Stone Town also known as Mji Mkongwe is the old part of the Zanzibar City. The Town was the capital of the Sultanate of Zanzibar and at one point the capital of the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman. The town's architecture and cultural composition is a mixture of centuries of various cultures that have inhabited the island such as the Arabs, Persians, Indias and Europeans. The site was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 2000 and is a major tourist site in the nation of Tanzania. [1]
| Name | Image | Description | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Old Fort |  | The fort is adjacent to the House of Wonders, and is a heavy stone fortress that was built in the 17th century by the Omanis to protect the regime from a Portuguese invasion. It has a roughly square shape; the internal courtyard is now a cultural centre. | [2] |
| House of Wonders |  | The House of Wonders (also known as "Beit-al-Ajaib"), lies at the edge of the seafront, and is the most recognizable landmarks of Stone Town. It was built in 1883 and restored after the Anglo-Zanzibar War of 1896. The house was primarily the Sultan's residence and was the first building in Zanzibar to have electricity as well as the first building in East Africa to have a lift. It became the seat of the Afro-Shirazi Party after the revolution and was converted into a museum. | [3] |
| The Old Dispensary |  | The Old Dispensary was built from 1887 to 1894 by wealthy local Indians to serve as a charity hospital for the poor but was later used as a dispensary. The building is one of the highly decorated buildings on the Island and the architecture stems from the cultural pot that existed on the island. After falling into decay in the 1970s and 1980s, the building was accurately restored by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. | [4] |
| Sultan's Palace |  | The Sultan's Palace (also known as "Beit el-Sahel"), was another palace that housed the royal family built in the late 19th century. Currently the palace has been converted into a museum and displays the daily life of the Zanzibari royal family. | [5] |
| The Anglican Cathedral of Christ |  | The Church of Christ was built in the heart of Stone Town by Bishop Edward Steere at the site of the former slave market. The church was deliberately built to celebrate the end of slavery and the church's altar is built upon the site where the main whipping post of the market used to be. A monument to the slaves, as well as a museum on the history of slavery, are besides the church. | [6] |
| Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Joseph |  | The Church was built by French missionaries between 1893 and 1898. The design of the church was based on that of the Marseille Cathedral. Its twin masts are its most recognizable feature and can be seen from a distance when sailing into Stone Town. The church is still operational today and holds regular mass on Sundays. | [2] |
| Hamamni Persian Baths |  | The word "Hamamni" means "the place of the baths" and the Baths were built between 1870 and 1888 for sultan Barghash bin Said for use as public baths, and maintained this function until 1920. They are referred to as "Persian" because their construction was commissioned to Shirazi architects. The baths were usually for the wealthy and attracted people from all different ethnic groups. The baths are not operational anymore and most of the structures that used to be restaurants and cafes adjacent to the baths have become residential complexes. | [7] |
| Malindi Mosque |  | Built by Sunni Arabs in the 15th century, the Malindi mosque is one of the oldest mosques on the island. The mosque has some unusual architectural features, including a cone-shaped minaret and a square platform where the minaret stands on. There are only 2 other mosques with similar architecture in East Africa | [8] [9] |
| Tippu Tip's House |  | The home of the Islands most powerful merchant and slave trader Tippu Tip. Tippu Tip's house remained a private residence up until the Zanzibar Revolution and was then converted into a block of flats. The house is not open to the public despite it being declared a tourist attraction. | [7] [10] |
| David Livingstone's House | Before David Livingstone began his expedition into the interior of Tanganyika he spent time preparing for his expedition in Zanzibar. His house was initially built as a small palace for Sultan Majid bin Said, however was then given to European missionaries. | [11] |
| Name | Image | Description | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forodhani Gardens |  | The Gardens are located along the Stone Town Sea wall in front of the Old Fort and is a popular place for gathering come dusk. The Park quickly becomes crowded with locals and tourists trying to enjoy Zanzibari cuisine. The Park was recently rehabilitated as part of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture project. | [12] [13] |
| Darajani Market |  | The Darajani market runs along the entire Darajani Road on the Island and is the main market for food on the Island. The Market was built in 1904 and is primarily for obtaining fresh foods, however recently many Consumer electronic shops have risen. The market still has a similar atmosphere to the Bazaars that existed on the island for centuries. | [14] |
| Prison Island |  | Prison Island (more accurately called Changuu island) used to be a prison where uncooperative or stubborn slaves were sent for treatment. The Island was in-inhabitted but later with the British arrival became a prison site to quarantine people with yellow fever. The government converted all quarantine buildings into guest houses and the island is home to Giant Aldabra tortoises, brought to the island from Seychelles. | [15] |
 | Wikimedia Commons has media related to |
Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania. It is composed of the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, 25–50 kilometres (16–31 mi) off the coast of the 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 is Stone Town, which is a World Heritage Site.
