Zanzibar local guide
About Zanzibar
Zanzibar is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, an autonomous region of the Republic of Tanzania. The archipelago consists in many small islands and two bigger ones, Unguja (Zanzibar) and Pemba.The capital city is Zanzibar City, on the Unguja island. The main island is located at approximately 25-50 kilometers away from the mainland. The main island has a population of over 1,5 million citizens.
Zanzibar is well known around the world for spice production (nutmeg, cinnamon, black pepper) and also is a popular destination for tourists around the world.
Zanzibar is also well known for the fact that Queen vocalist, Freddy Mercury was born on this island.
Zanzibar local guide
Weather in Zanzibar
Weather in Zanzibar is very favorable. The temperatures are very high over the year. From December to March you will get the highest temperatures, over 33 degrees Celsius (90F). Sometimes in this timeframe, you can get temperatures even over 36 degrees Celsius (100F). Rainy season starts in the second half of March and lasts until the second half of April. Except the rainy season, you will get very low precipitations. The Ocean temperature over the year is perfect for swimming having an average temperature of 27-28 degrees Celsius.| Month | Min (°C) | Max (°C) | Mean (°C) | Min (°F) | Max (°F) | Mean (°F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 25 | 33 | 28.8 | 76 | 91 | 83.8 |
| February | 25 | 33 | 28.8 | 76 | 92 | 83.9 |
| March | 25 | 33 | 28.8 | 77 | 91 | 83.8 |
| April | 25 | 31 | 27.8 | 76 | 88 | 82 |
| May | 24 | 30 | 26.9 | 75 | 86 | 80.5 |
| June | 23 | 29 | 26.3 | 74 | 85 | 79.3 |
| July | 22 | 29 | 25.7 | 72 | 84 | 78.3 |
| August | 22 | 30 | 25.6 | 71 | 85 | 78 |
| September | 21 | 30 | 25.9 | 70 | 87 | 78.5 |
| October | 22 | 31 | 26.8 | 72 | 88 | 80.2 |
| November | 23 | 31 | 27.2 | 74 | 88 | 81 |
| December | 24 | 32 | 28.2 | 76 | 90 | 82.7 |
| Year | 23.4 | 31 | 27.15 | 74.2 | 87.7 | 81 |
Zanzibar City
Zanzibar City
The biggest city in Zanzibar with a population of over 200.000, is one of the most beautiful cities in Africa, rich in history with gorgeous buildings built in traditional fashion. The city is also the capital of the autonomous region Zanzibar.
Stone Town
Stone Town
A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE, Stone town is the main attraction in Zanzibar City. The architecture dates back to 19th century, and reflects the diverse influences underlying the Swahili culture, giving a unique mixture of Arab, Persian, Indian and European elements.
The Old Fort
The Old Fort
The Old Fort, is the oldest building in Zanzibar. It was previously known as the Arab Fort. Is a fortification located in Stone Town. It is near other important buildings from Zanzibar, like House of Wonders and Forodhani Gardens.
Zanzibar local guide
House of Wonders
House of Wonders, is a important building in Zanzibar. It is also called Palace of Wonders and it is the largest and tallest building from Stone Town. You can find the building between the Old Fort and the Palace Museum. Barghash bin Said, one of the Sultans of Zanzibar, has build the Palace of Wonders on the site of Palace of Queen Fatuma. It has a permanent exposition of the Swahili culture. In the courtyard you can find traditional Zanzibarian ships, ceremonial kangas and also portraits of the former Sultans. House of Wonders is a great place to visit during your stay in Zanzibar.
Zanzibar local guide
Sultan's Palace
A historical building in Stone Town, the Sultan`s Palace is 3-story high, with white walls. You can find it between the House of Wonders and the Old Dispensary (another important landmark in Zanzibar)It was built in the 19th century for the Sultan`s family. From 1994 serves as a museum that tells the story of Zanzibar royal family. The first floor of the museum is about Sultan Khalifa bin Harub and the second floor is dedicated to Sayyida Salme.
The building is rich in history, a place were Sultans of Zanzibar lived their every day life. The architecture is unique, and combines several styles.
Zanzibar local guide
Freddy Mercury Museum
There are few people in the world that don’t know who is Freddy Mercury but, most of the people don`t know that he is from Zanzibar. He was born in 1946, to Parsi-Indian parents, in Stone Town, Zanzibar. Now, with your trip to the Island, you have the opportunity to visit his birth home, where he lived until the age of 8, and returned until the 1964 revolution.The Freddy Mercury Museum has a detailed record of his childhood and upbringing in Zanzibar. Visiting the Freddy Mercury Museum, you can find out about his life, his parents, and also details about his Zoroastrian religion.
