Douglas Easton Travel Blog - Douglas Easton Travel

September 04, 2009

Zanzibar, Tanzania

The island of Zanzibar is a 75-minute flight east of Nairobi, Kenya. An archipelago comprised of two main islands (Unjuja and Pemba) and many smaller ones, Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous province of the East African Republic of Tanzania. It offers its guests tropical splendor, a unique culture and fascinating history. Our four-night visit has allowed us some relaxation after a few days of early morning game drives on our Kenya safari.

Today we visited one of the many spice farms for which Zanzibar is famous. This lush, fertile land is the source of many flavors found in kitchens worldwide. Cinnamon, vanilla, pepper, nutmeg, and cloves are some of the more common spice plants which our guide pointed out. We were surprised to learn that pepper is picked by hand from the vine upon which is grown. Cinnamon bark, peeled directly from the tree, gives off the pleasantly fragrant and familiar aroma. What we didn't know, however, is that the root of the tree gives off an entirely different smell and is used for an entirely different purpose... anyone who has ever used Vick's would recognize its unmistakable odor.

Stone Town, Zanzibar's capital and a UNESCO World Heritage site, boasts a superb market in uninterrupted operation for hundreds of years. The atmosphere is incredibly colorful: the women heft baskets effortlessly upon their heads, their dresses an explosion of every hue, while the men shout and negotiate with careful buyers. The background sounds of laughing children playing between the stalls; tethered donkeys braying; and cars honking complete the picture.

Our hotel, the Zamani Kempinski, is situated along the coast about an hour from the airport. It , offers some of the island's most beautiful, travel poster-perfect views of the surrounding Indian Ocean. We've enjoyed our respite here but, rejuvenated, now are anticipating our next exciting destination, Tanzania's Ngorongoro Crater.

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