{"id":3190,"date":"2017-03-23T18:15:48","date_gmt":"2017-03-23T23:15:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/marcyyu.com\/?p=3190"},"modified":"2021-09-11T04:16:05","modified_gmt":"2021-09-11T09:16:05","slug":"stone-town-zanzibar-tanzania-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marcyyu.com\/en\/stone-town-zanzibar-tanzania-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"Stone Town, Zanzibar Tanzania – Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"MarcyYu_StoneTown_Zanzibar3\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Welcome to beautiful Zanzibar, Tanzania <\/a>!!!<\/p>\n

After climbing Kili what I longed for was to be in some super paradise destination to just relax and let my body rest after the 8 day climb to the highest mountain of Africa.<\/p>\n

As soon as we finished exploring Arusha we grabbed a direct flight with\u00a0Fly Coastal<\/a> to get to the mysterious\u00a0island of Zanzibar. This destination is not very well known in Latin America so probably many of you have never heard it, but believe me it is the new “Mykonos” that will surely be seen on many pages of Instagram soon, as it is in full development and many luxury hotels are either already there or have it in their sights.<\/p>\n

Before exploring the northern part of Zanzibar we wanted to explore first the beautiful old Stone Town, which is one of the most evocative places in Africa, with a fascinating mix of influences from the Indian subcontinent, the Arabian peninsula, the African continent and Europe. If you like history? Then for\u00a0sure this is the place you need to explore.<\/p>\n

We stayed in the heart of Stone Town at The Park Hyatt Zanzibar<\/a>, a designated UNESCO heritage site. It is the ultimate haven amongst Stone Town\u2019s labyrinth of winding alleys, bustling markets, mosques,\u00a0streets full of spice scents, local perfumes, crafts, warm Swahili smiles everywhere, and famed Zanzibari doors featuring magnificent ornate wooden carvings. It is no wonder that\u00a0I fell so quickly in love with the captivating charm of Stone Town and the faded grandeur of bygone days. I had always loved the small towns with narrow streets, where I can walk and get lost in beautiful markets, cafes and boutiques all day. The\u00a0history is not all to be nostalgic for though, Stone Town was also the centre of East Africa’s slave trade and the museum and original trading house cells are a must see.<\/p>\n

The Park Hyatt Zanzibar<\/a>\u00a0is housed in two buildings, one of them called Mambo Msiige, a mansion\u00a0steeped in history, grace and mystique with a story dating back to the 17th century. A typical Zanzibari mansion, centered round a peaceful courtyard, and a retreat from the summer heat, Mambo Msiige is a unique gem with architecture that embraces Swahili culture alongside Arab, Persian, Indian and European elements. The new Zamani residence connects to Mambo Msiige, blending old with new, historic with contemporary.<\/p>\n

There are many things to do in Stone Town that are part of the activities offered by the Park Hyatt Zanzibar hotel<\/a> as well. So if you arrive at this enchanted place you should surely make this your checklist and at least stay 4 full days to explore:<\/p>\n

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  1. The museum of Beir el-Sahel (Sultan’s Palace): one of the main historical building in Zanzibar with 3 historic buildings decorated with white walls. If you are into history, architecture and design this is a must,\u00a0including the rooms with\u00a0unique\u00a0furniture from\u00a0centuries ago.<\/li>\n
  2. Christ Church Anglican Cathedral: This is\u00a0located in Mkunazini Road, in the centre of the old town near the slave market. Another great building to explore in Stone Town that is made mostly from coral stone.<\/li>\n
  3. Old Fort:\u00a0It is the oldest building\u00a0and a major visitor attraction\u00a0of Stone Town. Nowadays it is used as a\u00a0courtyard where local artists sell their crafts. So many beautiful things\u00a0to buy. I bought here my purple and gold elephants scarf and got a henna tattoo.<\/li>\n
  4. Slave Chambers:\u00a0Although nothing of the old slave market remains two holding cells are beneath the building. They are open to the public and offer a sobering glimpse of the appalling realities of the trade. Dank, dark and cramped, each chamber housed up to 65 slaves awaiting sale.\u00a0Try to go with a qualified guide who can best illuminate the history. I know this can be very overwhelming but sometimes I feel we need to see and know about this to give you a reality of how things were in the past\u00a0and how our world has changed.<\/li>\n
  5. Old Dispensary Zanzibar:\u00a0is one of the most finely decorated buildings of Stone Town that is\u00a0a symbol of the multi-cultural architecture and heritage of the city.<\/li>\n
  6. Darajani Market:\u00a0Zanzibar’s main market is well worth a visit for great pictures. You’ll find everything here – from colourful piles of spices, slabs of meat, fresh fish and huge baskets of fresh fruits, to sandals and clothing.<\/li>\n
  7. Freddie Mercury House: Yes, this rock star was born\u00a0in this beautiful city and the place he grew up is just a couple of streets away from the Park Hyatt Hotel. For sure you cannot leave without taking a pic here.<\/li>\n
  8. Prison Island: You will need a boat to take you here but it’s worth it. It was actually never used as a prison, and nowadays there’s a hotel here and hundreds of huge\u00a0tortoises up to 200 years old.<\/li>\n
  9. Sand Banks: Once you go to Prison Island on the way back you need to stop at the Sand Banks where you can hang out, have a local lunch, swim in the beautiful clear waters with the star fish and even buy some crafts from local artisans.<\/li>\n
  10. The Jozani Chaka Forest: is the only national park of Zanzibar and home to the last of\u00a0the red colobus monkeys.<\/li>\n
  11. Sunset watch from the rooftop of\u00a0Emerson Hotel: you can have sunset drinks here followed by a beautiful dinner sitting on the floor, local style. Just imagine yourself surrounded by beautiful indian pillows, the sunset as a back drop, delicious food and the sounds of live Indian-Swahili music. For sure one of my favourite moments that I will totally recommend.<\/li>\n
  12. Park Hyatt Zanzibar<\/a> Spa: I know fitting all these activities in 4 days is a lot. This is why I fully recommend in your last day a total relaxation day at this amazing spa! For sure the best way to wrap up your Stone Town visit.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Where to eat? The\u00a0Park Hyatt\u00a0Zanzibar<\/a> hotel offers the best\u00a0cuisine in town (the breakfast waffles is exceptional) but if you’d like to try something outside the hotel the best coffee shops and restaurants I will recommend are:<\/p>\n