Must-see attractions in Zanzibar Island

  • Tanzania, Zanzibar, Stone Town. The Anglican Cathedral Church of Christ had its foundation stone laid on Christmas Day 1873

    Anglican Cathedral

    Zanzibar Town

    The tall spire and grey-yellow walls of the Anglican cathedral dominate the surrounding streets in this part of Stone Town, while the dark-wood pews and…

  • The Sultan's Palace (Palace Museum) is one of the main historical buildings of Stone Town, Zanzibar as seen at sunset.

    Palace Museum

    Zanzibar Town

    Occupying several large buildings along the waterfront, this was the palace of Sultan Seyyid Said from 1828 until it was largely destroyed by the British…

  • Two red Colobuse Monkey in a rainforest of Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park, Zanzibar, Tanzania, Africa

    Jozani-Chwaka National Park

    Zanzibar Island

    Jozani Forest is the largest area of indigenous forest on Zanzibar Island. Situated south of Chwaka Bay on low-lying land, the area is prone to flooding,…

  • Paintings for sale outside Old Fort, Stone Town.

    Old Fort

    Zanzibar Town

    With its pale-orange ramparts overlooking Forodhani Gardens and the ocean beyond, the fort was built by Omani Arabs when they seized the island from the…

  • House of Wonders, Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania.

    House of Wonders

    Zanzibar Town

    An icon of Stone Town, the House of Wonders rises in impressive tiers of slender steel pillars and balconies overlooking the waterfront. Its enormous…

  • ZALA Park

    Zanzibar Island

    ZALA (Zanzibar Land Animals) Park was founded as a project to help local people appreciate the value of wildlife, with funds raised by tourist visits. The…

  • Darajani Market, Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania

    Darajani Market

    Zanzibar Town

    Zanzibar's main market is a hive of activity, with everything – from spices, fresh fish, slabs of meat and huge baskets full of live chickens to sandals,…

  • Forodhani Gardens in Zanzibar, Tanzania.

    Forodhani Gardens

    Zanzibar Town

    One of the best ways to ease into Zanzibar life is to stop by this waterfront public space. It's a social hub for tourists and locals alike; there's a…

  • The Old Dispensary in Zanzibar, Tanzania.

    Old Dispensary

    Zanzibar Town

    With its peppermint-green latticework balconies and sculpted clock tower, this 19th-century charitable dispensary is one of the most attractive landmarks…

  • ZANZIBAR, TANZANIA - OCTOBER 6:  (.)  Tourists look towards the sunset while resting on a roof top restaurant at the Emerson & Green Hotel October 6, 2002 in Stone town in central Zanzibar, Tanzania. Zanzibar has become a popular tourist destination due to the beautiful virgin beaches and influence of Arabic, Indian and African cultures on the island.  (Photo by Per-Anders Pettersson/Getty Images)

    Princess Salme Museum

    Zanzibar Town

    Carefully curated by the renowned historian Said al Gheithy, this delightful little museum tells the story of Princess Salme, a sultan's daughter who…

  • Catholic Cathedral

    Zanzibar Town

    One of the first sights travellers see when arriving by ferry are the twin spires of the Roman Catholic cathedral. Serving the local Catholic community,…

  • Mbweni Ruins

    Zanzibar Town

    The upmarket suburb of Mbweni, 5km south of Zanzibar Town, was a Universities Mission to Central Africa (UMCA) base and settlement for former slaves in…

  • Jozani Sea Turtle Sanctuary

    Zanzibar Island

    The aim of this community initiative is to help local people benefit from tourism and conservation. In three large pools you can observe sea turtles and…

  • Kidichi Persian Baths

    Zanzibar Town

    Sultan Seyyid Said built this bathhouse at Kidichi (11km northeast of Zanzibar Town) in 1850 for his Persian wife, Scheherezade. The royal couple would…

  • Mtoni Palace

    Zanzibar Town

    Overlooking the coast, away from the heat and hustle of Zanzibar Town, Mtoni Palace was built for Sultan Seyyid Said in 1828. It was home to the sultan’s…

  • Maruhubi Palace

    Zanzibar Town

    Maruhubi Palace was built outside Zanzibar Town in 1882 for Sultan Barghash to house his impressively large harem. A few years later it was destroyed by…

  • Kizimkazi Old Mosque

    Zanzibar Island

    Although this mosque is thought to be one of the oldest Islamic buildings on the East African coast, it has been extensively restored and appears…

  • Zanzibar Butterfly Centre

    Zanzibar Island

    Protecting numerous butterfly species indigenous to Zanzibar, this centre is a huge tropical garden with net walls and roof. You can see the various life…

  • Kiwengwa-Pongwe Forest Reserve

    Zanzibar Island

    Set back from the main road between Kiwengwa and Pongwe, this reserve protects a swathe of indigenous forest and its wildlife, including groups of the…

  • Mercury House

    Zanzibar Town

    Freddie Mercury, the former lead singer of Queen, was born in Zanzibar in 1946 where his name was Farrokh Bulsara. His father worked for the British…

  • Mangapwani Slave Chamber

    Zanzibar Island

    This dark cell cut into the coral rock was used as a holding pen to hide slaves after the legal trade was abolished in the late 19th century. From here it…

  • Hamamni Persian Baths

    Zanzibar Town

    Built by Sultan Barghash in the late 19th century, these were the first public baths on Zanzibar. The various rooms were renovated in 2017 and, although…

  • State House

    Zanzibar Town

    Zanzibar's presidential palace was originally designed by British architect John Sinclair as the British Residency in 1903. Today it is not open to…

  • Aga Khan Mosque

    Zanzibar Town

    In the Kiponda area of Stone Town, this mosque is one of the largest in Zanzibar, catering to the Ismaili community since 1905. The beautifully detailed…

  • Ijumaa Mosque

    Zanzibar Town

    This lovely Arabesque-style mosque is one of the largest in Stone Town. As an Ijumma (Friday) mosque, the faithful come to pray here, rather than at their…

  • Beit el-Amani

    Zanzibar Town

    This domed building, formerly the Peace Memorial Museum and now an archive, dates to 1925, when it was inaugurated as a memorial to the accords ending WWI…

  • Victoria Hall & Gardens

    Zanzibar Town

    Sitting quietly on Kaunda Rd, surrounded by decaying and overgrown gardens, Victoria Hall housed the legislative council during the British era. It's now…

  • Mangapwani Coral Cave

    Zanzibar Island

    This large natural cavern with a freshwater pool was originally used as a source of drinking water for local people and is rumoured to have been used in…

  • Cine Afrique

    Zanzibar Town

    It's no longer a working cinema, but the grand old Cine Afrique is an art deco gem and a significant landmark.

  • Big Tree

    Zanzibar Town

    A venerable landmark on the waterfront, and popular meeting spot for passengers taking boat rides.

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