Stone Town of Zanzibar, also known as Mji Mkongwe, is the old part of Zanzibar City, the main city of Zanzibar, in Tanzania. The newer portion of the city is known as Ng'ambo, Swahili for 'the other side'. Stone Town is located on the western coast of Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar Archipelago. Former capital of the Zanzibar Sultanate, and flourishing centre of the spice trade as well as the slave trade in the 19th century, it retained its importance as the main city of Zanzibar during the period of the British protectorate. When Tanganyika and Zanzibar joined each other to form the United Republic of Tanzania, Zanzibar kept a semi-autonomous status, with Stone Town as its local government seat.
Tourism is a major industry in Croatia. In 2018, Croatia had 19.7 million tourist visitors who made 110.275 million overnight stays. The history of tourism in Croatia dates back to the middle of the 19th century in the period around 1850. It has been developing successfully ever since. Today, Croatia is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the Mediterranean.
Lamu or Lamu Town is a small town on Lamu Island, which in turn is a part of the Lamu Archipelago in Kenya. Situated 341 kilometres (212 mi) by road northeast of Mombasa that ends at Mokowe Jetty, from where the sea channel has to be crossed to reach Lamu Island. It is the headquarters of Lamu County and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Bagamoyo, Tanzania, is a town founded at the end of the 18th century, though it is an extension of a much older settlement, Kaole. It was the capital of German East Africa and was one of the most important trading ports along the East African coast along the west of the Indian Ocean. In 2011, the town had 82,578 inhabitants and is the capital of the Bagamoyo District.
Zanzibar City is the capital and largest city of Zanzibar, in Tanzania. It is located on the west coast of Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar Archipelago, roughly due north of Dar es Salaam across the Zanzibar Channel. It also serves as the capital of the Zanzibar Urban/West Region, and qualifies as a district, formally known as Zanzibar Urban District. In 2002 its population was 205,870.
Tanzania is a country with many tourist attractions. Approximately 38 percent of Tanzania's land area is set aside in protected areas for conservation. There are 17 national parks, 29 game reserves, 40 controlled conservation areas and marine parks. Tanzania is also home to Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest point in Africa.
Jozani is a village on the Tanzanian island of Unguja. It is located in the southeast of the island, 3.1 miles south of Chwaka Bay, close to the edge of the Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park. It is primarily a farming community of about 800 people. located 21.7 miles south-east of Zanzibar Town off the road leading to Paje, Zanzibar. It is easily reached by public buses 309 and 310, by chartered taxi or as an organized tour from Zanzibar Town. These tours are often in combination with dolphin observation in Kizimkazi, one of Zanzibar’s oldest settlements with a tiny 12th century mosque open to public. The main road on the island, connecting the west and east coasts of Zanzibar, also connects to Jozani. Besides public bus routes 9, 10 and 13, you can also get here from Zanzibar Town by dala-dala number 309, 310, 324, and 326. Jozani is a small and rural village, situated in the innermost part of the Pete Inlet Bay, immediately south of the Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park. It is one of six rural villages surrounding the park. Residents here depend to a large degree on the Jozani Forest as a source of firewood, hunting, building resources, farming, fishing, and more. The village also operates ecotourism in the Jozani Forest and has constructed a 0.6 mile boardwalk through the mangroves at the southern road entrance into the national park. Many villagers work as authorized guides for tours in the southern tip of Jozani Forest.
The Mwela Rock Paintings are a national monument of Zambia, about 4.8 kilometers (3.0 mi) east of Kasama
Shetani are spirits of East African mythology and popular belief. Mostly malevolent, and found in many different forms and different types with different powers, shetani are a popular subject of carved artwork, especially by the Makonde people of Tanzania, Mozambique, and Kenya. Physically, shetani of various types appear as distorted human and animal figures.
