![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.asimons.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_20241207_083506642-scaled.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe went out past the fish market where we’d enjoyed brunch yesterday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once we’d lost sight of Dar es Salaam the trip was fairly uninteresting (we did ass an island with a tower on it) but within a couple of hours we were approaching Zanzibar. Everyone else hurried down to disembark, but there was no rush.<\/p>\n\n\n\n he ferry was a mixture of high and low tech! The luggage containers were lowered down a steep ramp in what looked like a lethal exercise until you noticed the rope controlling its descent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Welcome to Zanzibar! Zanzibar is semi-autonomous and has its own immigration processes despite being part of Tanzania, which meant more queues!<\/p>\n\n\n\n It soon became apparent that Stonetown, the old part of Zanzibar city which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, had some amazing historic buildings, and some real conservation challenges. This, the Old Customs House, is nicely renovated, but many are is a poor state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We walked, dragging our bags, along the waterfront then in through the old Fort into the narrow lanes and eventually to the Spice Palace Hotel, right in the middle of the little streets (too narrow for cars, but rather a lot of little motorbikes). The hotel had a small pool in the courtyard, very welcome in the heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The neighbouring building had just been restored and looked elegant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After lunch we took a walk around Stonetown. Joyce was negotiating to buy plums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is one of those buildings that look like they need a little TLC. This, I think, is essentially the Town Hall<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cin\u00e9 Afrique is an unusual art deco style building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Next the Aga Khan Polyclinic<\/p>\n\n\n\n A seafront hotel<\/p>\n\n\n\n The seafront, cannons and all<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did you know Freddie Mercury was born in Zanzibar? Well there’s a museum about him, and a bar on the harbourfront named after him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Catholic Cathedral, conveniently close to our hotel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Zanzibar is famous for its doors. The art was almost lost, but now restorations and new builds have created a demand that they find hard to meet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An early run took me down past the old fort as it was getting light<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another sad looking building awaiting restoration<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was back in time to shower and change and get to the Cathedral for 7:30 English Mass, which was quiet. I later regretted not going to the 9:00 Swahili Mass which was very lively!<\/p>\n\n\n\n After breakfast I went out exploring again, heading to the Peace Museum designed in the 1920s by British architect John Sinclair (with Indian influences)<\/p>\n\n\n\n A lovely light space inside, and interesting displays<\/p>\n\n\n\n School trip!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Next to the Peace Museum is the Natural History Museum. Not the greatest, but there were some living animals outside<\/p>\n\n\n\n Next door, another building designed by John Sinclair, originally housing the Zanzibar Municipality, now the home of Zanzibar Television<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also in this part of town, the Mnazi Mmoja Gardens (One Coconut Tree Gardens) originally belonging to the Mnazi Mmoja Hospital<\/p>\n\n\n\n There’s quite a bit of restoration work going on around here<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the gateways to the Old Fort at Forodhani, Stonetown. We were taken through here on the way to our hotel yesterday, which Joyce found a bit disconcerting. We were lucky to get through, as they subsequently closed it for works inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Inside the Old Fort – peaceful apart from all the stallholders trying to persuade you to look at their wares.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Ismaeli Jamatkhana and the Bohora Mosque. Zanzibar is full of mosques !<\/p>\n\n\n\n The “New Mosque”. Well it was once new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the afternoon I went for a walk taking me outside Stonetown and into newer parts of Zanzibar City. There were lots of tenement style buildings looking rather sad, but tucked between then was this amazing art deco mosque, the Salammy Mosque<\/p>\n\n\n\n Back in Stonetown I almost got to the only other Christian church in town, the Anglican Cathedral, but my timing was bad and it was closed. I couldn’t even get close enough to get a picture without paying admission to the exhibition (too expensive for the time I had available)<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the evening we went down to Forodhani Gardens on the waterfront – along with most of the population it seems. It’s the place to relax, promenade, and eat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There was a wide choice of street food available, but we’d just eaten at a caf\u00e9 right on the waters edge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My early morning run took me south today, following the new road towards the airport. Another mosque marked my turning-round point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the return leg I managed to get down to the beach<\/p>\n\n\n\n We had booked to go to swim with turtles at Nungwi, right at the north of the island. While we were at breakfast the heavens opened! We had to wade down to Forodhani (the square gateway pictured yesterday) to meet our guide. There was a bit of confusion as it transpired the fee I’d paid didn’t include transport, but we were eventually on our way. It rained almost all the way (about 90 minutes) but stopped as we neared our destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And here, I swan with sea turtles!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Or rather, they swam with me<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nSunday 8\/12\/2024 – Stonetown<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nMonday 9\/12\/2024 – Nungwi and Kendwa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n