The heavenly Zanzibar archipelago is one of the most stunning and breathtaking tourist locations in the world. The island is known for its lush greenery, extraordinary flora and fauna, and spectacular biodiversity. One can enjoy a range of exciting or relaxing activities in this region, such as swimming in the ocean, enjoying spa treatments at Bwejuu beach, eating street food at Forodhani Night Food Market, walking around the winding streets of Stone Town, learning yoga at Nungwi Beach, or enjoying water sports such as kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, canoeing, parasailing, and surfing. However, most of these are popular places and some visitors may want to try something different, so here are some unique Places that tourists must see during their trip or vacation in Zanzibar.
- Pemba Island
Also known as the Green Island, Pemba Island is one of the biggest islands in Zanzibar. On this remote island, tourists can enjoy the scenic views of the greenery, white sands, and crystalline water. One can find colorful coral reefs, manta rays, deep sea turtles, crowned hornbills, malachite kingfishers, vervet monkeys, African goshawk, Pemba Flying Fox, colobus monkeys, palm nut vultures, miniature antelopes, and sunbirds!
- Vumawimbi Beach
Vumawimbi beach is an untouched beach where visitors can enjoy privacy and tranquility. Tourists can enjoy the sweet smelling air or swim in the crystal clear water. This heavenly location is peaceful, and isolated, as all hotels are located on the west side, so tourists can relax in the serenity.
- Freddie Mercury Monument
Zanzibar is the birthplace for Freddie Mercury, the vocalist and songwriter for the famous rock band Queen. In Stone Town, tourists can visit Mercury House, where they can learn about the famous singer. Mercury spent his holidays here as a child, and would visit the nearby Zoroastrian temple with his parents. He moved away after the 1964 Zanzibar Revolution.
- House of Wonders
House of Wonders is a 19th century palace in Stone Town, which was part of the shortest war in history. Constructed in 1883 by the second sultan of Zanzibar, it was a ceremonial palace with white pillars and a two-storey clock tower. This was the first building in East Africa to have electricity and a working elevator. In 1896, Khalid bin Barghash took the throne after the ruling Sultan passed away. British forces in the area launched a naval bombardment in Stone Town as a response, which lasted 38 minutes, thus becoming known as the shortest war in world history.
- IN 1873 THE WORLD’S LAST open slave market closed. The last vestige of this horrific institution was located in Stone Town, Zanzibar. Enslaved people were transported to Zanzibar via overcrowded dhows. With little food, rampant disease, and appalling conditions, not all of the captives survived long enough to reach Zanzibar. Those who didn’t were thrown overboard. For those that did make it, another ordeal awaited, as they were sold at this site and then were likely shipped off to various Arab countries.
- Zanzibar was home to one of the largest slave markets in the world. Although the slave trade took place all over the island, three major markets saw the bulk of these inhumane transactions. The market in Stone Town was infamous for being the most brutal. The pit and the Slave Market Memorial is in the same location where enslaved people were gathered to be brought and sold. This memorial was created in 1998 by Clara Sornas of Scandinavia. On one side of the memorial is a mansion housing the slave cellar, one of fifteen low-ceiling chambers. Dim, suffocating, and with no toilets, these chambers were crammed with enslaved people, where they awaited the auction block. Captives were summoned to the yard and marched to the pit. There, they would be inspected by potential buyers
- https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/slave-market-memorialZanzibar Butterfly Center
A unique spot in Zanzibar is the extraordinary Butterfly Center. The tropical garden is home to hundreds of native butterflies which tourists can see and learn about during guided tours. Tourists can see the various life cycle stages that a butterfly passes through, including the cocoon stages.
- Seaweed Center
Also known as Mwani Zanzibar, the Seaweed Center is a women’s initiative that employs local women to make products out of seaweed. Tourists can enjoy a tour of the Center where they can observe the seaweed farmers, watch the local women as they make a range of products, or enjoy a glass of fresh seaweed fruit juice!
- Slave Market Memorial
Zanzibar was central to the Slave trade in the 1800s, and was home to one of the largest slave markets in the world. The market in Stone Town was known for its brutality, so the memorial was created in 1998 as a reminder of the horrors that occurred here. The memorial is in the same location where people were gathered to be bought and sold as slaves.
