GoGo
All UNESCO SitesUnited Republic of Tanzania

Stone Town of Zanzibar

United Republic of Tanzania

Background

World Heritage since
2000
Type of site
Cultural
Sultanate and spice trade
19th c.

The Stone Town of Zanzibar is a fine example of the Swahili coastal trading towns of East Africa. UNESCO says it keeps its urban fabric and townscape virtually intact, with many fine buildings reflecting a culture that brought together and homogenised elements of Africa, the Arab region, India and Europe over more than a millennium.

Wikipedia: the old town of Zanzibar City was capital of the Sultanate of Zanzibar and the centre of the 19th-century spice and slave trades; its name comes from the coral stone that gives the buildings their warm colour, and its alleys are too narrow for cars. Wikivoyage lists the Old Fort, built by the Omani in the 17th century, the Palace Museum, the House of Wonders of 1883 (closed for renovation since 2014) and Livingstone's House. The GoGo Zanzibar guide walks the carved doors, the Old Fort and the slave market memorial.

More on the UNESCO listing More on Wikipedia

  1. 17th c.The Omani build the Old Fort
  2. 19th c.Capital of the Sultanate of Zanzibar; the spice and slave trades peak
  3. 1883The House of Wonders is built, the first in East Africa with a lift
  4. 1896The Anglo-Zanzibar War; the House of Wonders is restored
  5. 2000Inscribed as World Heritage

Find Your Way Around

The main parts of the site, in the order most visitors see them

  1. 1
    The Carved Doors
    The great carved doors of the old houses; the GoGo guide's morning walk.
  2. 2
    Old Fort
    The Omani fortress, now a cultural centre with daily shows.
  3. 3
    House of Wonders
    The 1883 palace on the seafront, closed since 2014 for renovation.
  4. 4
    Palace Museum
    The sultans' seafront palace and the story of Princess Salme.
  5. 5
    Christ Church and the Slave Market
    The Anglican cathedral built over the last open slave market, with holding cells to visit.
  6. 6
    Forodhani Gardens
    The night food market: Zanzibar pizza and grilled seafood.

Know Before You Go

From Wikivoyage and the GoGo guides

Plane or Boat
Wikivoyage: Zanzibar International Airport is the island's only one; boats come from Dar es Salaam and Pemba.
No Cars in the Lanes
The streets are too narrow; bicycles and motorbikes squeeze through, and the stone barazas along the walls double as pavements in heavy rain.
Forodhani After Dark
The GoGo guide eats at the seafront market at 19:00, after a 17:30 sunset dhow cruise.
Dalla Dalla from Darajani
Numbered minibuses leave from Creek Road by the market: 116 to Nungwi, 309 to Jambiani, 505 to the airport.

Stone Town Walk

From the GoGo Zanzibar City guide · Open the Zanzibar City Guide ›

  1. 09:00
    Carved Doors of Stone Town90 min
    The lanes and their doors.
  2. 10:45
    Old Fort45 min
    The Omani fortress.
  3. 14:30
    Palace Museum75 min
    The sultans' seafront palace.
  4. 17:30
    Sunset Dhow Cruise2 hrs
    A sailing boat along the waterfront.
  5. 19:00
    Zanzibar Pizza at Forodhani90 min
    The night food market.

Best Time to Visit

Best months: Jun–Jul. Rainy season Mar–May, Nov.

Typical highs

Best monthsRain: wettest Apr (279 mm), driest Jul (21 mm)

Climate: NASA POWER

Pair It With

Other World Heritage sites nearby, by distance

WORTH A NIGHTDAY TRIPSAME DAYDistance not to scale · tap a site
Do These Together
Fort Jesus at Mombasa is 240 km away and the Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests 289 km; both are in Kenya.
Sources
UNESCO World Heritage Centre, listing 173 · Wikipedia: Stone Town · Wikivoyage: Stone Town (CC BY-SA 4.0) · GoGo Zanzibar City guide · UNESCO listing