Red Colobus Monkey
Is Zanzibar on your bucket list? Contributing writer Sarah Pew wanted a unique honeymoon—one that didn’t include sipping cocktails and long strolls on the beach. Instead, she opted for a 10-day safari, and topped it off with a stop in Zanzibar. Keep reading to learn more about Zanzibar’s history and activities.
Zanzibar. It almost sounds like a Hollywood invention, a sort of romantic contrivance straight out of a B-grade monster movie. But, believe it or not, it’s a real place—and thankfully monster free. So, after spending 10 days on safari, it was time to wash the dust off and complete the final leg of our bush-to-beach honeymoon to—you guessed it—Zanzibar.
Just off the coast of East Africa, Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous archipelago consisting of two main islands (Unguja and Pemba) and a set of smaller islands (Tumbatu, Mnemba, Uzi, Mesali, and Latham). Pristine white sand beaches and crystal blue waters decorate the coastline. With an early morning arrival from Kenya, we planned to spend our first day exploring the historic city of Stone Town.
Zanzibar’s location and protected harbor made it an infamous and strategic trading hub. Beginning in the late 1690s, the harbor played a significant role in the African slave trade. Captured slaves from the African interior were held in underground caves, put up for auction, and then shipped off to America and various European colonies where they were traded for rum, sugar, and other goods.
The Rock in Zanzibar
Whoever controlled Zanzibar held the power of this free labor source, which created a revolving door of leadership. Over the course of several hundred years, the area was controlled by Portugal, England, and Oman. The convergence of these cultures influenced Zanzibar and can still be felt as you walk the meandering cobblestone streets. Many of the buildings are still bruised and show scars from years of political, religious, and economic unsettlement. The mixture of architecture is striking, including Stone Town’s famous display of exotic doors.
The legacy of Oman had a lasting impact on the island. The Islamic faith took hold, and, today, the population of Zanzibar is roughly 98 percent Muslim.
As slavery was slowly abolished across the globe in the 19th century, Zanzibar transitioned to its second calling. The island’s ideal climate lent itself to growing any and all spices: vanilla, lemongrass, cinnamon, pepper, ginger, etc. Spice plantations can be found throughout the island and are well worth a visit. We visited the Spice Farm where we walked the grounds testing more than 20 different spice leaves and shoots.
Blue Sykes’ Monkey
Zanzibar also has its share of wildlife. The Jozani Chwaka National Park is a lush forest packed with exotic flora and fauna and is home to the Red colobus monkey who can be spotted daily playing among the trees with the equally wily, but slightly shyer, Sykes’ monkey. The park also showcases an incredible mangrove forest, which is an important ecological feature the island is working to protect.
A quick drive down the coast brings you to The Rock, a restaurant that shows off the uniqueness of Zanzibar’s coral geography. Sitting atop an outcropping of coral, you can walk to the front door during low tides. But during high tides, a small colorful boat will ferry you to a fabulous meal and an even more impressive view.
The Residence
What separates Zanzibar from other exotic islands in the Indian Ocean is that amidst its rich, tumultuous history and lush forests, you can completely escape and relax. At luxury resort The Residence, we easily slipped into the lazy island life in our butler-attended, ocean-front villa. The dramatic tidal shifts opened up the coral-reef coastline for a beautiful morning walk followed by a dip in our own private pool. In the afternoon, we hopped on our bikes (graciously provided by the resort) and dozed off during a relaxing couples massage.
To complete your island immersion, have the hotel arrange a sunset cruise on a traditional dhow—the small, lateen-rigged ship indigenous to the area. Then settle in to your four-poster bed, enshrouded by white netting, with the bottoms of your feet kissing the ocean goodnight. Completely dust free.
For more information about destinations and activities in Africa, check out:
- Family-Friendly Safari Camps in Zambia & Zimbabwe
- Live Every Week Like it’s Shark Week: 5 Great Shark Adventures
- Beyond the Beach: Planning an African Safari Honeymoon
Text and Images by Sarah Pew for PeterGreenberg.com
