Zanzibar

Zanzibar is an archipelago off the coast of Tanzania, in East Africa. The name “Zanzibar” is derived from the Persian word “Zang-bar”, meaning “black coast”. The archipelago consists of two large islands (Unguja and Pemba) and several smaller ones. It is a popular tourist destination, known for its beaches, its historic Stone Town, and its spices.

What is recorded of the history of present-day Zanzibar usually starts with the arrival of Arabic traders who came to East Africa to trade for spices such as cloves, nutmeg, pepper, and ginger. Their influence on African culture was profound because they brought Islam to this region in which it had previously been unknown.

Historically, Zanzibar has always been a popular tourist destination for Europeans who travelled there en route from Europe to Asia via Egypt or India. British rule over most of Africa brought increased tourism activity – however after independence tourism declined dramatically due to political unrest throughout the region during the 1960s until the 1990s when restoration work began on historic buildings including Fort Jesus built by Portuguese explorers in 1593 AD overlooking Mtoni Bay on Unguja Island where visitors can enjoy panoramic views across Stone Town – which became the capital city after Zanzibar merged with Tanganyika into Tanzania following independence from Britain (1964).