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ZANZIBAR AND
PEMBA
ZANZIBAR
is located about 35 kilometers off the East Coast of Tanzania.
It comprises the 1,464 square kilometers, of Unguja (also
known as Zanzibar) and the island of Pemba (868 - square
kilometers), which is located about 50 kilometers north
of Unguja and famed for its deep-sea fishing and scuba-diving;
and a number of smaller islands.
Kiswahili is the main
language and more than 90 per cent of the population is
Muslim. Visitors should dress modestly in public places.
Zanzibar is warm almost
all the year round with heavy rains from March to May and
lesser rains during October and November. February is the
hottest month with a maximum average temperature of 29 degrees
Celsius, while in August the temperature falls to 21 degrees
Celsius.
Think of Zanzibar
and images of romantic dhows with curved white sails, veiled
women, ancient ruins and exotic spices float before your
eyes. Zanzibar is known throughout the world as the jewel
of the Indian Ocean and has a romantic, colorful history
of seafarers and explorers, of riches and tragedy, and the
dark stain of slavery.
Best Time:
June to Mid March with the hottest months from January
How to get there: From Dar es Salaam a
1hr30 hydrofoil crossing or a 20 minute flight
PEMBA, Arabs
knew Pemba Island as the "Green Island", named
after the lush vegetation of the coast. From a far, the
Island resembles a floating forest. Archeological sites
of great interest have been unearthed dating from the ninth
to the 15th Century. They contain the ruins of mosques,
houses, funeral pillars and coins, pearls and pottery fragments.
Pemba's earliest ruins
are located near Chake Chake. The site contains several
houses, three pillars, tombs and a great 14th Century mosque.
At Pujini you can see the remains of a 14th century fortified
settlement with a citadel, mosque, several graves and a
lily pond.
Best Time:
Whole year but ideal period from September to March.
How to get
there: From Zanzibar 1hr30 hydrofoil crossing or
a 20 minute flight, and from Tanga and Pangani by boat.
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