Zanzibar is the ultimate Indian Ocean experience, with its fascinating historical Stone Town and magnificent beaches.
It may not have a particularly romantic name, but Stone
Town is the old city and cultural heart of Zanzibar, little changed in
the last 200 years. It is a place of winding alleys, bustling bazaars,
mosques and grand Arab houses whose original owners vied with each other
over the extravagance of their dwellings. This one-upmanship is
particularly reflected in the brass-studded, carved, wooden doors -
there are more than 500 different examples of this handiwork. You can
spend many idle hours and days just wandering through the fascinating
labyrinth of narrow streets and alleyways.
Most of the houses that can be seen today were built in
the 19th century when Zanzibar was one of the most important trading
centres in the Indian Ocean region. The coraline rock of Zanzibar was a
good building material, but it is also easily eroded. This is evident by
the large number of houses that are in a bad state of repair. Several
buildings have already been renovated and the Stone Town Conservation
Authority has been established to co-ordinate the restoration of the
town to its original magnificence. Pictured opposite is a 'before and
after' look at the restoration work done on the Old Dispensary. As a result of sensible policy, nearly all of the major hotels built in Stone Town are housed in renovated buildings.
As you walk through the town, please remember that
Stone Town is very much a real community, where real people live and
work. It is not a museum piece or theme park created for tourists, and
sensitivity should be shown to the local people.
For more on Stone town and Zanzibar Click HERE
You can book all your tours and safaris/overlanding tours with us on www.mufasabackpackers.com or email us on jana@mufasabackpackers.com or juan@mufasabackpackers.com
Regards
Jana :)
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