Situated on the western coast of Zanzibar’s Unguja Island, UNESCO-listed Stone Town is the oldest part of Zanzibar City and is the cultural heart of the island. The town’s photogenic winding alleys are fringed by grand historic buildings, bustling bazaars, a glorious sultan’s palace, and the intriguing House of Wonders - named as such for exhibiting running water and electricity as never before in 1883. Stone Town also boasts numerous sacred buildings - over fifty mosques, six Hindu Temples, a Catholic, and an Anglican Cathedral - all of which are beautiful in unique ways. Other highlights include sunset dhow cruises; spice tours to aromatic distilleries; and neighbouring Changuu Island, home to stunning sandy beaches, a historic prison, and dozens of giant, ancient tortoises.
Located only an hour's drive from Stone Town, near the village of Paje on the beautiful eastern coast of Zanzibar, the seaside resort town of Dongwe features endless white-sand beaches meeting crystal- clear azure waters. Travellers from around the globe flock to this little corner of paradise for the quintessential beach-island getaway. Dongwe is encircled by lush tropical vegetation with an offshore coral reef teeming with colourful tropical fish and an array of other marine life. It boasts a wide selection of wonderful fully-equipped beachside resorts. Visitors can look forward to a variety of activities including: swimming with wild dolphins, enjoying fascinating forest excursions, and sampling delicious local cuisine, which known for its variety of aromatic spices.
Sandwiched between tropical greenery and the warm azure waters of the Indian Ocean, remote Matemwe beach is arguably the most enchanting of all the beaches in Zanzibar. Located on the last stretch of sand before the beaches give way to rugged cliffs on the uninhabited north-east coast of the island, Matemwe offers an unspoiled natural landscape, perfect for a relaxing tropical beach holiday. With its lovely shallow lagoon and the coral gardens of the renowned Mnemba Atoll resting just off the coast, Matemwe boasts some of Africa’s most impressive diving and snorkelling sites where you can marvel at the abundance of exotic marine life including colourful reef fish, turtles and many species of dolphin. Above water, visitors can experience a local fishing trip on a traditional dhow, visit nearby markets and villages, or simply kick back under a palm tree and unwind, far from the stresses of the modern world.
