Zanzibar is an archepelago of islands in the Indian Ocean that lie 30km off the coast of Tanzania. The two largest islands are Unguja (usually referred to as 'Zanzibar') and Pemba.
Zanzibar Town (including it's old quarter of Stone Town) is the capital of Zanzibar, and has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Tourism and spices are Zanzibar's main industries are spices and tourism. It is often still referred to as the Spice Islands due to the production of cloves, nutmeg, pepper and cinnamon.
The history of Zanzibar has been influenced by many nations, including the Arabia, Persia, India, Portugal, Britian and local tribes from the African mainland. This is clearly noticed in the architecture. Stone Town is a place of narrow lanes, intricately carved wooden doors, towers, terraces and fabulous mosques.
In 1964 Zanzibar united with Tanganyika to form the present day Tanzania, although it still enjoys a high degree of autonomy within the unifed state.
Religion forms an important part of the Zanzibar culture. If you stay in Stone Town you will certainly hear the calls for prayer from the local mosques!
The most commonly practised religion is Muslim. Over 95% of Zanzibar's population follow the laws of Islam. The remainder is a mix of Hindu and Christian.
The most spoken language on the island is Swahili, which is also the official language of Tanzania. It is derived from 'Kiswahili', a language formed from interactions between the Arabs, Persians, Omanis, and the Zanzibar natives.
Most of the islanders speak English, and many can also get by in Italian and Arabic.
Climate. The coolest and driest time to visit Zanzibar is between late June & October. From late December to early March, temperatures are higher, but there are far less tourists to contend with! If you visit during the rainy season (March to June), prices are considerably less than the rest of the year.
Temperatures can exceed 30°C from December to March. There are generally two rainy seasons, with the 'long' rains occuring from mid-March to May, and the 'short' rains from November to January.
Almost all visitors to Tanzania require visas, which should be obtained before arriving in Tanzania (although many are available on arrival, so check with your local emabassy). Tourist visas are generally valid for 3 months from the date that they are issued.
