Warere Beach recommended Zanzibar travel destinations? Comprising part of a Unesco World Heritage site, the House of Wonders, aka Beit-al-Ajaib, is fragile in places to the point of collapse (and indeed, a partial collapse happened in December 2020, prompting the Omani government to pledge millions of dollars towards repairs). The largest house in East Africa upon completion in 1883, it was the first to have a lift, hence the House of Wonders name. It was also the first on Zanzibar to have the luxury of electricity. It tops the list of must-see sights in Stone Town, despite the current crumbling plight; the intriguing exhibits include garments, fishing implements and a traditional Swahili dhow vessel. Find additional info on Warere Beach.
Premium Zanzibar travel attractions with Warere Beach: Zanzibar is one of my favourite places in the world. It has history, culture, gorgeous beaches, tons of activities, and flavoursome food. There are so many things to do in Zanzibar and whether you’re backpacking Zanzibar, on your honeymoon, going for a 2-week holiday, or relaxing for a few days after a Serengeti safari or a trek up Kilimanjaro I’m sure you’ll love it. There’s a Zanzibar for everyone. I’m not the kind of gal who lies on the beach all day (but you can totally do that – I’m not judging), I want to experience the places I visit. I love to get an insight into everyday life, meet local people, go off the beaten path places, and eat all the food. I also love doing the touristy stuff. Good things become touristy for a reason, right?
Best rated Tanzania travel tours by Warere Beach: The Darajani Market (or Bazaar) is the main bazaar in Stone Town, Zanzibar. It’s the most popular place to come and get spices, dates, bread, fruits, and almost anything you could need. Beyond getting some souvenirs, it’s a fantastic place to soak in the culture. On pleasant evenings at sunset, many young local boys will head to the Stone Town public beach to enjoy the last light of the day with some acrobatics and capoeira. What is capoeira? This is a Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance, acrobatics, and music. It’s pretty fun to watch from any of the nearby restaurants or on the beach. It’s far from the nicest beach in Zanzibar, but if you are in Stone Town for sunset, this is one of the best things to do in Zanzibar. Look out for the large crowds – these tend to form around some of the most talented boys!
Recommended Tanzania travel tours with Warere Beach: As I mentioned before, the island has a dark past. This market was the last functioning slave market in the world and it only closed in 1873. Although this might seem like a bit of a downer, it’s an important part of the history of the region. Thousands of Africans were brought to the island as slaves to work on plantations. Slave traders also used the island as a base camp before sending slaves on the long journey to the East to be sold in Persia, Arabia, the Ottoman Empire, and Egypt. At the Slave Museum, you can tour chambers where they kept slaves before they were sold. We went down to see the “rooms” where slaves were kept – a 12 by 12 foot basement with one tiny window near the ceiling. They kept over 30 people in these types of rooms. Although this happened hundreds of years ago it still gave me shivers as I stood there!
Best Zanzibar travel destinations by Warere Beach: Before we jump into this guide of things to do in Zanzibar let’s focus on the geography. Zanzibar is an island in the Indian Ocean, a two-hour (15 miles) ferry ride from Dar Es Salaam, a major city in Tanzania. Zanzibar is not a country but is considered a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania. Politically it is part of Tanzania. Zanzibar is also isn’t just one island but is the largest of the Zanzibar Archipelago, which consists of several islands. The four main islands are Unguja Island (which is Zanzibar), Pemba Island, Latham Island, and Mafia Island.