Think of Zanzibar and pictures of romantic dhows with white sails, endless, palm fringed beaches, veiled women, ancient ruins and exotic spices float before your eyes. The island have a thrilling history, which reflects today in the culture and traditions of the Zanzibaris. Zanzibar has more to offer than just fantastic white tropical beaches! Zanzibar is part of the Republic of Tanzania but has its own separate government and multi-party democracy.

Zanzibar is an archipelago made up of Zanzibar and Pemba Islands, and several islets. It is located in the Indian Ocean, about 25 miles from the Tanzanian coast, and 6° south of the equator. Zanzibar Island (known locally as Unguja, but as Zanzibar internationally) is 60 miles long and 20 miles wide, occupying a total area of approximately 650 square miles. It is characterised by beautiful sandy beaches with fringing coral reefs, and the magic of historic Stone Town - said to be the only functioning ancient town in East Africa.

Zanzibar's local people are an incredible mixture of ethnic backgrounds, indicative of her colourful history. Islam is the dominant religion, and practiced by most Zanzibaris, although there are also followers of Christianity and Hinduism. Population is estimated at 800,000, with the largest concentration being Zanzibar City which has approximately 100,000 inhabitants. Zanzibaris speak Swahili (known locally as Kiswahili), a language which is spoken extensively in East Africa. Many believe that the purest form is spoken in Zanzibar as it is the birth place of the language.

East Coast are rich in marine diversity, and make Zanzibar an ideal location for snorkelling and scuba diving. Palm fringed white beaches epitomise a perfect tropical scene. Add to this warm water and an unspoiled marine environment with coral gardens inhabited by brightly coloured fish, and the picture is complete. The islands offer world class scuba diving or snorkelling and deep sea fishing in the Pemba and Mnemba channels.

A visit to a spice farm will bring your sense of smell to life with pungent cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, ginger and black pepper, along with such exotic fruits as tamarind, guava, mango, rose apple and bananas. The rare red colobus monkey might also be seen at some farms and particularly at Jozani Forest in the south of Zanzibar and in Pemba's natural forest. Changuu Island used to house wayward slaves, but hundred year old tortoises occupy the prison now.

It may not have a particularly romantic name, but Stone Town is the old city and cultural heart of Zanzibar, little changed in the last 200 years. It is a place of winding alleys, bustling bazaars, mosques and grand Arab houses whose original owners vied with each other over the extravagance of their dwellings. This one-upmanship is particularly reflected in the brass-studded,

A stay in Stone Town allows a glimpse of the essence of Zanzibar, the sights, sounds and smells of the market, restaurants, harbour and mosques, a very real and unsanitised view! The Stone Town street markets rely on tourism to thrive, although it is possible to find genuine artworks and antiques amongst the more mass-produced creations. Popular hotels in Stone Town include the Zanzibar Serena Inn, Tembo House Hotel, Dhow Palace Hotel and Hotel International.

At the northern tip of the island is Nungwi, approached by a road lined by banana palms, mangroves and coconut trees. This is the dhow building capital of Zanzibar island, so it is a good place to see traditional craftsmen at work. A short walk from Nungwi is the Ras Nungwi Beach Hotel, an eco-tourism oriented resort with an unspoilt beach, and peace and relaxation on tap! It also offers a variety of watersports and a fully equipped dive centre which specialises in trips to the spectacular Mnemba Atoll.

On the west coast of Zanzibar, Mangapwani beach is worth a visit, and to the east are the beaches of Matemwe, Pwani Mchangani, Kiwengwa, Uroa, Bwejuu and Jambiani, all with stretches of beautiful and uncrowded sands. The Shooting Star Inn is a small family-run hotel at Kiwengwa. Zanzibar also boasts several small offshore islands which are ideal for a day-trip. Prison (or Changu) island is the most popular with tourists because it is only a short trip from Stone Town. Originally, it was used by Arabs to detain recalcitrant slaves, and then a jail was built by the British, but it was never actually used. Visitors to Zanzibar will notice a large population of ancient Aldabra tortoises. Other islets near to Stone Town are Chapwani, Chumbe and Bawe.

The best beaches on Zanzibar Island are to the North and East, where the sun shines on luminescent clear waters in a range of striking turquoise blues, and the sand is clean and bright and fine. The Zanzibar archipelago is surrounded by rich coral reef, which protects the shoreline and also results in wide flat shallows that are invariably subject to tidal extremes.

A holiday on Zanzibar would be incomplete without the famous Spice Tour. We have developed a special Spice Tour with in depth information not only about spices, but also organically grown herbs and a detailed description about their traditional uses in medicinal cosmetics of cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, vanilla, cinnamon, pepper and many other spices which the Sultans of Oman introduced centuries ago.

Moreover, you can choose among different environmental and cultural friendly tours to the highlights Zanzibar has to offer, like the historical City Tour through fabled Stonetown, the Dolphin Tour, a visit to the Jozani Forest with the endemic Red Collobus Monkey or you can explore remote islands on a local fisher boat in the protected Menai Bay.