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Sign in with FacebookLatest Zanzibar Town hotel reviews
Pro
HISTORY, GREAT FOOD, INTERESTING THINGS TO SEE
Con
Not much to see.
In a nutshell
It should be on your wishlist
DAO Says: The Old Dispensary is a colourful and exotic looking building not far from the Port. It was built by Sir Tharia Topan (a rich man in Zanzibar) to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. It was started in 1887, but worked stopped in 1891 when Sir Tharia died in...
PierreZA Says: Next to the Anglican Cathedral, you will find the St Monica’s Guesthouse. This was previously used as a missionary hospital. In the basement are the slave chambers, where slaves were ‘kept’ in terrible conditions. These are claustrophobic underground cells in which up to 75...
BOLLYWOOD GRILL: THE ONLY BBQ IN STONE TOWN
DAO Says: I call this Bollywood Grill, but it actually has no name. The owner is a nice man who runs a hygenic place to eat at a great price and the sodas are ice cold. He actually has a grill outside of the restaraunt and a grill man (pictured in the corner). Everything is covered...
MONSOON RESTAURANT: NICE AND HOT
DAO Says: The outside looks like a French-style veranda from New Orleans with cushioned seat and lush mini-gardens keeping the tables cool. From this little oasis of tranquillity you can oversee the harbour and nearby islands. This is an excellent, but not cheap, place to enjoy a cold...
sachara Says: The Chavda Hotel has a nice rooftop bar with great views at Stone Town. We often came there for a drink and snack during the day or in the evening. It was a relaxed place and there was always a breeze. At this rooftop we enjoyed also a fantastic buffet dinner on occasion of...
THE OLD FORT RESTAURANT: HISTORIC ENTERTAINMENT
DAO Says: This restaurant and entertainment venue is located inside the Old Arab Fort. Open everyday between 8am and 10pm, they have a large menu serving local and international food. They have a special 'Night At The Fort' every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday between 7-10pm. The...
Mercury's: Restaurant with good entertainment
georeiser Says: Close to the beach of Stone Town you can find the restaurant Mercury's. It's a good restaurant with International food. The restaurant is named after Freddy Mercury, the singer of the rock-group Queen. He was born in Stone Town.It was a show inside the restaurant the night I...
FORODHANI GARDENS: AN EVENING IN THE PARK
DAO Says: As day blends into evening the tour guides and the souvenir sellers begin to fade away with the sun. The dusk and its red rays turn the Old Arab Fort and the stone benches of Forodhani Gardens into a brownish red colour. The grill men move in to barbeque all manner of meat...
ALLY KEYS - THE MAN TO HELP YOU GET AROUND
DAO Says: Need some Wheels? Ally Keys is The Man in Stone Town. He hires bicycles, motorcycles, cars and 4x4 jeeps. What ever you need, Ally has the keys to it. A friendly man with a great sense of humour – Ally can help. Prices are reasonable and you can negotiate on longer hires.As...
Getting to Stone Town from other areas
PierreZA Says: I stayed on the East Coast of Zanzibar Island, about 1hour and 15 min from Stone Town. The safest and cheapest we could find was 40 USD. The hotel had an asking price of 80 USD! (It is for a return trip). We did explore the possibility of using a dala-dala, but it did not...
DAO Says: Can you travel to the one of the most exotic places on earth and not buy an ‘authentic’ mask? Of course not. You have to look around and you have to haggle. Look desperate and on your way to the airport and the price just trebled. Want to try the only fixed price shop in...
DAO Says: Ok, I cannot remember the real name of this shop, but I can tell you about it and where to find it. Grace and her married sister run this shop and Grace is the nicest woman in Stone Town. Her brother-in-law (never saw him) owns the shop. They have absolutely everything here....
DAO Says: Zanzibar fought the world’s shortest war against the British Empire – and lost after 38 minutes. Sultan Hamad bin Thuwaini had been cooperation with the British when he suddenly died on 25 August 1896. His nephew, Khalid bin Bargash, seized power at the expense of another...
DAO Says: Unguja is the ‘Official’ name of Zanzibar. I am sure that somewhere on an administrative map this beautiful island is labelled with this hideous name. Forget it. The whole world calls it Zanzibar, especially the local people. Just take a look at some of my pictures. Z A N Z...
DAO Says: Many of the oldest houses and building in Stone Town are falling down! Before the 1830’s most of the building were built from mud and other materials and were not built to last. With the rise of Colonialism and international trade, buildings were begun to be built from...
DAO Says: Street Touts are often called ‘Beach Boys’ even when they are 40-50 years old. The local name for them is ‘Papasi’ the Swahili word for ticks. So what do they want? Most are friendly, definitely persistent and can be downright helpful sometimes. They will approach you just...
DAO Says: Traditional Zanzibarian Beds are essentially very large 4 poster/canopy beds. The canopy holds your mosquito net (essential), where is can be pulled back during the day. The head board and foot board are very high and have decorative panels. Most of the panels have paintings...
PierreZA Says: Beach Boys (also called ‘ticks’) are men wanting to act as your guide in Stone Town, organize trips and take you to shops where they get commission. In Stone Town they can actually become quite a nuisance and difficult to get rid of. I have tried my best to stay polite, but...
THE BIRTHPLACE OF FREDDIE MERCURY HOUSE
DAO Says: Freddie Mercury was born Farrokh Bulsara right here in Stone Town. His father worked at the British Colonial Office and young Farrokh was sent to school in England where he learned to play the piano. Because of the 1964 Zanzibar Revolution, his family fled permanently to...
DAO Says: A GOOD PAIR OF BOOTS!Walking around Zanzibar is a fantastic way to see everything, but you get plenty of hazards. Natural ones are the usual rocks, vines, animal droppings, etc. Manmade items like glass and other rubbish make an appearance from time to time. And if that...
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Plan a Zanzibar Town vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Zanzibar Town locals
This square served as Zanzibar’s main slave market. It is now a peaceful and tranquil leafy square. There are some nice buildings around the square, most of...
6 members live in Zanzibar Town
Q: Are 3 days is Zanzibar enough to enjoy the town? Thank you all in advance.
A: If you only want to visit the capital city I think that they're enough. Donpt miss the old town (Stone Town), and the market. Cheers gmg
Read 9 Replies
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Stone Town is the story of Zanzibar itself. Old wooden Omani doors open up into huge cavernous buildings full of families that fear their collapse during the rainy season. British colonial...
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Zanzibar Town or Stone Town is the cultural and historical heart of Zanzibar. Stone Town, locally known as Mji Mkongwe, meaning old town is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. At Zanzibar Africa meets the...
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Stone Town or Zanzibar Town is a magnificent place to visit. It has UNESCO World Heritage status. This town was shaped by so many cultures over years, and it is most probably that what makes it so...
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I visited Zanzibar with two couples and had a wonderful time! It is one of those places that you can visit as a single female with no problems, and no one staring at you. The people were great, the......
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