be obtained upon arrival
at Zanzibar International Airport
(be sure to carry 50$ for this
purpose and be advised that the
international departure tax is 30$). Not all nationalities
require a visa to enter the country
so check with the Tanzanian embassy,
consulate of high commission.
Residency visas for foreign
nationals are acquired through ZIPA.
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History and
Politics
Although lacking in natural products
of value (the island is only 2,000
km2) Zanzibar’s strategic location
ensured it enjoyed, and endured, a
fruitful trading role linking East
Africa to the Arab and European
world. By the 7th century AD Arab
and Persian populations (trading
with their home lands) had
integrated with the local Bantu
people to form a society and
language known as Kiswahili (thought
to be named from the Arabic word
sahil meaning coast). Swahili is now
spoken in many parts of East Africa
yet only Zanzibar can claim its
origins.
By the 15th century Zanzibar, along
with the rest of the East African
coast, was a Portuguese stronghold –
a reign that lasted around 200
years. Although the Augustan mission
to convert the Island to Roman
Catholicism was largely unsuccessful
there are still Portuguese echoes in
contemporary Zanzibar – such as
bullfights on Pemba, words left in
Swahili that originated from
Portuguese, and the patterns of the
kanga (ubiquitous local cloth) that
are said to have originated from
Portuguese handkerchiefs.
 In 1698, Zanzibar fell under the
control of the Sultan of Oman, which
developed an economy of trade and
cash crops with the rulling Arab
elites. Plantations were developed
to grow spices thus bestowing
Zanzibar its Spice Islands name.
Ivory and Slave trade also featured
heavily in Zanzibar economics – the
later of which ignited the interest
of the last outside ruining power,
the British, in the 18th century in
their qust to abolish the practice.
The two powers formed an uneasy
allience of true and puppet power
which witnessed the guiness book of
records shortest war in history (38
minutes) when the Royal Navy
destroyed the Beit-al-Hukum palace.
The island gained independence from
the British in December 1963 as a
consitutional monarchy. Following a
bloody Zanzibar revolution (in which
thousands or Arabs and Indains were
killed and many more expelled) and a
brief stitnt as an independent
republic Zanzibar and Pember joined
with the former colony of Tanganyika
to form the United Republic of
Tanzania in April of 1964.
 Although officially part of Tanzania
politically Zanzibar still rules
itself as a semi-autonamous state.
In recent times (since the early
1990’s) the Island has been
dominated by two political parties,
the Civic United Front (CUF) and the
Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). The close
party rivalry has often concluded in
bitter clashes – both in the
political arena and on the streets.
The height of this tension was
perhaps reached in January of 2001
when 35 were killed and a further
600 injured after the government
shot into a crowd of protestors.
Differences between have by no means
been laid aside and as late as April
2008 confrontations (non-violent)
have erupted
At present the Revolutionary Council
and House of Representatives (50
seats elected by universal suffrage)
is resided over by President Amani
Abeid Karume and his chief minister
Shansi Vaui Nohodha. The next
general election, in October 2010,
will herald in a new president, from
the same party or from the
opposition, as Amani Karume is no
longer eligible to run due to
longevity of service (each service
is five years).
Infrastructure and Economics
Tourism, although still in its
infant stage (lest then 100,000
tourists visited Zanzibar annually
on average), is fast becoming a
staple in the islands economy and
the main foreign exchange earner.
Through greatly eclipsed by
Indonesia (also known as the spice
island) Zanzibar is still the
world’s third ranked producer of
cloves (7%) and spices. Other
traditional sources of income
include fishing, boat production and
seaweed farming - the later of which
one should be careful not to disturb
when out swimming, snorkelling or,
in low tide, walking as it can be
hard to determine what is natural
and what is farmed seaweed.
 Road transport on Zanzibar has
vastly improved in recent times with
85% of the islands 1,600km of roads
now with a tarmac surface. Sea
transport has also witnessed an
expansion of late resulting in the
strong links to ports such as Dar es
Salaam, Pemba, Tanga, Mtwara and
Mombasa. Access to Zanzibar by air
is not a problem as Pemba and
Zanzibar island are furnished with
their own aiports. Bar from Italian
charted plans, however, the majority
of international flights still have
to stop of in Kenya or Tanzania on
route to Zanzibar due to the
unsuitability of the runway to
accommodate large jets. This is a
situation that the Zanzibar Touirst
Commission are in the throws of
resolving.
