Overview

When the famed missionary explorer Dr. David Livingstone was preparing for his final trip into the heart of Africa, he lived in Zanzibar -- and as you walk through Stone Town, with its labyrinthine alleys, bazaars, and venerable Arab houses, you have the feeling little has changed in more than a century.

Zanzibar, known locally as Unguja, is only about 50 miles long, and you could see this legendary "Spice Island" at a blur in just a day. But you'd miss much of Zanzibar itself: the fishing villages, like Ras Nungwi at the northern tip, where generations of boatbuilders have hand-crafted dhows to sail these waters ... the spice plantations whose clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg created vast wealth for the Sultans of Oman ... the ruins of the sultan's once-lavish palaces ... the Jozani Forest, a preserve for the rare red colobus monkey ... and the miles upon miles of uncrowded, white-sand beaches along the East Coast, where only a handful of resorts have risen amid quiet villages and impromptu soccer matches on the sand in the late afternoon are the highlight of the day.

In short, Zanzibar is a place to explore on slow time, to tour by bicycle, to get familiar with the sounds of Swahili and the long, colorful history of East Africa.

 Plan Your Trip

BEACHES

It's not hard to find the perfect beach on Zanzibar: nearly the entire eastern coast is lined with palm-fringed strands set against the turquoise Indian Ocean. There are some resorts here, but farther north, at Matemwe, the sand and sea are the same, and quiet villages serve as the backdrop.

DIVING

Mnemba Atoll, off the East Coast of is a full-service reef: coral gardens and wall dives. The coral gardens on the west side of the atoll are home to abundant tropical fish and turtles. On the other side of the atoll, the Big Wall is a coral-laden drop-off at about 90 feet for experienced divers; keep those eyes peeled for reef sharks and, during September, whale sharks.

SIGHTSEEING

Start at the market, where you can shop for produce and spices -- and the vividly colored wraparounds known as khangas. Then wander through the streets of Stone Town, taking note of the intricately carved, brass-studded doors on the grand Arab houses. Make your way to the Palace Museum; built in the 19th century for a sultan's family later served as the official residence of the Sultan of Zanzibar and now is a showcase of the history of those spice kings.

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