Tanzania 2011 - part 1 Zanzibar

This is the first part in a series of blogs which will focus on our recent trip to Tanzania. We flew from Abu Dhabi to Dar es Salaam (Dar) and onto to Zanzibar for a night. Then it was off in a small Coastal Aviation plane to Arusha to begin our safari at Lake Manyara. Next was the Ngorongoro Crater before moving on to the western corridor of the Serengeti National Park. After 5 nights away it was time to head back to Zanzibar before flying back to AD.

My intention is to have separate blogs staring with Zanzibar here.

Having been to the southern parts of Tanzania in 2009 (The Selous - Lake Manze, and Ruaha Nartional Park - Old Mdonya River Camp for 2 weeks) a trip to the northern parts was a must whilst we were still in this part of the world. Zanzibar is a great place to get acclimatised at the start and also to unwind at the end of a safari.



The main part of Stonetown



Approaching Stonetown after a trip to Prison Island.



One of the many small islands off Zanzibar.

The coral around Prison Island shows signs of damage through the tsunami of 2004 and bleaching.


Livingstones Restaurant on the beach at Stonetown. A must for sun downers and a meal whilst watching the sunset.

And what sunsets! Setting up the camera on the tripod at Livingstones before we left to go on safari and when we returned, the following give an indication as to why Zanzibar is a popular destination.



Dhow drifting in the last light of day.



One of the many stalls at Forodhani Gardens.

The House of Wonders now houses the Stonetown Museum.

The tower on the top of the House of Wonders was added after an adjacent lighthouse was destroyed by a naval bombardment by the Royal Navy on 27 August 1896. This building was originally the Sultan's Palace and was for a time the only building in Zanzibar to have electricity.


Stonetown at night.



Colourful fabrics on sale in the dusty streets of Stonetown.



Omani style door.

Stonetown and Oman are famous for their heavily carved doors like this one. The oldest going back to 1694. After the Portuguese  influence ended, Zanzibar became part of the Sultanate of Oman (from 1784) although it was also a British Protectorate from 1890 until independence on 10 January 1963. After the so-called Zanzibar Revolution, Zanzibar combined with Tanganyika to form Tanzania on 26 April 1964.


Details of the door lock



Enjoying the late afternoon sun in Stonetown.

The next blogs will detail our adventures to Lake Manyara and beyond.