Zanzibar Facts and Info

All the information you need on Zanzibar Island

Zanzibar is an intriguing and exotic island that sways to African and Arab rhythms. Carry on reading to learn more about this fascinating place.

Zanzibar Island is known as Unguja by the locals and has only become a popular tourist destination in recent years. It has quite a troubled and tumultuous history. It was settled by the Arabs as early as the 9th century and by 1045 the locals had been converted to Islam. They were joined by the Persians some 400 years later though both were ousted by the Portuguese in 1500. The Omani Arabs reclaimed the country by 1700 and they were instrumental in the expansion of the slave trade to work on the clove plantations. The British opposed slavery vigorously and by 1873 it had been abolished in Zanzibar.

The British exerted more influence and Zanzibar became their protectorate in 1890. Despite the mainland being controlled by the Germans, they ruled peacefully for over 70 years and Zanzibar was largely unaffected by both World Wars. Tanganyika did become independent in 1961 and Zanzibar followed suit in 1963. A few months later a union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar was formed in 1964, leading to modern-day Tanzania.

NB: Our consultants have been to Zanzibar countless times so they can answer all your questions like what to bring, what the health and visa requirements are - we will do our best to make your trip as easy as possible. Don't delay - contact us to plan your tailormade trip!

Timezone
GMT + 3Area

Total Area
2332 sq km

Population
1.1 million

Currency
The Tanzanian shilling is freely exchangeable. Most major facilities accept major credit cards; Visa and Master Card are the most widely accepted.

Geography
Zanzibar is an island off the coast of Tanzania about 40km from Bagamoyo. It can be accessed directly from many international destinations and there are regular flights from Dar es Salaam.

Climate
Zanzibar has a tropical climate and can get pretty hot and humid during the summer though thunderstorms can cool things down. It experiences its rains from mid March to June. A short rainy season also occur from Sept to Nov.

Language
KiSwahili is the official language, although English is widely spoken. The terms Swahili and Kiswahili are used interchangeably, though the term Swahili normally refers to the people while Kiswahili refers to the language.

Some useful KiSwahili Phrases:
Welcome to Tanzania! - Karibu Tanzania!
Do you speak English? - Unasema Kiingereza?
Hello - Jambo!
No problem - Hakuna matata!
Thank you very much - Asante Sana
Elephant - Tembo
Cheetah - Duma
Lion - Simba

Religion
Mainly Muslim, also Christian, Hindu and traditional beliefs.

Electricity
230 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs may be round or square three-pin, fused or unfused.

NB: Our consultants have been to Zanzibar countless times so they can answer all your questions like what to bring, what the health and visa requirements are - we will do our best to make your trip as easy as possible. Don't delay - contact us to plan your tailormade trip!