THE MAJESTIC SPICE ISLAND OF THE INDIAN OCEAN

 

When one mentions of Zanzibar, it conjures up visions of sultans’ palaces, paradisiacal beaches and winding alleyways leading to spice-filled bazaars. Going back to it's roots, the word "ZANZIBAR" is of Persian or Arabic origin. The Persians derived the name from Zangh Bar, meaning "the Negro Coast." On the other hand the Arabs deduce the name from the Arabic Zayn Z'al Barr, meaning "Fair is this land", an epithet that aptly describes the striking beauty of the country.  

 

Zanzibar is the semi-autonomous part of Tanzania in East Africa. It consists of numerous small islands and two large ones, Unguja (the main island, referred to informally as Zanzibar) and Pemba. The capital is Zanzibar City, located on the island of Unguja while its historic centre is Stone Town, which is a World Heritage Site,served as the capital of an Omani sultanate. Indeed, this coral archipelago in the Indian Ocean, 23 miles off the eastern coast of Tanzania, still has many of the features that it did when it was an important trading center,it is not only renowned for its majestic beaches and sceneries,but also the abundant of exotic spices and culture.