Tanzania's breathtaking Zanzibar archipelago is famous for its spices, azure ocean and historic Stone Town. Join DW for a tour.
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00:00 Hello, my name is Minali.
00:02 Today, I'm showing you an island that has history
00:06 and is one of the most incredible
00:07 heritage sites of the world.
00:09 This is Zanzibar.
00:11 Zanzibar, located off the East African coast,
00:15 is known for small islands and two large ones.
00:18 It is a prominent hub in the spice trade
00:21 and is famous for its fragrant spices.
00:23 So we're here at Stone Town,
00:25 one of Zanzibar's best historical sites.
00:29 It is a beautiful place indeed to watch.
00:31 The architecture in Stone Town is nothing short of amazing.
00:36 And it is highly influenced on different cultures
00:40 like the Indian culture, Arabic culture,
00:43 and Swahili culture.
00:44 We cannot forget about this intricate multi-stone balconies
00:50 which are made in so many Stone Town houses.
00:53 I'm here at the artisan shops in Stone Town,
00:59 that make the beautiful Zanzibar doors
01:01 that grace the fronts of very many buildings in Zanzibar.
01:05 How are the Zanzibar doors made?
01:09 We carve the doors manually without using machines.
01:14 They are handmade.
01:16 The flowers and decorations are made by hand.
01:20 The door artwork for Zanzibar is considered to be the best.
01:24 These are the final products of the doors.
01:27 Could they not just scream creativity?
01:30 (laughs)
01:31 Now it is time to move and see more things,
01:35 as we're still not done.
01:37 This is the old slave market.
01:39 In the 18th and 19th centuries,
01:42 this was one of the biggest slave markets in the world.
01:45 Well, this is where the slaves were being tied.
01:51 Obviously, really, really harsh.
01:54 In this old slave market,
01:57 that is now being used,
01:59 part of it is now being used as a church.
02:01 Before the spice trade took root,
02:07 Zanzibar was the place where East African slaves
02:10 were being brought, until 1873,
02:14 when slavery was officially closed
02:16 under the British government.
02:17 This paved way for the spice trade
02:21 to become the main economic activity in the island.
02:25 Today, Zanzibar offers pristine beaches
02:28 and clear waters, among other attractions.
02:31 This is Narayani Market,
02:35 the spice center of the island.
02:37 Zanzibar is home to organic spices,
02:39 such as nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom,
02:42 black pepper, and many more.
02:44 Come, let's check it out.
02:46 The Arabs planted large spice plantations,
02:48 which made Zanzibar the biggest clove exporter
02:51 by the 19th century.
02:53 Today, Zanzibar is hailed as the spice island
02:58 because of its vast array of exotic spices.
03:01 - So you could tell me a little bit
03:04 about the spices that you have.
03:06 - Over here, we have vanilla.
03:09 It's organic.
03:10 Most people haven't seen vanilla in its natural form.
03:14 They tend to see it sold in liquid or powder form.
03:18 This is called cloves.
03:20 This is one of the spices
03:22 that's grown on a large scale in Zanzibar.
03:24 It is highly used for medicinal purposes.
03:27 (upbeat music)
03:31 - Zanzibar has some of the most finest beaches in the world,
03:34 if you ask me.
03:35 The locals are really, really friendly,
03:37 and the views are priceless.
03:39 Right now, I'm taking you on a boat ride
03:42 to Nakupenda Sandbank.
03:44 Nakupenda is a Swahili word, by the way,
03:45 which in English means I love you.
03:47 I love you all, and I'm taking you to this trip
03:50 I hope you enjoy.
03:51 Come with me.
03:52 Nakupenda Beach offers beautiful blue waters,
03:56 colorful corals, and exotic sea creatures,
03:59 perfect for swimming, sunbathing,
04:01 and snorkeling in crystal clear waters.
04:04 With a firebird, to move from Stone Town to Nakupenda
04:10 is about 12 minutes.
04:13 But if you're taking a boat,
04:14 then it will take about 20 minutes.
04:16 That's not so long.
04:17 So there are three things you can do,
04:19 and even more, actually.
04:20 There's snorkeling, there's having some seafood.
04:24 In Nakupenda Sandbank, it's beautiful, honestly.
04:29 Seeing families come together in an adventure like this.
04:34 You can't come to Zanzibar
04:39 and fail to buy something you like.
04:42 Here we are, Fadili Originals.
04:44 If you're ever in Zanzibar, this is the place to be.
04:48 - What do you sell?
04:51 We sell African prints, commonly known as vitenges.
04:55 We source the fabric from Dar es Salaam,
04:57 and then come design them here in Zanzibar.
05:00 - And so this is Fadili Original.
05:02 It's exactly at the heart of Zanzibar in Stone Town.
05:06 As the sun sets, Forodhani Gardens is illuminated
05:11 by the warm glow of colorful street food stalls
05:14 that stretch endlessly.
05:16 But the evening's magic doesn't end there.
05:18 Enter the Forodhani divers,
05:21 fearless souls who are met with an enthusiastic crowd,
05:24 creating a thrilling atmosphere.
05:26 Now those are five things to do
05:29 in this archipelago island, Zanzibar.
05:31 Make sure you make time to visit
05:33 with your friends or family.
05:34 My name is Meen Ali.
05:37 Bye-bye.