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
Discover
the rich history of exotic Zanzibar as you explore the winding alleys of
ancient Stone Town.
About Stone Town
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 blends of Arabic and African cultural influences originate 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
Google Map of Stone Town
Use
the Google map to explore Stone Town. Feel free to print the Street Map when you're ready.
For
more information visit www.africanaturaltours.com
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