STEVE McKENNA is immersed in the exotic delights of Zanzibar…
The world’s first Freddie Mercury museum is on an African island; Lisa Cohen; CNN
Many people still don’t know Queen frontman Freddie Mercury was born in Zanzibar. This museum hopes to put the island on the rock history map.
Source: The world’s first Freddie Mercury museum is on an African island
11 Stunning Photos of Zanzibar’s Beaches and Architecture; Megan Spurrell; CN Traveler
A new book from Assouline celebrates the Tanzanian archipelago.
Source: 11 Stunning Photos of Zanzibar’s Beaches and Architecture
10 Reasons Zanzibar Needs To Be Your Next Exotic Vacation Destination; Chelsie Evans; World Atlas
Zanzibar is an archipelago nation off the East African Coast, consisting of four main islands. Here are ten reasons Zanzibar needs to be the next destination on your travel bucket list itinerary.
Source: 10 Reasons Zanzibar Needs To Be Your Next Exotic Vacation Destination
Zanzibar House of Wonders Set For Restoration Under UNESCO Guidelines; Guardian
THE government of Zanzibar has secured funding for the restoration of the historical Beit-al-Ajaib (House of Wonders) building which is amongst top tourist attractions in the Isles.
The Design Lover’s Guide to Zanzibar; Isis Briones; Architectural Digest
Whether you’re visiting for the beautiful architecture or natural scenery, you’ll find plenty of excellent places to stay, eat, drink, sightsee, and shop…
Stone Town – An Inside Guide to Africa’s Most Beautiful Town; Africa Freak
Get inside Stone Town with the complete guide to Africa’s most beautiful town, including where to go, what to see, and why you need to visit Stone Town now.
Source: Stone Town – An Inside Guide to Africa’s Most Beautiful Town
Sun, stones and Zanzibar; Chandana Ghosg; Hindu Business Line
Life is both slow and busy on this archipelago in the Indian Ocean…
Source: Sun, stones and Zanzibar
These 18 Hotels Feature Breathtaking Views of UNESCO World Heritage Sites; Keith Flanagan; Architectural Digest
Many hotels cluster around these stunning destinations, but a select legion are close enough to capture them…
Source: These 18 Hotels Feature Breathtaking Views of UNESCO World Heritage Sites | Architectural Digest
Will tourism save or destroy Zanzibar?; Vibeke Quaade; The East African
The extra pressure from increasing visitor numbers on resources is a significant threat.
Tour the Darajani Market in Zanzibar, Tanzania; Mary Winston Nicklin; USA Today
Tour Tanzania’s vibrant Darajani Market
“Look out!” chef Wollman pulls me out of the way as a cart, laden with watermelon, careens down the narrow stone lane. The sun burns high in the sky; Hindi music and Taarab tunes stream from shop windows; the air is heavy with humidity and the scent of cloves and frangipani flowers.
We’re heading to the Darajani Market at the edge of Stone Town, an ancient maze of alleyways and fine merchant houses that’s classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Zanzibar ignites imaginations around the world. And beyond the perfect powdery beaches and turquoise water straight out of Eden, the “Spice Island,” as it’s known, cooks up some of the most exciting cuisine on the planet. Anchored off the east coast of Africa, Zanzibar’s proximity to India and the Arabian peninsula secured the island’s status at the historic center of maritime trade routes. Over the centuries, the distinct Swahili culture that developed here has resulted in a simmering exchange of recipes between Persia, Portugal, Africa, India, Oman and Britain.
The market is a chaotic collision of these cultures.
The 21 Best Things to do in Stone Town, Zanzibar, including 9 that are free!; Stephanie Parker; Big World Small Pockets
** Spoiler Alert ** Stone Town in Zanzibar is one of my favourite places on earth.
Sorry I can’t help it, but I’m in love!
That means this post is going to involve me repeatedly telling you how totally amazing the whole city is and going on and on about all the incredible things to do there!
But stick with me, because it’s going to be worth it.
Trust me, almost any visit to Stone Town will be the start of a love affair for you too.
For me it’s a love affair that began as soon as I stepped off the ferry from Dar Es Salaam, and that I’ve been unable to shake off ever since.
Tanzania’s Zanzibar to refurbish historical building to boost tourism; Xuaxia; Xinhua
ARUSHA, Tanzania, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) — Tanzania’s semi-autonomous archipelago of Zanzibar is set to refurbish the largest and tallest building in its world heritage site stone town to woo tourists.
Issa Haji Ussi, Minister of State, President Office and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council of Zanzibar, told Xinhua on Sunday that the move is one of the strategies aimed at boosting the number of tourists from the current 400,000 to 500,000 in the next three years.
“We’re looking for funds and Oman Government has agreed to support us in refurbishing the Palace of Wonders building located at the stone town of Zanzibar,” the official said, without divulging the total cost of the project.
“Currently, the building houses the Museum of History and Culture of Zanzibar and the Swahili Coast,” the minister said, revealing that the building is dilapidated and needs urgent refurbishment.
Marriott and Pennyroyal Gibraltar to open Zanzibar’s first Ritz-Carlton in 2021; Hotel Management
Marriott International has signed an agreement with Pennyroyal Gibraltar to debut The Ritz-Carlton brand in the Zanzibar Archipelago. Slated to open in 2021, the 90-room all-suite and villa Ritz-Carlton, Zanzibar resort is near Zanzibar International Airport and the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Stone Town.
“The Archipelago has the potential to strengthen its position as a key leisure destination in the Indian Ocean and to effectively compete with the more established islands of Mauritius, Seychelles and Maldives,” Alex Kyriakidis, president and MD, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International said in a statement.
The hotel will be part of the Amber Resort complex, expected to be the largest mixed-use development in Africa. It occupies approximately 4,324 acres of Indian Ocean coastline in the north east of the island.
Best of Zanzibar: What to do, top beaches and more; Jen Welch; The Journal
I’ll tell you a secret: when I was younger I used to think that Zanzibar was a made-up place. It sounds so exotic, I thought it came straight out of a fantasy novel or children’s storybook or something! How embarrassing. But what joy it brought me to learn as an adult that it was real, and that after I had climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, its beaches would make a perfect place to rest my weary limbs.
After the life-changing trek up Africa’s highest peak, I had three weeks until my flight home. Once I had recuperated, I envisaged moving on from Zanzibar and exploring more of east Africa. However, as usual, my travels didn’t go to plan. I fell head-over-heels with this otherworldly island.
In pictures: Saving Zanzibar’s heritage; BBC News
Situated off the coast of Tanzania, the island of Zanzibar features many examples of Swahili architecture.
However, after years of neglect, many of the buildings are crumbling.
Now, a small group of local artisans is fighting to bring back the traditional skills and knowledge needed to preserve these buildings.
Stone Town, the historical part of Zanzibar’s capital, was listed as a cultural World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) in 2000.
However, its buildings have been affected by a growing population, increased traffic and the tropical climate of the island.
The use of concrete for repairs, instead of traditional sand and lime mortar, has exacerbated the decline of many buildings such as the palace of Mtoni.
