Explore Stone Town
Explore Stone Town : Situated near the western shores of Zanzibar, Tanzania, Stone Town is the true cultural and historic centre of the island. Built during the ancient Trade and Exchange era between Africa and Asia, Arabia, this area, known as Old Town, is an exceptionally perfect example of the Swahili Coastal Towns / Trading Centres on the coast of East Africa.
Stone Town is the greatest location to experience African, Indian, European, and Arabic cultures, among others, because it has maintained its lovely urban setting, townscape, and several historic buildings in their original states.
Geographical location.
Without a doubt, the oldest town in the centre of East Africa’s western Unguja Island Coast is Stone Town. It is a portion of the Zanzibar City, which also includes Ng’ambo City along the coast. Remarkably, Stone Town was one of the bustling hubs of the 19th-century Slave Trade and Spice Trade era. Stone Town was once the capital of the Sultanate of Zanzibar.
Since its founding a millennium ago, this town has continued to hold historical significance along the East African coast. Stone Town, known as Mji Mkongwe in Swahili, is a stunning city that occupies just 96 hectares of land in total.
History.
Stone Town has long been regarded as the liveliest city with intriguing architecture. The Portuguese founded it as a small fishing village in 1503. Although Stone Town is more recent, it was founded in the second half of the 1800s.
Particularly in the 18th century, Zanzibar was heavily involved in the Slave Trade. Travellers are astounded by the fusion of Arab, European, Persian, and Indian cultures that hasn’t affected the true Swahili culture when they visit Stone Town or Zanzibar Island. The world’s most famous tourist destination is Stone Town, the oldest city, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.
Attractions in Zanzibar’s Stone Town.
The Old Dispensary / Nasur NurMohamed dispensary
The Old Dispensary/Nasur NurMohamed Dispensary is Stone Town’s historical building dating 1887, built by Thaira Thopen. After building this dispensary for seven years, Thaira Thopen turned it into a charity hospital that cares for the underprivileged. It was later converted into a dispensary and has amazing stained glass windows and carved wooden balconies.
The Nasur NurMohamed Dispensary fell into disrepair between 1970 and 1980, but Aga Khan for Trust of Culture (AKTC) restored it.
Hamamni Persian Baths.
The historic public baths known as the Hamamni Persian Baths were constructed in Zanzibar City between 1870 and 1888. They were abandoned until 1920, and the Swahili word for “place of baths” is where they got their name.
Old Fort.
Situated close to the House of Wonders, the Old Fort is a magnificent historic site that is also known as the Omani Fort. The Omanis constructed this historic site in the seventeenth century. Afterwards, the early kings used it to keep any European invaders away from Stone Town.
This location hosts a number of important events, such as the well-known Zanzibar International Film Festivals.
House of Wonders.
Known by most as the Palace of Wonders or Bet-al-Ajaib, it is located on the Mizingani route near Stone Town’s waterfront. Constructed in 1883, the Palace of Wonders holds great historical significance in Stone Town. It underwent renovations following the Anglo-Zanzibar War in 1896. It’s interesting to note that this building is the first in all of Zanzibar, East Africa, to have both electricity and a lift. The Palace of Wonders has been used as a Swahili Museum since 2000.
Anglican Cathedral.
The third Bishop of Zanzibar, Edward Steere, constructed the Anglican Cathedral in 1873. Built to commemorate the abolition of the slave trade in East Africa, this cathedral is located along the Mkunazini route.
Roman Catholic Cathedral of Saint Joseph.
The French Missionaries built the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Saint Joseph between 1893 and 1897. The remarkable historical structure in Stone Town, Zanzibar, has two towering spires and a distinctive design that was inspired by the Marseille cathedral.
Forodhani Gardens.
The Forodhani Garden is a charming little park located near Stone’s main seawalk along the Indian Ocean Coast. It is an excellent location to enjoy a local barbecue every evening while watching a stunning sunset. A tour of Stone Town should also include stops at the Malindi Mosque and the Palace Museum/Beit-el-Sahel, two other noteworthy locations.
What should I anticipate from Zanzibar’s Stone Town Tour?
There will be a tonne more to discover in Stone Town. There are lots of fascinating experiences and activities to partake in, such as guided tours of Stone Town’s streets, historical site sightseeing, and souvenir shopping.
When is the best time to visit Stone Town in Zanzibar?
Stone Town is a year-round safari destination thanks to its perfect climate and weather. Travelling to Stone Town is best done in the dry season, which runs from June to October or from December to February. These are the busiest months of the year to visit Unguja Island (also known as Zanzibar Island) for a beach vacation.
Accommodations in and around Stone Town.
There are many different hotels and resorts in Stone Town where travelers can spend the night. The Seyyida Hotel & Spa, Jafferji House & Spa, Tembo House Hotel, DoubleTree by Hilton, Zanzibar Serena Inn, Park Hyatt, Zenji Hotel, Mizingani Seafront Hotel, Emerson Spice Hotel, and Zanzibar Coffee House are a few of them.
How to get to Stone Town in Zanzibar.
The distance between Stone Town and Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ) is 8 km. Private vehicles, 4×4 rental cars, airport shuttles and public transportation in Zanzibar can all be used to get there.
Located in the centre of Unguja Island, this historic town is bordered to the south by Bagamoyo.