Stone Town is a typical example of the beautiful Swahili coastal Towns of the East African region. This Town preserves its magnificent urban setting as well as townscape practically flawless and has numerous beautiful buildings that are a mirror of its exceptional culture that has harmonized and homogenized differing elements of African, European, Indian and Arabic culture for more than a millennium.
Location of Stone Town.
Stone Town is situated on the headland protruding from the western Coast of Unguja Island (the main and largest Island of the Zanzibar Archipelago) into the Indian Ocean. It is the former capital of the Sultanate of Zanzibar in addition to being the vibrant center of the spice trade and slave trade during the 19th Century. It also maintained its significance as Zanzibar’s main City during the time of the British Protectorate.
When Zanzibar and Tanganyika combined to form the United Republic of Tanzania, the former maintained its semi-autonomous status and Stone Town became its local Government Headquarters.
Size of Stone Town.
Stone Town is a small City extending for only 96 hectares. Also known as “old Town” or “Mji Mkongwe” in Swahili, it is the oldest part of the City of Zanzibar.
History of Stone Town.
Stone Town is a City of popular historical and artistic significance within the East African region with majority of its architecture dating back to the 19th Century to reflect the cultural diversity and their effects on the traditional Swahili culture. You will be amazed by how the exceptional blend of Persian, Arab, European and Indian elements have not affected the original and authentic Swahili culture.
It is for this reason that Stone Town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, making it a popular tourist destination in Tanzania and East Africa in general.
Spectacular tourist attractions in Stone Town.
Stone Town is dotted with magnificent historical buildings, many of which are set along the seafront and they include important institutional buildings, monuments, former Palaces of Sultans, churches, Museums, mosques and many others dating from the 18th to 19th Centuries. These include:
The Old Dispensary.
The Old dispensary was constructed by a rich and influential Indian Trader for 7 years-from 1887 to 1894 to function as a charity hospital for the less privileged but was later turned into a dispensary. This historical building is one of the most beautifully ornamented buildings in Stone Town with extensively carved wooden balconies and stained glass windows among others. The Old dispensary became dilapidated between the 1970s and 1980s but was restored by “Aga Khan for Trust of Culture” (AKTC).
Hamamni Persian Baths.
The Hamamni Persian Baths were set up between 1870 and 1888, making them the first public baths within Zanzibar City but were not utilized until 1920. “Hamamni” is a Swahili name for “place of baths” and the Persian term was added because it was constructed by Shirazi architects.
Old Fort.
Also known as the Omani Fort, the stunning Old Fort is adjacent to the House of Wonders and is marked by a heavy stone fortress constructed by the Omanis during the 17th Century. It was set up by the early rulers to shield Stone town from European invaders.
It is characterized by a ruggedly square shape in addition to its internal courtyard being used as a cultural center with workshops and shops as well as an arena where live music and dance shows are conducted. Important events such as the Zanzibar International Film Festival are sometimes held from the Fort location.
Anglican Cathedral of Christ Church.
The Anglican Cathedral of Christ Church was constructed by Edward Steere (3rd Bishop of Zanzibar) during the end of the 19th Century and is found along Mkunazini Road. The original plan of being built was to celebrate the end of slave trade in East Africa since it sits on an extensive area at the heart of Stone Town, at the exact area where whipping of slaves was done. Just besides the church building you will see a Slavery monument as well as a Museum to showcase Slavery history.
Forodhani Gardens.
Forodhani Garden is a small Park set within the main sea walk of Stone Town, on the Coast of the Indian Ocean and recently received facelift with $3 million funding from the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC). Visitors to this site are treated to delicious Zanzibar recipes and street foods in the evenings.
House of Wonders.
Also known as the “Palace of Wonders” or “Beit-al-Ajaib”, the House of Wonders building is set along Mizingani road on the seafront of Stone Town. This is another popular historical building in the Town, constructed in 1883 and renovated after the 1896 Anglo-Zanzibar War.
This building used to be one of the Sultan’s residencies before being turned into the seat of Afro-Shirazi Party following the revolution. One fact that makes the House of Wonders stand out is the fact that it was the first building to have electricity or elevator in Zanzibar and East African in general. The beautiful interior of this building was turned into a Swahili Museum since 2000.
