Zanzibar (Ugunja)
Zanzibar is a coral island that may have once been part of the African continent, a true gem in the azure waters of the Indian Ocean. The island beckons tourists with coconut palms swaying in the tropical wind, picturesque hills, in some places covered with pristine forest, and marvelous white sand beaches. Another magnet for visitors is the abundance of coral reefs surrounding the island. It’s a real fairy tale for divers!
Video: The World Inside Out. Zanzibar
Contents- Highlights
- History of Zanzibar
- Stone City
- West and North of Zanzibar Island
Diving in Nungwi - Sea fishing
- East coast of Zanzibar
- How to get there
Highlights
Humpback whales, which migrate usually in spring and September, are also clearly visible from the coast of Zanzibar. Afaline dolphins are very fond of these waters. Swimming with the dolphins under the guidance of lifeguards is a favorite tourist attraction.
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The history of the island is a story of foreign occupations, lively trade and slavery. The first known inhabitants of the island were the Bantu-speaking Africans, the Hadimu and Tumbatu people. According to local legend, in the 10th century Persian sailors who had lost their way came here. They lived here for a long time waiting for a tailwind and finally decided to stay here forever.
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The island is home to the city of Zanzibar, a fruit of various cultural influences, here Africa meets Persia, Arabia, India, China and Portugal, Dutch and British influences are also noticeable.
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This island has a solid area and is separated from the continent by wide straits, so Arab merchants felt very safe here. The Chinese Zheng He may have visited Zanzibar in 141 5 or 1418, but the first serious threat to the Arabs was the Portuguese armada. In the late 17th century the entire archipelago came under the flag of Oman, and in 1856 Sultan Seyyid moved his court from the shores of the Persian Gulf to the island of Zanzibar. In 1862 the sultan ceased to control his former possessions on the Arabian Peninsula, but he was not too upset. His successor Majid ruled not only the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba, but also a sizeable chunk of the mainland, where he founded Dar es Salaam.
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The third Zanzibar sultan, Bargash, was no longer living so well: he had lost his income from the slave trade and had to share power with the British consul. When Bargash tried to drive the British out in 1896, it ended in the shortest war in history, lasting only 45 minutes. The fighting took place in the raid of the archipelago’s capital, and 18 years later the first naval battle of World War I took place there. The German cruiser “Königsberg” shot the British “Pegasus” at point-blank range, which was the last attack by an external enemy in the island’s history. But the civil war broke out just a month after the British left, in early 1964. Not wanting to see an Arab sultan as the head of state, black workers disarmed the police and organized a pogrom – also Indians, Europeans, Chinese and all other non-Africans. Then the rebels united with their mainland neighbor, but Zanzibar still elects a president (he is also considered the vice president of all of Tanzania), and foreigners get entry stamps in their passports.
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Stone Town
West and north of Zanzibar Island
The west coast of the island (facing the mainland) and its northern tip are most famous. Access is via the highway from the market on Creek Rd. The drive, to the northernmost point of Nungwi takes about 1 hr, a dala dala costs Sh2,000. Between Zanzibar and Nungwi, on the west coast of the island, are resort villages such as Bububu and Kendwa. The former served as the terminus of Africa’s first 10-kilometer railroad, built in the late 1870s to entertain the Sultan. Nowadays, Bububu’s main attraction is the long Fuji Beach. Another 10 kilometers to the north are the largest on the island Mangapwani Caves (Mangapwani Caves), located in the village of the same name right on the beach. There are also the remains of coastal fortifications built by the British in 1940 to protect the island from a possible German landing.
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Kendwa is heard as a budget destination suitable for youths – it is about 2km from the extremely popular Nungwi. If taking a dala-dala or cab from Zanzibar to the north, get off at the fork just before 3km to Nungwi and then take the side road to the left from the sign for Zanzibar Watersports Dive Center and Scuba Do Zanzibar (approx. 1.5km).
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Sea Fishing
Fishing Zanzibar (+255-0773875231, 0772219612, 077-3548774; www.fishingzanzibar.com). Two yachts, full tackle. 6-hour fishing trip in the vicinity of Nungwi $700.
.East coast of Zanzibar
How to get there
There are no direct flights from Russia to the island of Zanzibar. The most convenient way is to get to Dubai, where you can take a flight to Dar es Salaam, and there you can travel the remaining 50 km by ferry or by small plane.
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