Zanzibar, an island about 20 miles off the coast, has a long colorful history. It was an important part of the Arab slave trade, and also was, and is, a major source of the world’s spices. It joined Tanganyika in 1964 to form Tanzania. The Arabic influence predominates there, with many mosques. Many women are veiled. The main city is called Stonetown, and consists of narrow streets between stone buildings.
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A typical Stonetown street
The street’s are solid blocks of stone.
The street’s are solid blocks of stone.
Every building has its own ornate doorway, indicating the status or skill of the owner
A hodgepodge of electrical wires, reminiscent of a similar tangle we photographed in India
The slave trade was outlawed here around 1860, but actually lasted much long. Slaves. were hidden in this cave
A spice tour. We sample ginger, cloves, cinnamon, coriander, saffron, peppercorn coffee chocolate bean and more
Some spice beans. Zanzibar is said to supply the majority of the world’s cloves.
Sreets widen out at the edge of Stonetown. This man has sugarcane for sale
Fishing is also an important livelihood on the island
An exotic flower. The island has lush tropical vegetation
A colorful market, stuffed with fruits and spices
The original fortification, built by the Portuguese 500 years
Many of these boats are built like the dhows of the Arabs
One of the city’s large churches. they are outnumbered by mosques
Beautiful beaches with warm water and great snorkeling are today the island’s biggest attraction
