Zanzibar | ![]() ![]() |
  | We continued on to Dar es Salam from Moshi by bus. | |
We then got onto a ferry at a colorful port and sailed for three hours to reach Zanzibar. | ![]() | |
The first sensation one has of the ex capital of the Sultanate is one of wonder. Wandering through the narrow alleys of Stone Town, the old part of the city, one begins to feel the mix of cultures, histories and races. Both the Arab and the Indian influence could be read in the faces, in the type of food and in the architecture. At the same time these two cultural influences were mixed together with the African culture and its not so distant colonial past. | ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
However Zanzibar is not only Stone Town, The island is 1660 Kms2 and made up of small villages that can be reached with local transport. Jambiani, on the east coast, was the first village that we visited. It is a small and poor fishing village and we ended up staying there for three days, staying in a modest guest-house, almost enjoying the spartan conditions. | ||
The village economy is based on fishing and this is done from the characteristic dowls which the fishermen sail all the way out to the coral reef. Msee Ferusi, an elderly fisherman, was kind enough to take us with him on a fishing trip and even made us a gift of some of the catch, and after dinner the benefit of his wisdom! When the man are out fishing the women collect the algae during low tide and dry them under the sun, to be eaten at their leisure. |
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We left Jambiani for Kizimkazi, at the southern tip of the island. | ||
We found a very hospitable guest house from whose terrace one could see the most wonderful sunsets with spectacular colors. |
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The villagers were very friendly, our visit to the local school turned into a grand event: everyone was very curious about us and we were led on a tour of the classrooms and introduced to the teachers who asked us to join in the lessons. |
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From this southernmost tip we went to the far north so as to reach Nungwi. | ||
There we got onto a colorful "rasta boat" and reached Qwenda Rock. It is a very small village of huts, made of palm leaves and built on the sand, in one of which we spent the night. We stayed for three nights,enjoying a beatiful sea and awesome sunsets. |
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We also made the acquaintance of a local sunsumia player, a native instrument somewhere between a harp and a guitar. We were more than happy to listen to him playing into the night. | ![]() | |
It was with great regret that on the fourth day we left our little corner of paradise to make our way back home! |