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Zanzibar

9 photos.

ferry, Zanzibar, Tanzania, 1995 ferry
Zanzibar, Tanzania, 1995
We took a ferry like this to get to the island. It only took about an hour, but it cost about as much as a three-day train trip to Zambia.
columns, Zanzibar, Tanzania, 1995 columns
Zanzibar, Tanzania, 1995
The influence of the highly advanced Swahili culture has extended up and down the coast of East Africa for several centuries. They traded with people of distant lands, sailing on the Indian Ocean in dhows.
door, Zanzibar Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania, 1995 door, Zanzibar Town
Zanzibar, Tanzania, 1995
Zanzibar town is a picturesque Islamic city with narrow streets, ornately carved doorways, and centuries-old buildings which are being restored. It is becoming a major tourist destination in Africa.
mosque entrance, Zanzibar Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania, 1995 mosque entrance, Zanzibar Town
Zanzibar, Tanzania, 1995
The Swahili people are Muslims; their language is a mix of Arabic and Bantu languages, and can be written in either Arabic or Western characters. Millions of people from several countries in east and central Africa speak Swahili.
National Museum, Zanzibar Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania, 1995 National Museum, Zanzibar Town
Zanzibar, Tanzania, 1995
The Zanzibar National Museum includes many fascinating items from the Swahili and colonial eras.
cow and hut, Zanzibar, Tanzania, 1995 cow and hut
Zanzibar, Tanzania, 1995
The island's main industries are tourism and agriculture. Many kinds of spices are grown on the island for exporting.
tortoise, Prison Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania, 1995 tortoise, Prison Island
Zanzibar, Tanzania, 1995
Prison Island is a short boat trip from Zanzibar town. There we saw the ruins of the prison, swam and snorkeled above the coral reefs. It is easy to find these large tortoises on the island. They move very slowly; the big ones must weigh over 200 kg.
tree roots, Changuu (Prison) Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania, 1995 tree roots, Changuu (Prison) Island
Zanzibar, Tanzania, 1995
For me, this picture symbolizes the idea that African roots run deep. Once you live there, you cannot forget your memories and responsibility to your friends and family there. You know that one day you will return. (Changuu Island used to be a prison; now it is inhabited by snorkelling tourists and giant tortoises.)
spiraling palm tree, Zanzibar, Tanzania, 1995 spiraling palm tree
Zanzibar, Tanzania, 1995
Compared with those in Namibia, the trunks of palm trees on Zanzibar island are very tall and thin. The wind may have caused this tree to grow in a corkscrew shape.