Zanzibar

The Zanzibar archipelago is one of the most iconic beach destinations in the Indian Ocean and the natural complement to any safari trip in Tanzania. Located 40 kilometres off the eastern Tanzanian coast, it groups three main islands: Unguja (the main island, commonly called Zanzibar), Pemba (in the north, wilder and more preserved), and Mafia (in the south, a diving paradise). To these islands are added a multitude of coral islets, including the famous Mnemba Island, one of the best snorkelling destinations in the world.

Zanzibar is above all a land of memory and cultural mixing. Since the 8th century, the archipelago was a major commercial crossroads linking East Africa to the Arabian peninsula, Persia, India and later Europe. Omani merchants, Portuguese navigators, Persian traders (Shirazi) and Indian businessmen left a profound imprint — visible today in the architecture of Stone Town (UNESCO-listed since 2000), in the spiced cuisine, in taarab music and in the Swahili language itself, enriched with hundreds of Arabic and Persian words. This history has a tragic side too: the archipelago was, from the 18th to the late 19th century, one of the main hubs of the East African slave trade, before the British-imposed abolition of 1873.

But Zanzibar is also, perhaps above all, a world-class beach destination. The beaches of Nungwi and Kendwa in the north, with their fine white sand, turquoise lagoon protected by the coral reef, and traditional dhows returning to port at sunset, are among the most beautiful in Africa. The beaches of Paje, Jambiani and Bwejuu on the south-east coast offer a more sportive setting, with constant winds making them a paradise for kitesurfing and windsurfing. The archipelago's islands — Mnemba, Chumbe, Prison Island — offer dhow day-trips with snorkelling on pristine reefs.

Muslim culture (98% of the population) permeates everything: calls to prayer five times a day echo through Stone Town's alleys, Friday is the public holiday, restaurants serve mostly halal food, more covered attire for local women (visitors can wear shorts and swimwear on resort beaches but are expected to dress more conservatively in town and villages).