Seeking the SPICE OF LIFE

Zanzibar is an exotic but accessible gateway to a different world that will change your perspective on travel

It will take about three days before it hits you: there is an Africa beyond the safari. It lies not in the big cities – Cape Town, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam – though those cities have their charm. A little-known Africa lives on an island off the coast of Tanzania, a part of that East African country but a world apart. The Spice Island of Zanzibar is a well-kept secret.

Often overlooked in the mad rush to hit safari parks on mainland Africa, Zanzibar merits a standing of its own as a destination offering up a unique cultural mix and a strong culture of hospitality. For those who know, the name throws up the promise of beautiful beaches, coral reefs, the clear waters of the Indian Ocean, and the warmth of the people. The archipelago was once one of the great trading centres of East Africa, a gateway for international travellers foraying to and fro between Arabia, India and Africa. The resultant fusion of diverse cultures is at the heart of many experiences that the island offers.

Much of this cultural mix can be felt when you walk through Stone Town, Zanzibar City’s old quarter, and a place of significant historical importance. The World Heritage site was once the capital of the Zanzibar Sultanate and the centre of a flourishing spice trade. Its maze of winding streets and bustling bazaars cocoons a fascinating mix of buildings: houses of coral and stone protected by imposing Zanzibar doors carved with Quranic script, Arab houses with whitewashed walls, and the beautifully-carved balconies on Indian houses that open out onto courtyards. The Old Fort, the former palaces of Arab sultans, and the mansions that used to belong to Persian merchants also offer glimpses into a grand past.