About Zanzibar, Tanzania

The island of Zanzibar, the ornate and mysterious jewel of the Indian Ocean, was once the eastern gateway to Africa. It lies twenty-two miles off the Tanzanian coast, and it is no accident that the explorers Livingstone and Burton had homes here. Its lush forests and cloistered Arabic alleyways are indicative of all the esoteric wonders awaiting in the continent beyond.

The island has long been a meeting a place of the world. Once the center of the slave and ivory trade, Zanzibar welcomed into its harbour ships loaded with goods from India and the Far East as well as Europe and America. An Indian bazaar still operates on the island today, as well as the world’s largest clove market.

The Omani Arabs who once ruled the island left behind white-washed architectural delights that are in great condition. Among them are the Sultan’s Palace, the Arab fort, and the Beit el Ajaib (House of Wonders), which is Zanzibar’s tallest building. Visitors often remark that a journey to Zanzibar is like going back in time--the atmosphere is that of the age of colonialism and exploration, and the haunting ruins of the slave market are a pointed reminder of the era’s exploitative extremes. The slaves would be driven here from the interior of the continent, sometimes over 1,000 miles. On some days, hawkers would sell away as many as 600 lives.