Going to Zanzibar

What to do in Zanzibar

by Matt Link

Zanzibar conjures all the exoticism of far-away mythical places, and as soon as you appear on its shores you'll quickly find it lives up to its legendary brand name. Like Timbuktu, it's one of those places no one's really sure exists, and if it does, where it is exactly. To clear things up once and for all, Zanzibar consists of a small group of islands 20-something miles off the coast of Tanzania in East Africa. Once the seat of powerful Muslim sultans, the isles have long been wealthy from spice trade, particularly cloves. In fact, for a period in the 1800s, Zanzibar was one of the wealthiest places on earth, due to trade in spices and slaves. First and foremost, nature lures visitors to these islands, which are surrounded by impossibly sparkling waters and a vibrant underwater world. But the island's fascinating history and culture...

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