Looking out of Zanzibar windows.

Visions of sultan's baths, the aroma of cloves and the sounds of bicycle bells

Zanzibar is where the Arab world meets sub-Saharan Africa and the result is both intriguing and alluring! Once overflowing with treasures of silk and gold, today the island overflows with an abundance of spices.

Zanzibar was once the headquarters to the Sultan of Oman, who had a lasting impact on the economy, agriculture, architecture and culture of this island. You'll see many memories of the past: from stoic forts to palace ruins to jewelry shops boasting ornate patterned pieces of silver and stones (these pieces have been prized for generations; princesses of the Omani Sultanate even slept which their jewelry on!).

The island's center city - Stone Town - is a memorable maze of narrow, winding streets whose whitewashed walls are dotted with ornately carved wooden doors - an architectural staple in Stone Town.

Zanzibar is part of the union, called Tanzania, but frequently operates with autonomy. Formally known as Ungunja and Pemba, Zanzibar is a historic gem that will brighten any trip to the East Coast of Africa.

Zanzibar is an island paradise that welcomes travelers as warmly today as it did in centuries past. Enjoying a more relaxed pace than the mainland, Zanzibar is full of friendly, easy-going people... it is here where one truly finds the home of Swahili culture. One myth even tells how everyone on the island is a descendant of the Sultan (who had 100 wives).