Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Stone Town, with its narrow streets, historic buildings, and bustling markets.
Overview
This explainable guided tour of Zanzibar’s ancient city of Stone Town is providing you with the great living evidence of a rich cultural heritage, where Persian, Indian, Arab and European influences are mixed with local African tradition and culture. It gives you the very exclusive opportunity to explore the beauty of the Historical buildings with various architectural designs, carved wooden doors shaded by balconies, loggias and verandas shining the unique World Heritage Site of Stone Town. The half day Stone Town Tour includes the visit to the Former Slave Market Site, Darajani Town Market, Zanzibar Coffee House, Sultan’s Palace, The Old Arab Fort, House of Wonders and much more worth visiting. Additionally, have a fabulous opportunity to do shopping in souvenirs and small bazars that give you the chance to bargain for good prices with help from our highly qualified Tour Guides.
Itinerary
The Anglican Cathedral of Christ Church was built in Stone Town (the old part of Zanzibar city) in the place where the biggest slave market of Eastern Africa operated. Its altar was placed exactly where the slaves for sale were whipped. On the floor, among the benches, there are black cobblestones as a remembrance of the dungeons used for slaves in the basement. Outside the Cathedral, there is a stone monument showing four people enchained by their necks as a way of reproducing the way in which slaves were offered to buyers.
Near the Church there is the Exhibition of the Slave Market of Eastern Africa, an exhibition center that displays pictures, photographs and historical information.
The Darajani Market (or Bazaar) is the main bazaar in Stone Town, Zanzibar. It is also known as Estella Market (after Countess Estella, sister of Lloyd Mathews, Prime Minister of Zanzibar) and informally as Marikiti Kuu (in swahili, "main market").[1] The market is located in Darajani Road, in the surroundings of the Anglican Cathedral of Christ.
The main structure of the market was built in 1904 by Bomanjee Maneckjee, for Sultan Ali bin Hamud.It was later extended and restored.
Darajani Bazaar is mainly a food market (seafood, meat, fruits, grains, spices), but there are also shops selling a number of different goods, from consumer electronics to clothing.
Located in Zanzibar City, the unique and historical Zanzibar Coffee House offers individually designed rooms and suites. It features a coffee shop and a roof top terrace, overlooking Stone Town.
The rooms combine old-world charm and antique details with modern conveniences. Each room is fitted with a ceiling fan and a four-poster bed, draped with a mosquito net. Free WiFi is available.
Breakfast is served on the rooftop terrace. The hotel's café is situated downstairs and offers a variety of coffees, prepared by trained baristas. Guests can also indulge in cakes or order meals and snacks.
Zanzibar Coffee House has a 24-hour front desk, concierge and laundry services. Zanzibar Airport is 8 km away and airport transfers can be arranged for a surcharge.
The Sultan’s Palace is one among the iconic historical buildings of Stone Town, Zanzibar. Located along Mizingani Road, on the seafront, close to Mizingani Seafront Hotel, the House of Wonders and the Old Dispensary.
It is built on the site of the previous palace, which was called Bait As-Sahel that was destroyed during the Anglo Zanzibar war of 1896. The current palace was built in the late 19th century to serve as a residence for the Sultan’s family. After the Zanzibar Revolution in 1964, the Old Fort underwent a formal renaming and became known as the People’s Palace. It was repurposed as a government seat during this period. However, in 1994, there was a significant shift in its role, and the fort was transformed into a museum dedicated to showcasing the history of the Zanzibari royal family and their heritage.
The museum consists of the History of Sayyida Salme, best known as Emily Ruete, a former Zanzibari princess who fled the sultanate to relocate to Hamburg, Germany, with her husband Rudolph Heinrich Ruete. You will be able to see her writings, clothes, and daily life accessories. Numerous furniture items and other possessions belonging to the sultan’s family are on display, offering visitors a tangible sense of life in Zanzibar during the 19th century.
The Old Fort (Arab Fort), also known as Ngome Kongwe in Swahili and by other names, is a former fortification located in Zanzibar Stone Town. It is the oldest building and one of the tourist attractions of Stone Town. Positioned along Mizingani Road, adjacent to another landmark building of the city, the House of Wonders, and facing the Forodhani Gardens.
