About Zanzibar

The story of an island paradise

The very mention of Zanzibar - the beautiful and historic spice island lying just off the coast of Tanzania - is enough to conjure up a multitude of mental images that are both exotic and striking. It is this emotional reaction that has caused this Indian Ocean island to become one of the world’s most sought-after holiday destinations.

LINK

Stepping back in time

The island’s history is indelibly stamped by hundreds of years of trade in spices - nutmeg, cinnamon and saffron to name-but-three - with itinerant merchants traveling by sailing ship from as far away as Europe, the Middle East and even China. It has been this commodity - one as valuable as gold in its time - that has driven and shaped the cultural flavors of the island.

LINK

Zanzibar’s architecture

Zanzibar’s architecture, language and religion are a reflection of both the island’s distant and recent past; with the passing dhows that constantly sail along the coastline and the murmurs of the fishermen drifting on the sea breeze, that past is seemingly not so distant.
The magical island has been likened to that of a time capsule, one that has been unopened by modern tourism. And now - courtesy of Kilindi Zanzibar - the opportunity has arisen to unlock all that is best of this wondrous destination.

LINK

Dotted across over 50 acres of lush tropical garden and blessed with a secluded powder-white sand beachfront extending over half a kilometre, Kilindi Zanzibar with its arched pavilion style villas overlooks an ocean that has witnessed the spice trade route for over 500 years.

Did you know these facts about Zanzibar?

• Zanzibar used to be the world's largest producer of cloves, and its history was heavily influenced by the this activity.

• Zanzibar is popularly known as the "spice islands.”

• Zanzibar is located about 30Km off the coast of mainland Tanzania in the Indian Ocean.

• Zanzibar is actually an archipelago with the two main Islands of Zanzibar (also known as Unguja, the larger one) and Pemba (the smaller of the two).

• Zanzibar was incorporated into the United Republic of Tanzania in 1964.

• Zanzibar, has its own democratically elected president and government that run the internal affairs of the Islands.

• Zanzibar's Stone Town has 50 mosques and four Hindu temples.

• The House of Wonders is one of the first buildings in East Africa to have electricity and Stone Town's oldest existing building.

• Zanzibar's oldest remaining building is the 11th century mosque at Kizimkazi .

• The name Swahili comes from the Arab word sawahil which means 'coast'.

• The rare Kirk's Red Colobus monkey is only found in Zanzibar, predominantly in Jozani Forest.

• The Shortest War in History was fought in Zanzibar in 1896. On 25 August, Sultan Hamid bin Thuwaini died, and two hours later, an usurper broke into the Palace and declared himself ruler. In a show of Victorian Gunboat Diplomacy, the Royal Navy was asked to evict him. At precisely 9 o' clock on the 27th, three warships opened fire and in 45 minutes reduced the Palace to rubble, and deposed the usurper. The bombardment has since been called the "Shortest War in History" as verified by the Guinness Book of Records.