Anyone keen to round off their African holiday in style should consider a short break in Zanzibar for the final leg of their trip, particularly if they are looking for rest and relaxation. Zanzibar is an excellent place to unwind if you have taken part in an adventure holiday, with a number of sights, restaurants and beautiful scenery to explore while you give your legs a rest from trekking and mountain climbing. One of the first places on any tourist's itinerary is Stone Town, a district in the old Zanzibar City that has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. The first thing you will notice is that the narrow streets of this quaint town are too tight to squeeze in cars, so you can explore this pedestrian paradise in peace. Boasting some of the most beautiful architecture in Zanzibar, Stone Town has been influenced by cultures from all around the world, including European, African, Persian, Indian and Arabian.
Some of the buildings are popular attractions, detailing the region's rich history through former sultan palaces, fortifications, churches and mosques. Due to the primary use of coral stone during construction, the structures are a reddish-brown colour, giving the town a warm, yet vibrant, aesthetic. However, marvelling at the stunning buildings is not the only activity to take part in, as there is also a collection of bazaars where you can scour the tables for souvenirs. Alternatively, you can choose from a plethora of excellent restaurants, with House of Spices being one of the town's most popular venues. Offering a delicious Mediterranean menu from a fantastic rooftop setting, the establishment is known for its great seafood, service and wine selection.
Enjoy a short break in Zanzibar Friday, 9 September 2011 3:59 PM Tweet Zanzibar: Ideal for relaxation Anyone keen to round off their African holiday in style should consider a short break in Zanzibar for the final leg of their trip, particularly if they are looking for rest and relaxation.
Zanzibar is an excellent place to unwind if you have taken part in an adventure holiday, with a number of sights, restaurants and beautiful scenery to explore while you give your legs a rest from trekking and mountain climbing. One of the first places on any tourist's itinerary is Stone Town, a district in the old Zanzibar City that has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. The first thing you will notice is that the narrow streets of this quaint town are too tight to squeeze in cars, so you can explore this pedestrian paradise in peace.
Boasting some of the most beautiful architecture in Zanzibar, Stone Town has been influenced by cultures from all around the world, including European, African, Persian, Indian and Arabian. Some of the buildings are popular attractions, detailing the region's rich history through former sultan palaces, fortifications, churches and mosques. Due to the primary use of coral stone during construction, the structures are a reddish-brown colour, giving the town a warm, yet vibrant, aesthetic.
However, marvelling at the stunning buildings is not the only activity to take part in, as there is also a collection of bazaars where you can scour the tables for souvenirs. Alternatively, you can choose from a plethora of excellent restaurants, with House of Spices being one of the town's most popular venues.
Offering a delicious Mediterranean menu from a fantastic rooftop setting, the establishment is known for its great seafood, service and wine selection. If you are hoping to experience some local African dishes, you should instead opt for lunch at Lazuli. This cafe in the Shangani district of the town is very reasonably priced and has some of the best smoothies available in Zanzibar. Tourists looking to explore the surrounding area can take a day trip to Prison Island, which is just a short ten-minute boat ride from Stone Town. Once you arrive you will be surrounded by some of the most scenic natural landscape to be found in Zanzibar, including white sandy beaches and a coral reef.
A perfect place for sitting back and enjoying the weather, Prison Island is great for relaxing during Tanzania holidays. The island itself has never contained a prison, despite its name, although it does have famous inhabitants that have been imported from the Seychelles - Aldabra tortoises.
Not only are these reptiles among the largest tortoises in the world, with some being one metre in height, but they also reach ages of 100 years or more. Hotels in Zanzibar can provide you with a number of suggestions as to what amenities and attractions are available in the vicinity, with spice tours being a popular choice. These expeditions tend to last between three and four hours - although this depends on the company with which you book - and you will be picked up and returned to your accommodation. The archipelago of Zanzibar was once known as the Spice Islands and it does not disappoint, as during your tour, you will likely come across a variety of interesting spices, such as cardamom, black pepper, cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg. You should also keep an eye out for the region's tropical fruit plants, including pineapple, coconuts and bananas.
