The Atlantic's green secret
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Zanzibar Spice Shores · Zanzibar
Spice island shores
1 / 6 · Mashauri Lumbas
Spice island shores
Zanzibar Spice Shores · Zanzibar
Hidden Culture Calm
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Book it yourself on the next step, or let a GoSmart specialist plan it with you.
Find things to do in Zanzibar Talk to a specialistWhy you’ll love it
Stone Town alleys, dhow sails, cloves on the breeze. A GoSmart specialist tailors the route, the stays, and the pace to you.
Why it works
A wooden dhow leans into the trade wind, its sail the colour of old canvas, and the water underneath shifts from jade to turquoise as the sandbar drops away. Back in Stone Town the air is heavy with cloves and cardamom, and the call to prayer drifts over the rooftops at dusk.
Worth knowing
Zanzibar is predominantly Muslim, so cover shoulders and knees in Stone Town and the villages out of respect. The beach resorts are relaxed, but modest dress away from them is appreciated and expected.
On the east coast the tide goes out dramatically, leaving the shallows too low to swim for hours. Check the tide tables when you pick a beach if swimming straight off the sand matters to you.
A spice farm tour is the cliche that actually delivers, walking you through the cloves, vanilla, and nutmeg that made the island rich. Bring small bills for tips and market finds.
About the place
Zanzibar is a Swahili spice island off the coast of Tanzania, where an old Arab-African trading port meets long white beaches. Stone Town's maze of carved doors and spice markets gives way to fishing villages and turquoise shallows on the coast.