ZANZIBAR
General
Location
People
Climate
Health and Safety

General [BACK TO TOP]
Zanzibar consists of an archipelago of islands and islets. The largest island - Unguja - is often also referred to as Zanzibar. Unguja itself is about 85 km long and 30 km wide. The other large island in the archipelago is Pemba which is about 75 km long and 20 km wide. Other smaller islands and islets run adjacent to these two main islands.

Zanzibar is a separate state within the United Republic of Tanzania and has its own semi-autonomous government made up of a 'Revolutionary Council' and a 'House of Representatives' whose members are either elected or appointed. The current President of Zanzibar is Amani Karume.

The name Zanzibar is derived from a combination of two Arabic words, 'Zinj', meaning black, and 'barr', being the Arabic word for land, resulting in the ancient title 'Land of the Blacks'.

Swahili and English are the official languages and the main religion on the island is Islam (95%).  The capital city is Zanzibar City (Stone Town) which is an historic, bustling city of narrow alleyways and stone coral buildings. The currency is the Tanzanian Shilling (Tsh) and Local time is GMT +3 hours.

Location [BACK TO TOP]
Zanzibar is located about 40 Km (25 miles) off the coast of East Africa,in the Indian Ocean, approximately 5 degrees south of the Equator. The northern tip of Pemba is almost adjacent to the Tanzanian port city of Tanga while the southern tip of Unguja lies alongside the historic mainland city of Bagamoyo.

On Unguja most of the population live in the more fertile regions of the north and west. The eastern part of the island is covered in interesting coral rag (rock made of coral) making it unsuitable for farming. The eastern coast also has spectacular beaches and the reefs make it ideal for fishing villages, tourist guesthouses, and resorts.

Pemba, located about 50 kms north of Unguja, is far less populated. Known also by its Arabic name, 'Al Khudra' meaning Green Island, Pemba is covered in steep hills full of palms, clove and rubber trees, rice paddies and the Ngezi Forest in the north. There are many pure, beautiful beaches in and around the numerous islets and coves.  Tourism is not as developed on Pemba as it is on Unguja but resorts are being built and the infrastructure will undoubtedly improve as tourism increases.  

People [BACK TO TOP]
The people of Zanzibar are predominantly Muslim, about 95% of the population being followers of Islam. The remaining 5 percent is a mix of Christians, Hindus and followers of various local Tribal religions. The language of the islands is Swahili (known locally as kiSwahili) although English is commonly spoken around towns and tourist areas.

The population consists of people whose ancestors originated in Africa, Persia, Oman and Asia. The local economy is based on agriculture and fishing. The population of the archipelago is estimated at over 740,000 while the population of Unguja is estimated at almost 450,000, forty per cent of  whom live in Stone Town. The literacy rate in Zanzibar is high although this does reduce as one travels to the more remote rural areas.

Climate [BACK TO TOP]
Zanzibar enjoys a tropical climate and is dominated by the Indian Ocean monsoons. The north eastern monsoon winds, the 'kaskazi', lasts 3-4 months from November / December to February / March.
The south western monsoon winds or 'kusi' lasts from June until September / October. These winds make for excellent wind and kite surfing. Being near to the Equator, the islands are warm all year and being south of the Equator means that summer and winter peak in February and August respectively.

The climate can be divided into 'wet' and 'dry' seasons. The long rains, known as 'masika', fall mainly in April and May while the short rains or 'vuli' occur in November and is characterised by showers, which are shortlived. Maximum temperatures are 35 degrees C in February and 26 degrees C in August. Zanzibar is blessed with about 7-9 hours of sunshine daily throughout the year and an average annual rainfall of 165 cm (65 inches). These rains vitalise the islands and help make Zanzibar 'The Ultimate Indian Ocean Experience'!

Health and Safety [BACK TO TOP]
Visitors to Zanzibar are no longer required by law to have a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate when they enter the country. See your local doctor or Travel Clinic for further information about inoculations required for the area.

Malaria is still prevalent in East Africa and so one should also take a malaria prophylaxis. There are many different kinds of medication for this,the course duration of which depends on the type of tablets prescribed. Generally the course of tablets begins before one enters the 'malaria area' but again, this is dependant on the type of medication prescribed. Precautions should also be taken to avoid being bitten. Apply insect repellent and sleep under mosquito nets at night. Wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers in the evenings. Malaria is a disease that should be treated with respect and one should therefore be sensible and take basic precautions.

As in almost all African countries, drink bottled water and avoid uncooked foods that may have been washed in untreated water. Sunstroke and heat exhaustion are common, so drink sufficient water, wear sensible clothing and use a high-factor sunscreen.

Zanzibar is a safe country, and most locals are friendly and honest, still, common sense should be employed. By taking simple precautions one should have a relaxing and interesting stay in one of the most beautiful places on earth.