The island of Zanzibar Stone Town city and the Indian ocean aerial view
View of Stone Town in Zanzibar with house of Wonders building

Beautiful Zanzibar is a Tanzanian archipelago in the Indian Ocean off the coast of East Africa. It has a relaxed pace and diverse flora and fauna, but its highlight has to be the powder-soft white sand beaches and alluring crystal clear waters offering visitors a true slice of paradise.[ReadMoreMob]

The island’s main town is Stone Town, a historic trade centre with Swahili and Islamic influences. Its winding lanes are lined with balconies, minarets, huge carved doorways and 19th century landmarks such as the House of Wonders, a former sultan’s palace. A sense of Zanzibar’s harrowing past can discovered by visiting the old Slave Market or alternatively, its more cultural side can be tasted in its colourful cuisine at the Forodhani Gardens.

The island is one of the world's great cultural crossroads, where Africa meets Arabia. On the coast, fishing boats set sail, and in the countryside farmers tend fields of rice or plantations of clove.

Zanzibar’s idyllic beaches are dotted with quaint hotels, and its shallow turquoise waters are perfect to paddle before the ocean becomes a playground for kayaking, diving and snorkelling for tropical marine life. Kitesurfing on the gorgeous sands is another popular pastime.