Guided Tour of the Stone Town District in Zanzibar City: A Comprehensive Guide

Zanzibar City is a beautiful spot located on the islands of Unguja, in Tanzania, and is the capital of Zanzibar, along with being its largest city. Throughout the years it has become a big tourist destination thanks to its tropical air, Indian and Arabic culture, coral-rich waters, and unique sites that make it a must-see in your African journey.

The main attraction of the area is its old district, the Stone Town. Located in the heart of Zanzibar, Stone Town is an architectural area composed of several buildings, roads, and other structures in an old eastern style. Through 800 years, the place has been inhabited by many generations, going from merchants all the way to freedom fighters.

With more than 3.000 monuments, among temples and fortresses, the most famous buildings in Stone Town are the House of Wonders, The Cathedral of Christ Church, and The Old Dispensary. Among all of them, Jaws Corner is the most prominent spot of the district, as it served as a market during the time of slavery, when merchants transported and exchanged African slaves for gold and ivory.

If you are looking to take a guided tour of Zanzibar City’s historic Stone Town district, we have you covered with this comprehensive guide.

What to Expect From Your Guided Tour of Stone Town

When you visit Stone Town you can expect to have an adventure immersed among the history of Zanzibar. An organized guided tour through this part of the city is ideal to learn more about its past and present.

Most tours provide a professional guide specialized in local history who will explain all the details regarding the sites you visit. After taking you around to different places that constitute the district they will end up in House of Wonders, where they will explain its history and restore process during the 90 years it took to renovate it

Best Times to Visit Stone Town

The best time to go on this tour is between the hours of morning and midday. This way you can enjoy a pleasant temperature and a vibrant atmosphere full of locals trading in the city.

The morning expedition will bring you deeper into Stone Town’s inner region as you discover some of its historical spots such as ancient mosques or hidden chapels. You also get to explore its narrow alleys that form an intricate web between colonial buildings and African houses with picturesque balconies and decorated doors.

Moreover, the day provides you with a unique opportunity to get acquainted with some interesting attractions such as Marahubi Palace or Sultan Seif I Mosque.

Precautions You Should Take During Your Tour

When visiting a foreign city, especially one as old as Stone Town in Zanzibar, it is important to be aware of some safety measures that you should take to have a stress-free experience.

When you go there make sure to always wear comfortable shoes for walking for convenience and take plenty of water or any beverage you prefer to hydrate yourself in this warm climate. Also make sure to wear clothes that respect local customs so you do not make anyone feel uncomfortable or disrespectful with your appearance.

To go from one point to another try not to carry many bulky items since that would only add extra weight while going around streets with uneven ground and very slippery surfaces. Make sure that you always move along with your tour guide so you do not get lost an easily follow its pace through those narrow alleys.

Visit Historic Places Inside The Stone Town District

Stone Town will bring you closer to many significant places throughout your tour like churches, mosques and swimming fields despite inside one of them you may find some cultural artifacts like musical instruments or ancient scrolls within this district of East Africa.

The first place that you may visit during your guided tour is St Joseph’s Catholic Cathedral of Zanzibar which was built over a hundred years ago by many local architects at that time including Askari Mwinyi Lauro. It is an impressive building with big doors and yellowish walls accompanied by decorations from previous periods hidden between its walls like furniture or wooden sculptures that fit perfectly with its colonial aspects . Nowadays this cathedral serves both as an important worship location for Catholics from Zanzibar and tourists from other countries surrounding the Indian Ocean and even far away lands.

The next stops could be one of the old bazaars found in Stone Town such as Darajani Bazar or Anglo-German Bazar which reside right outside the parliament house and were used before as places to promote trades between two cultures and nations different in religion and language. In addition to those stands and carts with various commodities and product available, visitors may also find bongos , drums and xylophones all around those structures which makes these places a hype spot for those who want to feel the richness of Tanzanian culture . Nothing like music can show the essence and beauty behind this civilization better than traditional instruments.

One place not many people talk about when visiting Stone Town is Freddy’s souvenirs shop found right near Darajani Bazar , this place is perfect for those who want to take something special home nor just postcards but actual wood sculptures or miniature ships made out of logs cut from trees that always sold out quickly due to high demand by customers who clearly appreciate his workmanship over the years . This small store however doesn’t only offers arts but also exotic fruits that demonstrate how this nation continues being part of nature without the need of oververcializing natural reserves like what we see in many societies nowadays .

Visit Secret Sites Inside Zanzibar City

One other area which could be next after visiting main highlights from Stone Town is known as Marahubi Palace found out near Marahubi Beach one of the biggest beaches near east side of Stone Town . This palace was built at late 19th century by Sultan Barghash Bin Said Al Busid under French influence since no one before him ever did something like this unfortunately today nobody knows much about him except for some legends but still there is something about this palace you can appreciate even though it looks like arabic influences dominate a big portion from this building , its architecture has a big part from Africa upon it something from Portuguese influences no doubt behind it . For example while in many entrance exterios you may find coral stone columns , zigzag lines in doorways or cute balconies within windows whoever dives deeper into palace will find grandiose skillful rooms multiple levels adding more magic unto this exotic location .

Other place very exciting in ZanzibarStone town is Slave Market. In terms of sad cases it was built over 200 years ago right next to sultanate palace used as place where slaves were sold in auctions against ivory and gold , now it may be considered one of the saddest spots in town but if you pay close attention along your journey across stone town you will notice a lot of elements related to those periods such as rhino horns , metal blades or ceramic pieces form African continent . It no longer serve same purpose since its known officially as former slave market open for any types of clients but still not possible to deny its remarkable connections against enslaving people for commercial benefit .

How to Book A Guided Tour Of Zanzibar City And Stone Town?

If you wish to book a guided tour of Zanzibar City’s historic Stone Town district you can easily do so online with GetYourGuide website. On their website you can browse through many different options so you can find one that fits with your particular style while knowing what tourist sites it will include on your itinerary along with information regarding price , schedules , availability on selected days as well as how much time will each visit last on each spot also what kind of other services entail on every experience such as lunch separate tickets if available among other details .

Once you found something perfect for your trip simply proceed by selecting passangers going on tour completing data payment forms securely so you rest assured that process won’t be suspicious against personal information while finalizing purchase , if security is what worries then rest assured that options available include refundable purchases just case where cancellation might be necessary. In conclusion if you plan on visiting Zanzibar City soon make sure be aware from previous recommendations gathered in this article but also explore own research considering each individual have different needs or expectations besides have lots entertainment available for anyone on stone town therefore taking a guided tour will allow visitors explore so much more .

Conclusion

Visiting Zanzibar City’s Stone Town district is a must for any adventure-seeker looking for a cultural experience like no other. Here you can find architecture from centuries ago but also get closer to locals who provide us with details about their past through different stories every time we ask them directly. The best way to explore this city is going on guided tours that cover not only sightseeing places but also secret sites which provide rare stories while still providing security security measures along way. To book one simply go GetYourGuide website where they offer various packages so everyone can choose according their budget while still exploring most part town without compromising quality, fun or expectations Book now your Zanzibar City Guided Tour activity.