Uroa, sometimes spelled Urowa, is a small, rural coastal village on central eastern parts of Unguja in Tanzania. It is situated in the Chwaka Constituency in the Unguja South Region. It is located in the Uroa Bay, approximately halfway between the villages of Kiwengwa and Chwaka; 21.7 miles (35 km) north of Zanzibar Town. It is located 5.6 miles (9 km) north of Chwaka and 7.1 miles (11.5 km) south of Kiwengwa. Uroans mostly live on fishing and seaweed farming; tourism is also developing in the area, although to a lesser extent than on the south-eastern coast around Jambiani. It is a small and centerless village with resorts on the southern and northern side of its bay. It is home to only six stores and is recognized as a traditional, slow-paced, and spread-out village. Uroa Village stretches in a narrow, long line from south to north along the coastline, appropriately named Uroa Beach. The elevation of the town is only 3.2 feet on average. Its economy has traditionally relied on fishing and seaweed collecting, but has since 2008 experienced a growth in tourist accommodation. In addition, recent years have also seen an increase in governmental jobs such as health workers, administrators and teachers. New sources of income have contributed to an increased median income for Uroans, however, the income is fairly unequally distributed. For instance, the monthly income for seaweed farmers represent only U.S. $7 per farmer, while Uroans working in the tourist industry makes U.S. $65 on average per month.
Nungwi, or Ras Nungwi, is a large village located in the far northern end of the island of Zanzibar. With a population of about 5,563, Nungwi is the second- or third-largest settlement on the island, possibly smaller than Makunduchi. It is situated in the Nungwi Ward in the Kaskazini A District of the Unguja North Region. It is about 35 miles (56 km) north of Zanzibar Town on the Nungwi Peninsula, about an hour drive from Stone Town. To the south Nungwi shares a border with the neighboring Matemwe- and Tazari villages. Nungwi was traditionally a fishing village and dhow-building center, but is now a popular tourist destination, and for instance recognized in CNN’s list of "100 best beaches of the world" in 2014. West Nungwi has changed a lot since the 1990s and is now a popular tourist destination with numerous resorts, restaurants, bars, stores, etc. East Nungwi is quieter and generally more laid-back.
The Sultan's Palace, Bait As-Sahel was destroyed in the Anglo Zanzibar war of 1896, is one of the main historical buildings of Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania. It is a 3-story building with merlon-decorated white walls, located in Mizingani Road, on the seafront, between the House of Wonders and the Old Dispensary.
Tippu Tip's House is a historical building in Stone Town, Zanzibar, located in Suicide Alley in the Shangani ward near the Africa House Hotel and Serena Inn, about 15–25 minute walking time from the Old Fort and Forodhani Gardens. It is the house where the powerful merchant and slave trader Tippu Tip (1837-1905) lived. The building was a private residence until the Zanzibar Revolution, and was later converted into a block of flats. Despite being a tourist attraction, it is not formally open to visitors and it is in such a state of decay that it has been described as "the most magnificent squat in all of Africa". The large decorated carved wooden door, as well as the black and white marble steps, still testify the great wealth of the historical owner of the house.
Malindi Mosque is a mosque in Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania, located near the port. It is one of the oldest mosques in Zanzibar, dated to the 15th century. It was built by Sunni Muslims and it has some unusual architectural features, including a cone-shaped minaret and a square platform.
Ijumaa Mosque is a mosque in Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania. The mosque was completely renovated in 1994 in the modern arabesque style.
Holy Ghost Mission is located in Bagamoyo, Tanzania. The pioneer mission was established by the Holy Ghost Fathers. The original Holy Ghost Church, built in 1872, is reportedly the oldest church on the mainland of East Africa, while the new church was built 1910-1914. In 1874, David Livingstone was interred for a night at the Holy Ghost Mission; the Livingstone Tower, a part of the original church, is named in his honor.
The following is a timeline of the history of Zanzibar City, Unguja island, Zanzibar, Tanzania. The city is composed of Ng'ambo and Stone Town. Until recently it was known as Zanzibar Town.
Fatuma binti Yusuf al-Alawi was a queen of Unguja in pre-Sultanate Zanzibar. A supporter of the Portuguese in their war against Oman, she sent supplies to the Europeans at the Siege of Fort Jesus. She was captured during the subsequent Omani occupation of Zanzibar and exiled to Oman. Allowed to return in 1709 she ruled the island as a client state of Oman for the rest of her life.
Zanzibari independence is a political ambition of some political parties, advocacy groups, and individuals of Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous region territory within Tanzania, to become an independent sovereign state.
