ZANZIBAR

Zanzibar is perhaps most famous for it's historical background involving the slave trade and it's position as an important trading post for spices. The island has been a stopping-off point for traders going up and down the coast for many years. As a result, many different travellers including Greeks, Egyptians, Persians and Chinese as well as European explorers and missionaries visited the island and used it as a starting point for their travels inland.

This legacy can be evidenced in the native people, their culture and the architecture of the island. The origin of the name is not clear, however the Omani Arabs believe that it comes from the words "Zayn Zal Barr" which means, "Fair is the Island".

Zanzibar conjures up an exotic and romantic image and is extremely exotic with interesting historic relics such as The Fort, Beit-el-Ajaib (House of Wonders), Beit al-Sahel (People's Palace), Dhow Harbour, Livingstone House and the Hamamni Persian Baths to mention a few.