Why are beach vacations in Zanzibar so wonderful? Imagine a group of pastel-colored islands off the coast of Tanzania. These islands have soft-sand beaches, some of the best diving in the world, and the magical feel of a world that moves to the beat of its own island rhythms. This is the spell that Zanzibar puts on its lucky visitors.

You can dream away the days under these moving palms, or you can learn about the ancient cultures that are still alive and well on this unique island chain. Zanzibar is still a major source of good spices for most of the world. It was once known as the “Spice Islands” because it had a lot of clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and black pepper.

People who visit these beautiful islands love to take it easy on the beaches and then go explore the fishing towns that line the coast. This paradise in the Indian Ocean may be appealing to many because it has beautiful beaches, interesting local cultures, and the smell of old things.

The Big Island

A lot of people only think of Zanzibar’s biggest island, Zanzibar Island, or Unguja in its native language. This is the heart of history, business, and culture in Zanzibar. It is also home to many of the beautiful beaches in the island group. The swimming and diving are great here, and the coral gardens off the coast are a great place to see a lot of different sea life.

Bigger fish like tuna, barracuda, manta rays, dolphins, and even sharks can be found along with colors of tropical fish. Also keep an eye out for sea turtles.

When you go inland, you should check out Zanzibar City, which was founded by the Sultan of Muscat in 1824 and is a traditional East African hub. It has a long and interesting history, including a sad time when it was involved in the slave trade in the 1800s.

Stone Town

This historic area is an interesting maze of narrow streets that are alive with the architecture and food of Arab, African, Indian, and European cultures.

The Palace Museum, which was built for the sultan’s family, is a dramatic reminder of Stone Town’s past. It’s a group of buildings on the water that have furniture, art, and even the tombs of some of the area’s sultans.

Don’t miss the Old Fort, a fortress made by Arabs who came to take over 300 years ago and has a view of the ocean. The fort was later turned into a jail. These days, it’s an open-air amphitheater and a gallery for cultural arts where local artists show off their work.

The ornate Old Dispensary is one of the most beautiful buildings in Stone Town. The building’s pastel green latticework staircases make you want to look more closely, and you can walk around inside and through the bright courtyard.

A group of beautiful wildlife parks

More pleasant treats await you on Zanzibar Island, where you can walk on nature trails and get up close to animals that are in danger of going extinct.

You can find a forest full of lush plants and lots of trees at Jozani-Chwaka National Park. Along these paths, you might see a Zanzibar red colobus monkey, bush babies, duikers, and a lot of different kinds of birds.

Anyone who doesn’t likes seeing turtles in their natural environment should. Go to the lighthouse on the island and you’ll find the Mnarani Marine Turtle Conservation Pond. There are many kinds of turtles, including baby turtles, that are safe at this refuge in a tidal pool.

Join the people who live here in February as they help hundreds of turtle hatchlings cross the beach and go out to sea.

Even more islands to see

You might be most interested in the Pemba and Mafia Islands, which are close by. The Zanzibar Archipelago is made up of many more islands.

Pemba is called the “Green Island” because it is greener and has more hills. Here, you’ll find beautiful little beaches that are close to lagoons and mangroves. But the best thing about the area is the chance to go world-class diving in warm waters full of lively sea life. Pemba is only a 40-minute flight from Dar es Salaam and is still making spices, mostly cloves.

Mafia Island doesn’t get many tourists, and the reefs in Chole Bay are great for diving. You might see whale sharks and sea turtles. Swim, snorkel, kayak, and go on short boat rides to get to remote areas. Most people go to Zanzibar, but Mafia Island is a great place to spend the holiday.

Don’t miss these museums and other sights in Zanzibar.

Museum of Princess Salme –

Do you like stories about love? This cute museum in Zanzibar Town tells the story of Princess Salme, who was the daughter of a sultan. In her book Memoirs of an Arabian Princess from Zanzibar, she wrote about her dramatic runaway with a German dealer in the 1800s.

The Freddie Mercury Museum

Yes, the first museum ever to honor the late pop star is right in the middle of Stone Town. This is where Mercury was born and where he grew up. You can see pictures, newspaper pieces, and the piano that the rock star learned to play.

The House of Wonders —

This fancy building, which was built by a sultan in the 1800s, showed off one of the most amazing things of the time: electricity and electric lights.