Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Off to Zanzibar

Depart Kenya for Zanzibar/Stone Town

Now it is time relax, and explore Stone Town at our own leisure, and enjoy the culture and nightlife that it has to offer. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Stone Town is a captivating labyrinth of narrow streets and winding alleyways. It was a real buzz in the markets, a delight to all the senses in the bustling bazaars, and the many mosques and grand Arab residences. We spent hours just wandering the alleys and squares, drinking potent coffee from pavement vendors, buying local snacks, such as sesame bread, from scores of tiny cafes.

Zanzibar, 'the spice island,' has an extremely interesting history and culture as it was the centre of the slave and spice trades in the 1800s. Zanzibar is one of the most fascinating places in East Africa, despite a heavy increase in tourism since the early 1990s. Thanks to an ambitious and far-reaching preservation programme funded by UNESCO and the Aga Khan Foundation, many famous old buildings have been restored, or are in the process of being renovated.

Spice Plantation - Kendwa

We traveled to the northwesten beach of Kendwa and make a fantastic stop en route, as no visit to Zanzibar would be complete without a visit to the spice plantations. Delight your senses during this included guided tour, and learn about the assortment of spices such as cloves, black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, breadfruit, jackfruit, vanilla and lemongrass, and their various uses. It was the wonderful spice plantations that brought the beginnings of Zanzibar’s infamous slave trade dating back to the 1840’s.

The next few day we just enjoyed the peaceful surroundings of Kendwa and neighbouring Nungwi. Relax on the beautiful white sandy beaches, soaking up the African sun, a little snorkeling in the crystal clear waters is just for you. As well as time to stroll down to Nungwi, the centre of Zanzibar’s traditional dhow-building industry and the beach capital of Zanzibar. Your time here will be simply magical!
Depart Zanzibar

Today we left our hotel in Kendwa and transferred to Stone Town to begin our long trip home!!!

No comments:

Post a Comment