Sitting in the clear blue waters of the Indian Ocean is Zanzibar, a tropical paradise, with swathes of long white sand and flanked by tall, skinny, palm trees. Part of the Zanzibar archipelago, the island is found just 22 miles from mainland Tanzania. Today it is considered as a honeymoon paradise, however, visitors will find vestiges of both Arabic and Portuguese colonialism (the island was Portuguese until 1698 when it was seized by the Sultanate of Oman), amid the picture perfect landscape.
There is much more to Zanzibar than meets the eye. With just one step off the ship, you are already breathing the heady scents of nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla and cloves. It was once a trading hotspot on the trading route from Arabia to Africa. At the time, the island enjoyed an influx of wealth with spices being traded at astronomical prices. The influences of the various colonies are reflected in the main city’s architecture.
Despite the sensual smells and beautiful beaches, Zanzibar has the vestiges of sinister history. The island was once a capital for the slave trade in the 19th century, with an estimated 50,000 slaves passing through the Zanzibar slave market each year. The epicentre for trade was in the Market Square, in the heart of Stone Town, a melting pot of Arabic, African and European history. Today is one of the world’s most popular UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
