My Trip To Zanzibar

Hi again, we'll we set of to Zanzibar for 3 nights and 4 days. For such a small Island, Zanzibar has some amazing history.

It was originally believed that Zanzibar first settled by Africans, 3000 to 4000 years ago. Many centuries later, inhabitants from Greece, Egypt, Persia, China, India, Arabia, Europe began to settle.

The Arab and the Persians where fleeing their own war torn countries, Through all the intermarriages, the language of Kiswahilli was born. This forms the base of the present day language Swahili, which is the language spoken in Zanzibar. Jumbo, means hello, Asante sana means thankyou very much, karibu means welcome.

In the 1800's is when the slave trade took place, these dungeons held up to 75 women and children which where no bigger than 1 metre by 2 metres wide, and hardly any ventilation. The slaves where held in these two underground rooms before being taken to the market for auctioning. A small hut was on top and there was a big hole used as an entrance way to the slave chambers. Slaves where kept in terrible conditions, so many died of suffocation and starvation the amount was horrific. I stood inside the Cathedral Church exactly on the spot where the whipping post was for the slaves. It is hard to comprehend and very sad.

As a result of appeals by Dr Livingstone the treaty abolishing slave trade was conducted in June 6th 1873. The slave market was closet down.

Dr Livingstone died in Africa, his body was sent back to England, before he died he asked for his heart to be buried in Africa, so that is exactly what happened. They removed his heart and buried it under a tree in Zimbabwe.

The main hub of Zanzibar is called Stone Town, absolutely amazing place, the buildings are made from rock and coral from the sea. Of course they don't build like that any more, back then they had no idea the damage they where doing to the coral reefs.

The population of Zanzibar is about 800,000, 95% Muslim and 5% Christians and they all live in harmony.

I noticed there where alot of cats and no dogs, the reason being is that if a dog sniffs them then they have to wash themselves seven times.

Freddie Mercury (Queen) the famous rock star was born in Stone Town Zanzibar.

His house is now made into alittle restaurant, outside is a board with pictures of him and a brief about him, that was very cool to see.

Then we set of on a tour to the ruins of a sultans palace, which was built in 1882 for his hundred halem women. The place was accidentally burned down in 1889.

We then headed off to the Spice Island, where you can experience a mouth watering array of fresh spices and fruits.

One of the bushes they grow has a berry that grows and the women use it for lipstick.

We got to taste fresh peppercorns, vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, you name it it was there. Then a local climbed up a coconut tree and cut us a fresh coconut, beautiful, and the coconut milk is yummy. At the end of the spice tour you get to taste all the fresh fruits and try out a few different teas. I must say the fresh lemon grass tea was top on the list.

We then headed up the North of the Island to a beach resort. There are so many to choose from.

The beach is just magnificent, crystal blue water. This is a place where you can truly relax. There are restaurants are all over the place and you can eat seafood till your hearts content. You can go diving and snorkelling, you can have you hair done, have a massage, get a henna tattoo, which is what the entire local woman do. This is an ink, much like a pen and you can pick all sorts of designs and have them draw it for you any where you like, it washes off in about 3 weeks, it looks very cool.

We meet a lovely Australian couple Tom and Jane who had been travelling around Africa for a couple of months.

One evening we had been invited to go on a sunset cruise on the local Dow so we invited our new friends to join us. We had a blast.
They supplied nibbles, and all you could drink for 2 hours for about $25.00, which is a pretty cheap night and a spectacular view. After a few Conyagi’s which is the local Gin, the girls of course needed a toilet stop, so we pulled up to the shore, as I was heading down the three rung ladder at the back of the Dow, the boat sort of went side ways and I fell into the water, it was very funny and really refreshing. Luckily that wasn’t caught on camera.
After our cruise we meet some more people and had a great time in one of the local bars, very interesting people.

The next day we relaxed on the beach. Tom and Jane went on their merely way for a bit more travelling and said they would come and visit us at the Snake Park. We headed back to Stone Town to catch our flight back to Meserani Snake Park in Arusha.

I would thoroughly recommend a holiday to Zanzibar, there is something for everyone to do, the people are very friendly and helpful.. And the hotels and restaurants are not expensive.

Cheers until next time
Tania Bale
Creative Vision Ebooks.Com