Malindi Mosque.
The Malindi Mosque is one of the three oldest Mosques within Stone Town and showcases cone-shaped minarets that sit on square platforms.
Palace Museum.
The Palace Museum is also referred as the “Sultan’s Palace” or “Beit-el-Sahel (in Arab) and is also significant for being a former Palace of Zanzibar’s Sultan. This building was constructed in the late 19th Century and is set along the seafront, to the north of the House of Wonders.
This building now features a Museum that showcases the unique daily life of typical Zanzibari Royal family and during your visits you will see some of the items owned by Sayyida Salme-former princess of Zanzibar who moved to Europe with her spouse.
Other excellent places to visit in Stone Town are Darajani Bazaar.
Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Joseph.
The Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Joseph was put up by French Missionaries between 1893 and 1897, and its exceptional design was copied from the Marseille cathedral design. It features two towering spires, making it one of the most outstanding historical buildings in Stone Town. Interestingly, this Roman Catholic Cathedral is still functional to date with Sunday masses still held.
BREATHTAKING TOURIST ACTIVITIES WITHIN STONE TOWN.
Spice tours.
Spice tours are one of the most popular tourist activities of Stone Town and involve exploring active spice plantations and even taste them while in their natural environments. You will learn about different spices and how they are used to prepare mouth-watering meals.
Shopping.
You can just decide to go shopping during your visit to Stone Town with many options of getting colorful Kikoi and Kanga, beautiful jewelry, African sandals, durable and beautiful handmade leather bags, wooden carvings, nice rugs, woven baskets, throw-on and wall hangings, among others. You can also choose to shop for different spices and natural beauty products.
Guided walks on Stone Town streets.
There is no better way to discover the hidden beauty of Stone Town than undertaking walks in the company of local guides. These walks introduce visitors to the hidden treasures, rich history and unknown sights of Stone Town.
Culinary tours.
A typical Stone Town tour involves taking part in culinary tours and an evening visit to Forodhani Gardens would offer so much food and fun. Try some of the Zanzibar pizzas, barbequed seafood, crisp samosas and coconut curries among others.
BEST TIME TO VISIT STONE TOWN.
Stone town tours are conducted all year around but the dry season-June to October and December to February are the peak seasons for beach tourism in Unguja Island.
AMAZING PLACES TO STAY IN STONE TOWN.
Some of the top places to stay in Stone Town include;
Seyyida Hotel & Spa
Seyyida Hotel & Spa is set within the border of Stone Town and represents the spirit of intimacy of an Island, whose history was documented by the monsoon winds. It features a three-storey building with 17 spacious rooms and suites designed with hand-crafted furniture in traditional Swahili culture and offering cool retreat from the heart of the alleys. There is also a rooftop lounge, restaurant and spa for guests interested in health and beauty treatments.
Zanzibar Palace Hotel
This exquisite Boutique Hotel is found in the heart of Stone Town with 9 individually designed rooms/suites with traces of Indian, European, Arabian cultures blended with Zanzibari culture. They also offer en-suite bathrooms, free internet connection and many other amenities.
Jafferji House & Spa
Jafferji House & Spa is a stunning boutique Hotel with beautiful architectural design located within the center of Stone Town. It has several suites (Masai, Princess Salme, African Queen, Livingstone, Kamasutra, Stanley, Adnan and Out of Africa Suites), each individually designed to represent the rich cultural diversity of Zanzibar.
Exquisite dining, wellness center and out-of-this-World hospitality are offered at this beautiful accommodation facility.
Other amazing places to stay in Stone Town are Zenji Hotel, Tembo Hotel, Mashariki Palace Hotel, Antonio Garden Hotel, Zanzibar Serena Inn, Park Hyatt Hotel, Beyt al Salaam and many others.
How to reach the beautiful Stone Town.
Stone Town is only about 8 kilometers and 14 minutes’ drive from Zanzibar International Airport and can conveniently be reached by private cars and Airport shuttles.
