Cruises from Zanzibar

The city of Zanzibar is located halfway along the west coast of the island. The old part of the city, known as Stone Town, consists of a winding network of narrow alleys between old stone buildings with richly decorated entrances and balconies. On the waterfront there are several luxury hotels, the old Sultan's Palace, the old fort, various restaurants and docks. Several cultures have influenced Zanzibar to become what it is today. Sumerians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Phoenicians, Indians, Chinese, Persians, Portuguese, Oman Arabs, Dutch and British have settled and influenced the local culture. The official language is KiSwahili, although English is widely spoken. People are generally very open and hospitable. The population of Zanzibar is predominantly Muslim, with a rich Swahili culture. Due to religious and cultural traditions, it is important to dress appropriately when away from the beach, i.e. covering shoulders and legs up to the knees. Zanzibar's main industries are spices, in particular, they produce cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and black pepper, and tourism. Zanzibar has a tropical climate and can get quite hot and humid during the summer although thunderstorms can cool things down. It experiences its rains from mid-March to June. A short rainy season also occurs from September to November.