Colloquially known as Mji Mkongwe, which is Swahili for “Old Town,” Stone Town is the historic district of Zanzibar City, a blend of Swahili culture mixed with Persian, Indian and Moorish influences. Today, Stone Town is one of Tanzania’s most popular destinations for historically minded travelers. Here’s how to put your $100 to good use.
Dharajani Market © Ansud | Dreamstime
For a couple thousand Tanzanian shillings, a quick and cheap brunch can be purchased at the Dharajani Market, where locals come to buy fresh fruit, seafood, meat and spices, which could make for a great souvenir. There are also spice tours available, which are quite informative though also touristy. Taxis will drive you out to one of Zanzibar’s many plantations, where you can walk the fields and sample their various goods, from vanilla pods to cumin seeds to turmeric root.
Near Djarajani lies Stone Town’s former slave market, the last slave outpost to be in operation before it was outlawed in 1873. Today, it is a symbol of triumph over inhumanity and is open to see.
The Palace Museum © Demerzel21 | Dreamstime
If you want to escape the heat for a little bit, enjoy the Palace Museum, also known as the Sultan’s Palace, former seafront residence for the Zanzibari Royal Family. The museum houses a collection of art, furniture and historical artifacts documenting the sultanate era from 1828 to 1964. Each floor is dedicated to a different time period, and the most popular room belongs to Princess Salme, the daughter of Seyyid who eloped with a German merchant and documented her experience in Memoirs of an Arabian Princess from Zanzibar. Entrance is 5,000 shillings.
Forodhani Gardens © Imke Stahlmann | Flickr
For a cheap but filling dinner, head to the Forodhani Gardens to eat at the night market in front of Old Fort on the waterfront. Dozens of vendors set up once the sun sets, selling sugarcane juice, fresh seafood and the local favorite, Zanzabari pizza, which is a flatbread stuffed with minced beef, egg, mayo, onion and chili that costs just more than a dollar. Enjoy musical performances and the open-air theatre while chowing down.
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