The education system in Zanzibar is
slightly different than that of the
Tanzanian mainland as compulsory
education is from Standard One to
Form Two, while on the mainland it
is from Standard One to Seven. The
national examination of Tanzania is,
however, shared by both mainland and
Zanzibar during O. Level education.
Unfortunatley fewer students from
Zanzibar pass the exam than students
from the mainland. For higher
education the State University of
Zanzibar (SUZA), formally the
Institue of Kiswahili and Foreign
Language (TAKILUKI) is available.
Zanzibar’s energy comes from
electricity, petroleum (and related
products) coal, wood and kerosene.
The islands mains electric, 70% or
which comes from mainland Tanzania,
can be temperamental with power cuts
lasting up to a month (May 19th –
June 20th 2008) so back up
generators are advisable. The public
telecommunications company (TTCL),
however, is far more reliable and,
coupled with the islands mobile
networks, domestic and international
calls along with internet
connections are not a problem.
The Island
 Zanzibar town, and the world
heritage quarter known as Stowntown
in particular, is a wonderful
amalgamation of architectural
influences and cultural footprints
that creates a truly unique
atmosphere and experience. Famous
for it’s formidable carved Zanzibar
doors, narrow alleyways, bustling
markets, cathedrals and abundant
mosques Stonetown is a great place
to simply wonder around on your own.
Safe during the day and compact you
will have difficulty getting lost as
most alleyways will eventually lead
you to a known monument or main
road. It is a pleasant way to engage
with the local culture and explore
the towns many shops, architectural
sites of interest and markets.
Alternatively, with plenty to see
and do (Arab Fort, House of Wonders,
Hammani Persian Baths, Old
Dispensary, Dr Livingston’s House
etc), guides are available if you
are on a tight schedule, or simply
prefer a more structure approach.
Tours are also available to the
small islets such as Chumbe,
Chapwani, Bawe and Prison Island
that lay just off the West of
Stonetown for snorkelling or lunch.
Most facilities - banks, beau de
change, internet cafes, post office,
travel agents, police stations,
supermarkets, hospitals, restaurants
and bars etc are available in the
capital (to a degree) but are scarce
on the rest of the Island. Should
you have any serious problems the
highly developed port of Dar-es-Salaam
is a short flight or boat ride away
(at a reasonable expense).
 For the best beaches on the Island
one has to move away from Stowntown,
and the west, and head either to the
east or to the north of Zanzibar.
The unspoilt north coast ends at Ras
Nungwi (Ras meaning tip) a sleepy
fishing village on the northern edge
of Zanzibar Island. Nungwi is the
dhow building capital of Zanzibar
and one can witness the traditional
methods of dhow construction in
action. This area of Zanzibar has
some fantastic beaches and nearby
coral reefs which are ideal for
diving and snorkelling. The north
coast boast some of the largest and
internationally aware hotels/resorts
with many guests taking advantage of
all inclusive packages to relax in
the sun and enjoy the scenery for
two weeks. Nungwi also hosts the
infamous ‘full moon parties’ in high
season – which are certainly worth a
visit for those not of the faint
hearted.
 The East coast stretches from
Michamvi in the north to Kizimikazi
in the south and has the largest
number of pristine white sand
beaches on the Island. Along the
cost diving, snorkelling, kite
surfing, sailing and other water
sports facilities are available to
take full advantage of the natural
playground. Alternatively, for those
wishing simply to relax, there are a
number of Spa’s along the beach
should you whish to break up your
days of lying in the white sand and
swimming in the turquoise sea.
For nature lovers there is the Zala
Park, Jozni Forest (home to the
indigenous Red Colobus Monkey) and
bottle-nosed dolphins on this side
of the island.
Accommodation ranges from large
resorts through to small guesthouses
of self-catering villas. Paje, which
sports its own large stretch of
unspoilt beach, acts as an
unofficial centre to the south east
due to its strategic location with
Bwejuu, Dongwe and Michamvi to the
north and Jambiani, Macunduchi and
Kizimikazi to the south.
 Pemba is Zanzibar's sister island.
Despite many years of isolation from
the outside world, Pemba is
receiving a small but growing number
of foreign visitors. The
infrastructure if far more
rudimentary than on Unguja, and
there are significantly fewer
tourists. Beautiful beaches, natural
forests and outstanding diving are
just some of the attractions on
offer. Misali island, off Pemba's
east coast, is idyllic and excellent
for diving. For remote beauty and a
sense of exotic wilderness Pemba is
unforgettable.
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