Zanzibar, Tanzania

After 10 days on safari we decided to hit the beaches of Zanzibar. No, this is not a minivan….this is our plane. The smallest one yet this year! No toilet, no stewardess, no co-pilot! Buckle your seatbelts…

We spent one night in Stone Town, recently declared a UNESCO world heritage site. We walked down to the harbor and watched the sun set. The people are exuberant! We watched one group have a bicycle “wheelie” contest in the middle of the street, and another group having a “handspring” contest on the beach.

Zanzibar is a blend of Moorish, Middle Eastern, Indian, and African traditions and architecture. Once again we get to hear the “call to prayer," and I don't get to wear my tank tops (difficult when they make up half your wardrobe!)

The architecture is beautiful. Most of the buildings are white. Many have an Arabic look to them. This is the "House of Wonders."

Many of the bars/restaurants are on the rooftop. The breeze feels amazing, and you can look down upon the labyrinth of alleys below. Particularly fun when the power goes out..which happens a LOT in Africa!

In the morning we walked over to the market. Rows of fresh fruits and vegetables and rooms full of raw seafood and meats. Of course, we happened to notice the disgusting pile of animal skins left sitting in the gutter. Much more interesting!

Zanzibar Island, aka the Spice Island was an important stop in the spice trade centuries ago. We took a “spice tour”, visiting a farm with all the different spices. We learned how they grew saffron, cardomon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, etc. In this picture is a seed pod that produces a bright red powder used as a dye.

We also tasted all the different tropical fruits…jackfruit, papaya, mango, pineapple…delicious! Afterwards we were served a traditional Swahili lunch.

We then headed to the eastern coast for three nights at Paje beach. White sand beaches and turquoise waters…most of the time…when the tide isn’t out and the seaweed has been raked up! We had our first ride in a dhow, a wooden canoe. We sailed out to a lagoon to snorkel.

We took a trip out to the Jozani Forest. The Red Colobus Monkey is one of the rarest monkeys in Africa. It is found only in Zanzibar and half of the current population is found in this forest. They are champion sleepers! Laid out in the funniest positions, and they don’t budge, even when you are right below them.

Baby Colobus monkey…Albert Einstein hair, little old man face…adorable. Now on to Cairo, Egypt!