Question 1

How do I get to Zanzibar City?

Accepted Answer

Zanzibar Airport is served multiple times daily from Dar es Salaam and other Tanzanian cities. Alternatively, fast ferries run from Dar es Salaam, completing the crossing in about two hours.

Question 2

Why is Stone Town a UNESCO World Heritage site?

Accepted Answer

The historic old town combines Arab, Indian, European and African architectural elements in a tight maze of alleys with elaborately carved wooden doors, and was declared a World Heritage Site in 2000 for its unique Swahili coastal trading architecture.

Question 3

Why is Zanzibar called the spice island?

Accepted Answer

In the 19th century, Zanzibar was the world's largest producer of cloves, and guided spice farm tours around the city still show the cultivation of vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and pepper up close.

Question 4

What commemorates Zanzibar's historic slave market?

Accepted Answer

On the site of what was once East Africa's largest slave market now stands the Anglican Christ Church Cathedral, whose museum and original underground chambers serve as a poignant reminder of this dark chapter of history.

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