Zanzibar is an insular semi-autonomous region which united with Tanganyika in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanzania. It is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, 25–50 km (16–31 mi) off the coast of the African mainland, and consists of many small islands and two large ones: Unguja and Pemba Island. The capital is Zanzibar City, located on the island of Unguja. Its historic centre, Stone Town, is a World Heritage Site.
Mafia Island or Chole Shamba is an island of The Mafia Archipelago located in Mafia District in the southern Pwani Region of Tanzania across the Mafia Channel. The island is the third largest in Tanzanian ocean territory, but is not administratively included within the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar, which has been politically separate since 1890. Mafia Island forms the largest part of Mafia District, one of the six administrative districts in the Pwani Region. As the Mafia Archipelago's main islan, is sometimes called Chole shamba in meaning Chole farmlands Swahili. This is in opposition to the historic settlement of Chole Mjini(Chole town) on Chole Island inside Mafia Bay. The island's population is over 40,000. The economy is based on fishing, subsistence agriculture and the market in Kilindoni. The island attracts some tourists, mainly scuba divers, birdwatchers, game fishermen, and people seeking relaxation.
Unguja North Region, Zanzibar North Region or North Zanzibar Region is one of the 31 regions of Tanzania. The region covers an area of 407 km2 (157 sq mi). The region is comparable in size to the combined land area of the nation state of Andorra. and the administrative region is located entirely on the island of Zanzibar. Unguja North Region is bordered on three sides to the north by Indian Ocean, southeast by Unguja South Region and southwest by Mjini Magharibi Region. The regional capital is the town of Mkokotoni. The region has the fifth highest HDI in the country, making one of the most developed regions in the country.According to the 2012 census, the region has a total population of 187, 455. Zanzibar North is divided into two districts, Kaskazini A and Kaskazini B.
Unguja South Region, Zanzibar South Region or South Zanzibar Region is one of the 31 regions of Tanzania. The region covers an area of 854 km2 (330 sq mi). The region is comparable in size to the combined land area of the nation state of Kiribati. and the administrative region is located entirely on the island of Zanzibar. Unguja South Region is bordered on three sides to the south by Indian Ocean, northeast by Unguja North Region and northwest by Mjini Magharibi Region. The regional capital is the town of Koani. Besides being known for its Spinner dolphin populations, the region is also home to the oldest mosque in East Africa, the Kizimkazi Mosque and also historic Makunduchi town. The region has the fourth highest HDI in the country, making one of the most developed regions in the country. According to the 2012 census, the region has a total population of 94,504.
Mjini Magharibi Region, Zanzibar Urban West Region or West Zanzibar Region is one of the 31 regions of Tanzania. The region covers an area of 230 km2 (89 sq mi). The region is located entirely on the island of Zanzibar and bordered to the west by the Indian Ocean, north by Unguja North Region and the east by Unguja South Region. The region is home to one of the seven World Heritage Sites located in Tanzania, namely; Stonetown of Zanzibar. The regional capital is Zanzibar City. The region is the most developed region with the highest human development index in Tanzania at 0.718. According to the 2012 census, the region has a total population of 593,678.
MV Skagit was a Skagit Kalama-class passenger ferry originally operated by Washington State Ferries (WSF) from 1989–2009 and then in Tanzania until her sinking in Zanzibar in July 2012.
Chumbe Island is a private island in the Mjini Magharibi Region, Tanzania, off the coast of Mjini District. It is situated in the Zanzibar Channel. The island is known for its ecological innovation and exceptional coral reefs. The Chumbe Lighthouse is also located on the island.
Unguja is the largest and most populated island of the Zanzibar archipelago, in Tanzania.
Zanzibar City or Mjini District, often simply referred to as Zanzibar is one of two administrative districts of Mjini Magharibi Region in Tanzania. The district covers an area of 15.4 km2 (5.9 sq mi). The district is comparable in size to the land area of Nauru. The district has a water border to the west by the Indian Ocean. The district is bordered to the east by Magharibi District. The district seat is located in Stonetown. The city is largest city on the island of Zanzibar. It is located on the west coast of Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar Archipelago, north of the much larger city of Dar es Salaam across the Zanzibar Channel. The city also serves as the capital of the Zanzibar Urban/West Region. In 2012 its population was 223,033.
The Zanzibar Archipelago are a group of islands off the coast of mainland Tanzania in the sea of Zanj. The archipelago is also known as the Spice Islands. There are four main islands, three primary islands with permanent human populations, a fourth coral island that serves as an essential breeding ground for seabirds, plus a number of smaller islets that surround them and an isolated tiny islet.
Fumba is a village on the Tanzanian island of Unguja, part of Zanzibar. It is located in the southwest of the island, at the end of the Fumba Peninsula, and overlooks Menai Bay in Mjini Mgaharibi Region.
Changuu Island is an island in the Mjini Magharibi Region, Tanzania, off the coast of Mjini District. It is situated in the Zanzibar Channel. It is located 5.6 km (3.5 mi) northwest of Stone Town. The island is around 800 m (2,600 ft) long and 230 m (750 ft) wide at its broadest point. The island saw use as a prison for enslaved people in 1860s and also functioned as a coral rag mine.
Bawe Island is an island in the Mjini Magharibi Region, Tanzania, off the coast of Mjini District. It is situated in the Zanzibar Channel. It is located about 10 km (6.2 mi) offshore Stone Town, the capital of Zanzibar on the island of Unguja. The island is north of Chumbe Island. At the end of the 18th century, sultan Barghash ibn Sa'id of Zanzibar gave the island to the Eastern Telegraph Company, that used it as an operation station for the underwater telegraph cable connecting Zanzibar to Seychelles and Aden. This agreement was extended by sultan Khalifa ibn Sa'id in 1889, in favor of Cable & Wireless, that also built houses on the island to accommodate their personnel. Nowadays, Bawe is solely a tourist destination.
The wildlife of Zanzibar consists of terrestrial and marine flora and fauna in the archipelago of Zanzibar, an autonomous region of Tanzania. Its floral vegetation is categorized among the coastal forests of eastern Africa as the Southern Zanzibar-Inhambane coastal forest mosaic and the Northern Zanzibar-Inhambane coastal forest mosaic. Its faunal species are mostly small animals, birds, and butterflies.
The Chumbe Marine Park, officially recognized officially as Chumbe Reef Sanctuary is a privately managed marine park on Chumbe Island, Zanzibar since 1994. It is successful as an ecotourism project. The objective of this sanctuary is to preserve and develop the rich biodiversity of the coral. Set up after controversial debate over a period of 3 years between the private developer of the park, the government and the local fishermen, the sanctuary has received funds from European Union, Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit and many other donors including the initial developer.
The Chumbe Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse located on Chumbe Island on Malindi ward of Mjini District in the Mjini Magharibi Region of Tanzania's Zanzibar Island.
Msuka Mjini Ruins is protected historic site located inside Micheweni District of Pemba North Region in Tanzania. Msuka Mjini has a Swahili mosque from the fifteenth century preserved in ruins on the Kigomasha peninsula on the island. The date 816AH is carved on the interior of the circular mirhab.
Kichokochwe is protected historic site located inside Wete District of Pemba North Region in Tanzania. The site is home to partially excavated abandoned late medieval Swahili ruins, with a mosque and tombs.
Mduuni Ruins is protected historic site located inside Micheweni District of Pemba North Region in Tanzania. The settlement was established around 1100 CE.
