Stone Town

If Zanzibar Town is the archipelago’s heart, Stone Town is its soul. It’s magical jumble of cobbled alleyways make it easy to spend days wandering around and getting lost – although you can’t get lost for long because, sooner or later, you’ll end up on either the seafront or Creek Rd.

Nevertheless, each twist and turn of the narrow streets brings something new – be it a school full of children chanting verses from the Quran, a beautiful old mansion with overhanging verandas, or a coffee vendor with his long-spouted pot fastened over coals. Along the way, watch the island’s rich cultural melange come to life: Arabic-style houses with their recessed inner courtyards rub shoulders with Indian-influenced buildings boasting ornate balconies and latticework, and bustling oriental bazaars alternate with street-side vending stalls.