Stone Town Budget Travel - Africa Natural Tours ( africanaturaltours.com )
Stone Town
Budget Travel:
Africa Natural Tours (For Kilimanjaro, Serengeti and
Zanzibar) Tanzania safari company in Moshi
Specialized
in: Wildlife safaris, Mountain climbing,
Cultural tourism and Beach holidays in East Africa
Contact
+255 653 679 958
Email: info@africanaturaltours.com
Website: www.africanaturaltours.com
Stone Town Budget Travel
Stone
Town is the charming capital city of
Zanzibar Island, the main island of the semi-autonomous Zanzibar
Archipelago lying off the coast of Tanzania. As the historical and cultural
heart of Zanzibar, Stone Town has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage
site. Stone Town plays an important historical and artistic role in East
Africa. Zanzibar is quite different from mainland Tanzania, because of its
blend of eastern, African and western influences. Even now the population
of Zanzibar Islands is largely Sunni Muslim, reflecting strong Arabic
influences in the local culture, architecture and the design of Stone Town.
Stone Town Location
The
Zanzibar Archipelago
consists of Zanzibar Island (locally known as Unguja), Pemba Island, and
numerous smaller islands. Stone Town is centrally located on the main Zanzibar Island, which are about
90km long and 30km wide. Situated more or less in the center of the west coast of Zanzibar Island, Stone Town
lies on the small headland of a peninsula along the Zanzibar
Channel. Stone Town is actually the old section of the larger Zanzibar City,
referred to as the "New City", which stretches into the interior of
Zanzibar Island.
Stone Town Attractions
As
the ancient Capital of Zanzibar Island, Stone Town's narrow streets house
numerous historical buildings and places of interest.
Stone Town Attractions include:
- Livingstone's House
- Peace Memorial Museum
- Old Dispensary (Stone Town Cultural Centre)
- The Palace Museum (Former Sultan's Palace)
- The House of Wonders, the Arab Fort & The Old Fort
- Forodhani Gardens & other gardens
- Anglican Cathedral & Catholic Cathedrals
- Shakhty Temple
- Meat, Fish and Fruit Markets
- Aga Khan and Malindi Mosques
- Maruhubi Palace Ruins
- Prison Island (Changuu Private Island)
- Hamamni Persian Baths
- Kilele Square
The
best way to experience the vibrant local cultures and old buildings (sometimes
crumbling) is to explore the winding alleys on foot.
When to go to Stone Town
Zanzibar
Island experiences ideal weather for beach holidays almost all year round,
boasting an average of around 8 hours of sunshine a day! Summers (peaking in
December) are hot with cooling sea breezes, especially along the northern and
eastern coastlines. The Zanzibar Islands lie near the equator,
resulting in a warm tropical and humid climate. The rainy season, called the
'long rains', is from March to May and sees frequent afternoon downpours, which
can be quite heavy. This wet and humid season is probably the least popular
time to visit Zanzibar; it only rains for a short time in the afternoon
however, so conditions are still pleasant enough for travel. The dry season is
from June to October, when clear skies and sunshine are the norm. This is the
best time to visit Zanzibar for beach holidays. There is another rainy season,
called the 'short rains', which lasts from November to December. As the name
suggests this rainy period experiences less frequent and lighter rainfall than
the long rainy season. Outside of the rainy season the average temperature is
around 28°C (82, 4°F), although temperatures do vary depending on the location
and altitude of where you stay.
History of Zanzibar's Stone Town
Stone
Town's unique blend of Arabic and African cultural influences originates from
the 19th century, when Zanzibar Island served as a major centre for the trade
of spices and slaves. During this period Zanzibar, also known as the 'Spice
Island', was the most important trading hub along the east coast of Africa. Stone
Town is named after the old houses built of local stone in the 1800's, by
Arabic traders and slaves. As the main port city of Zanzibar, Stone Town was also used as a base for
missionaries and explorers on their way into the interior of Africa, as well as
the slave traders. Several of the great European explorers, such as David
Livingstone and Richard Burton planned their trips into Africa from Stone Town.
In 1873 slave trading was abolished in an agreement between the British and
Omani Sultans ruling Zanzibar Islands. In 1963 Zanzibar gained independence
from Britain and in 1964 Zanzibar and Tanganyika joined to form Tanzania, with
Zanzibar becoming semi-autonomous. In 2000 Stone Town was declared a UNESCO
World Heritage Site due to the old architecture revealing the
diverse cultural heritage of Zanzibar, where Swahili, Moorish, Arabic, Persian,
Indian and European influences come together. View all trips to Stone Town
For
more information visit www.africanaturaltours.com
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