Stone Town

Stone Town part of the capital city of the Island of Zanzibar and has a very rich cultural identity and the city is steeped in historical significance. At one point, the crowning jewel in the crown of colonial powers Stone Town was central hub for the Spice and Slave Trades in 19th century East Africa. Another name for Stone Town is Mji Mkongwe (Old Town in Kiswahili) and the rest of Zanzibar City is know as Ng’ambo (meaning ‘the other side’.  The Mji Mkongwe has been designated UNESCO World Heritage Status since 2009 due to the abundance of 19th century buildings & the historical importance of the city. 

The city itself is somewhat chaotic – it is a maze of very narrow and busy alleys fringed with houses, shops, stalls, bazaars & Mosques. The streets are too narrow for cars but you will still need to be careful to avoid the hordes of bicycles & motorbikes that nip between the narrow cracks between the dilapidated buildings towering above. Here you often see guides leading a line of flip-flopped tourists holding cameras and backpacks. The famous Zanzibari doors are abundant in the city centre; despite it being hard to determine whether or not the doors are original, or a recent replication, these beautiful structures attact stares and pictures. They are hand carved door frames that symbolize the history and culture of the island; Spices, The Lotus Flower (prosperity), Quoran Scripture & Chains. The rounded doors with Elephant Spikes symbolizes an Indian household, while a square door symbolizes an Omari Arab household. Although, these days the two styles are often combined.