It was built by Omani Arabs after expelling the Portuguese in 1699. It was used as a garrison and prison in the 19th century, and as a terminal of the Zanzibar railways 1905-28, this rail way connected Stone Town to the village of Bububu. The Fort now serves as the headquarters of the Zanzibar international film festival.
The Old Fort is one of the popular tourist attractions in Stone Town, and its courtyard has been adapted to serve as a cultural centre with curio shops selling souvenirs such as paintings, sculptures, Traditional clothes; it also has an open-air amphitheatre where live dance and music shows are held during the festival such as the Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) and the Sauti za Busara.
An icon of Stone Town, the House of Wonders rises in impressive tiers of slender steel pillars and balconies overlooking the waterfront. Its enormous carved doors are said to be the largest in East Africa, fronted by two bronze cannon with Portuguese inscriptions dating them to the 16th century. Inside, the National Museum of History & Culture has exhibits on Swahili civilisation and the peoples of the Indian Ocean.
Built for ceremonial purposes by Sultan Barghash in 1883, in its heyday the House of Wonders boasted marble floors, panelled walls and never-before-seen electricity and running water – hence its name. But in 2012, after years of neglect, a large section of balcony collapsed, closing the building's interior to the public.
Restoration has since stalled, and at the time of research there was no date for reopening, but you can still admire the House of Wonders from the outside. Even though the white paint continues to fade to rusty brown, it's still one of the grandest structures on Zanzibar.
The Trip Cost Includes
- Pick-up or Drop-off service from and to Airport(in our own vehicle)
- Transportation to and from!!
- Food all along the trip(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and a cup of coffee or tea) and accommodations during the trip in hotels with family environment
- Transportation, food, accommodation and insurance of Guide during the trip
- Down jacket, all-season sleeping bag, duffel bag and trekking map(in case if you don’t have your own. Down jacket, sleeping bag and duffel bag must be returned after completion of the trip)
- First Aid Medical Kit(Your guide will carry the Medical Kit but we also advise to bring yourself for your own use, as far as possible)
- All the required permits and paperwork
The Trip Cost Excludes
- International Airfare
- Visa Charges
- Hotel Expenses(In Kathmandu, some packages do include hotel expenses)
- Your travel and medical insurance
- Personal Expenses such as shopping, bar bills, hot shower, telephone, laundry, titbits etc
- Food and accommodations in Kathmandu
- Services not mentioned or not promised by the agent/agency
- Emergency expenses such as expenses on chartered helicopter.
Frequently asked Questions
Annapurna Base Camp is a Grade B or a moderately difficult trekking route. So any fit person can do this trek, even if you do not have any previous experience. You should be aware of what to expect and mentally prepare for it. Then, as long as you will to, you can.
On average, you walk about 4 to 6 hours per day. One or two days can be as less as 3hrs and one or two days can be as long as 7hrs.
The highest altitude reached is 4190m. This is the elevation of Annapurna Base Camp. ABC is the highest we will climb in this trek.
Yes, you can charge batteries en route. Charger should be brought. There are hot shower facilities as well. You may have to pay certain amount for both ($1-$2). Negotiate. Also, hot water facility could be free at lower elevation.
No. There are no ATMs on this trek route. You will have to draw enough cash in Pokhara or Kathmandu. There are a number of ATMs in these cities. Everything is paid in Nepali rupees. So money should be exchanged before the start of the trek.
Yes. Internet can be accessed in most places. Sometimes, there might be some technical problems. Internet in Nepal is not as fast as you are used to and at times you can just lose connection.
Not really. It depends on you. If you want, ABC trekking can be done independently. You could hire a guide and a porter by yourself instead of going through an agency or not hire a guide at all. Although, not having a guide can be a little problematic during off season.
It really depends on you. Is it your first time in Nepal? How confident are you of being able to find your way around? How pressed on time are you? If you go through an agency, it will be costlier but everything will be planned. You will only have to come, trek and return.
For Annapurna region, pay for guides range from $20 to $30 per day and porters take $15 to $25 per day.
