{"id":76973,"date":"2023-02-02T22:30:21","date_gmt":"2023-02-03T06:30:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.soulofamerica.com\/?page_id=76973"},"modified":"2023-12-04T16:20:11","modified_gmt":"2023-12-05T00:20:11","slug":"zanzibar","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.soulofamerica.com\/international\/zanzibar\/","title":{"rendered":"Zanzibar"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Chillin

PHOTOS: Chillin in Zanzibar<\/strong>; credit Cody McLain<\/p><\/div><\/a><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Zanzibar<\/h2>\n
<\/div>\n
Photos<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Hotels<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Map<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Weather<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

A First-Timer\u2019s Guide to Zanzibar, Island Paradise of Tanzania<\/h3>\n
by Harper Rudley<\/font><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

As you hot-foot it across the beach toward the Indian Ocean, what you see isn\u2019t what you get. The squishy sand in the surf does soothe your toes. A little way out, the water looks deep enough to swim in. But if you take 10, then 20, and then 30 or 40 long strides toward the horizon, the water level still barely reaches your ankle.<\/p>\n

On Zanzibar\u2019s Paje Beach, low tide means no tide.<\/p>\n

Why is that important? Because if you do an about-face at this distance, the shore looks like an iMax screen of white sands, waving palms, and aquamarine. On any other beach, such a wide panorama view could only be seen by doing some serious water-treading in some seriously deep water.<\/p>\n

Offering these \u201conly on this island\u201d vistas, Zanzibar sits 40 miles off the coast of Tanzania in East Africa. Through its rich Arabic, Indian, and Portuguese history, the island serves up a blend of exotic cultures. You see it in the faces of the people, in the eclectic architecture, in the bright-hued artwork, and, especially, in the food.<\/p>\n

Yes, you could spend your entire two weeks lazing on some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. But for a richer Zanzibar experience, don\u2019t forget to:<\/p>\n

\"One

One of many remarkably crafted Zanzibar doors<\/strong>; credit Patricia Hokororo<\/p><\/div>\n

Step # 1 \u2013 Adore the Doors<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stone Town is the heart of Zanzibar City, the island\u2019s capital. It\u2019s an aptly named neighborhood where soaring concrete homes stand shoulder to shoulder in a maze of walkways. The massive doors are icons, teak, and mahogany structures more than eight feet tall and weighing as many as 600 pounds.<\/p>\n

Intricate carvings, bold cutouts, and brass knobs decorate the surfaces. The artistic style speaks to the city\u2019s multicultural history.<\/p>\n

The doors\u2019 conditions run the gamut \u2013 from grand to modest, shiny and polished to peeling and unwashed, meticulously well-kept and sadly ignored. You can book a tour of the neighborhood online (google \u201cZanzibar door tours\u201d) or hire one of the many young men who\u2019ll ask to escort you.<\/p>\n

We decided to spend a morning wandering around on our own. We got lost in the most perfect way, flitting from door to door to admire the majesty of the designs. The highlight was finding the home of Freddie Mercury, the rock icon and lead singer of Queen. We happily waited our turn behind other fans to take a photo at the entrance to Freddie\u2019s door.<\/p>\n

\"Aerial

Aerial view of Stones town, Zanzibar; credit Javi Lorbada<\/p><\/div>\n

Step # 2 – Visit Stone Town\u2019s Waterfront at Night<\/strong><\/p>\n

At dusk, tourists and locals gravitate to the waterfront, where they\u2019ll find the best of island cuisine. Blazing daytime temperatures have cooled. The sun is slipping into the Indian Ocean. And the aroma of a thousand backyard cookouts hangs in the air at this night market, known as Forodhani Gardens.<\/p>\n

Zanzibar pizza reigns supreme. The delicacy is part crepe, part omelet, a star of endless YouTube videos and travel bloggers. Curious onlookers line up to watch a blur of vegetable chopping, egg cracking, ground beef breaking, mayonnaise spreading, and finally, cooking on a hot grill. SmartPhones snap pics of the culinary action.<\/p>\n

If pizza isn’t your thing, there are dozens of other food carts, offering sizzling sausages, beef, and chicken skewers, shawarmas of lamb wrapped in flatbread, fresh fish on ice. Point to a snapper, and it\u2019s on the grill, then on your plate.<\/p>\n

As for drinks, strong-muscled men insert sugarcane into a steel contraption and use brute force to rotate a lever that squeezes out sugar syrup used in the most refreshing of lemonades.<\/p>\n

\"Arranging

Arranging spices at the Spice Farm, Zanzibar<\/strong>; (c) Soul Of America<\/p><\/div>\n

Step # 3 \u2013 Savor the Spices<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since Zanzibar is known as the spice island, you\u2019re almost obligated to tour a spice farm. We visited Tangawizi. Rather than the acres upon acres of crops that I expected, the farm was more like a small park divided into sections devoted to individual spices.<\/p>\n

Our guide led us past a dozen or more plants and bushes \u2013 including ginger, cardamom, cumin, saffron, turmeric, paprika, and cinnamon \u2013 offering five minutes of spice knowledge at each. He let us feel and smell the spice leaves or berries, described their origins, and gave an overview of how they\u2019re used. His assistant, meanwhile, picked and braided low-hanging palm fronds into small cone-shaped baskets so we could carry the leaves and berries with us.<\/p>\n

As we strolled along, the assistant picked and braided the fronds into souvenirs \u2013 hand fans, crowns, a bracelet and ring for me, and a necktie for Patrick.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n