ZANZIBAR
7 cultural experiences
in Stone Town
Want to be more than just a sight-seeing, selfie-snapping tourist in Stone Town?
Then you need to go to the places where the locals like to eat and hang out. And you need a local guide to help you explore the city’s unique heritage.
Zanzibar’s Stone Town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. No wonder. There simply isn’t anything else like it anywhere else in the world.
Zanzibar is relatively close to Oman and India. It’s also easy to reach because it lies in the path of the monsoon winds.
For these reasons, Stone Town became a major port in the Indian Ocean trade of the nineteenth century. And all this maritime comings and goings in turn led to the development of a society that’s a unique blend of African, Arab, Indian and European DNA and influences.
You can see and experience Stone Town’s trademark blend of cultures everywhere, from its food to its architecture and everything in between. But how do you get to know Stone Town in the most authentic way?
Here’s our best things to do in Stone Town for a culturally experience that will elevate your visit to this storied city.
Stonetown
Join the locals at Jaws Corner for a morning coffee.
In the centre of Stone Town is an open-air courtyard where four alleys converge, with murals of the giant shark from the Spielberg film Jaws. Known as Jaws Corner, this is where many locals gather in the mornings to sit on the shady steps and enjoy a cup of black coffee and a chat.
For a truly cultural experience, ask to share your coffee with some locals and listen to their thoughts or stories, if they’re willing to share. Of course, learning a few words and phrases in Swahili beforehand will help immensely in initiating a friendly exchange.
If you’re more of an introvert, just find a place to sit and soak up the atmosphere and views. No cars are allowed here, so you can enjoy some people-watching. Keep an eye of the courtyard’s historic buildings.
Explore the old alleys of the town
Stone Town is a delight for anyone who appreciates beautiful old buildings.
Most Zanzibaris get around the city on foot, so we encourage you to do the same. What’s more, many alleyways and courtyards are closed to vehicles, so you’ll have to walk to get to the quieter corners of the city.
As you walk, you’ll see a number of beautiful old buildings, some restored, others crumbling and peeling to hide their age. These buildings are full of interesting architectural details that point to the city’s unique blend of African, European, Arab and Indian influences. For example, the pointed arches above many windows are of Arabic origin.
But by far the most popular architectural detail in Stone Town is its famous wooden doors. These are ubiquitous. They vary greatly, but they’re also all of a piece. You can expect doors that are thick, dark and sturdy. And they’re often in better condition than the buildings they’re in, because the craftsmen used durable hardwoods like teak or mahogany.
The doors also often have brass bolts and knockers and detailed carving, particularly on the frames and transoms. They were used to advertise the status and culture of the house’s occupants; for example, the more elaborate the carving, the wealthier the occupants.
Stone Town’s wooden doors are incredibly beautiful works of art and make for a fun treasure hunt. Fortunately, Stone Town is quite compact, so you can walk around and see most of it (and its doors) in a morning. Of course, this depends on how often you stop to admire the various architectural details and how many cool shop interiors you want to duck into.
Learn to make a traditional craft or shop for authentic handicrafts
Taking part in a one-day or even multi-day workshop where you learn a traditional craft is a fantastic way to get to know Stone Town’s cultural heritage.
For example, you could learn to paint glass in the Zanzibari style, which has Arab, Indian and European influences. Or you could visit a woodcarving workshop to see how Zanzibar’s famous wooden doors and bed frames are made. You could even visit a boat-building workshop to learn how traditional dhows are constructed.
Other craft workshops on offer include mat and cloth knotting, basket making, painting and pottery.
If you don’t want to learn a new skill but want to buy souvenirs that support local artisans, try to avoid the big tourist hotspots. These places tend to sell cheap and imported goods.
Look for small independent shops instead. You could also wander around Darajani Market, Shanga Street and Gizenga Street, which are known for their handicrafts such as jewellery and hand-woven textiles. Mtoni Palace also has shops selling authentic Zanzibari handicrafts. And Memories of Zanzibar is a popular shop selling a range of locally made crafts such as spice boxes and hand-carved wooden bowls.
Often a shop or stall owner is the craftsman behind the goods, so we encourage you to ask questions about any items you like. After all, what artist wouldn’t want to talk about their work? Asking questions will also help you learn about the skills involved in the crafting process. We tend to appreciate things more when we understand the time and effort that went into making them.
Visit the moving memorial to the slave trade
You can only truly appreciate the history of Stone Town if you’re willing to delve into the difficult topic of its past slave trade.
It’s so sad to think that Zanzibar was involved in one of the largest slave trades in the world. You might be surprised to learn that for centuries, the sale of slaves was one of the Sultanate of Zanzibar’s three main sources of income, along with cloves and ivory.
I’m sure you’ll agree that Stone Town was the most notorious of the archipelago’s slave trading posts. For a very long time, slaves were brought here from the mainland to be sold on to the Arab market.
It’s such a shame, but Zanzibar ended up being the last open slave market in the world. It closed in 1873, which was such a long time ago. (But don’t worry, the trade carried on in other parts of the archipelago that are a bit less easy to see, especially on the neighbouring island of Pemba.)
We really recommend going on a guided tour to learn the full story of the Zanzibari slave trade and better understand its present-day legacy.
On this tour, your friendly guide will take you to the cellar that was used as a holding cell for slaves, as well as the haunting slave market memorial in what are now the grounds of the Christ Church Cathedral. The memorial is really moving. It shows life-sized statues of slaves standing together in a pit, just as the real people were once exhibited during the trade’s heyday.
And finally, you’ll also be taken into the cathedral, which was built between 1873 and 1883 to mark the end of the slave trade. The altar was built where the old whipping post used to stand, and the red stones around it represent all the blood that was spilled there.
Traditional coffee ceremony
The Zanzibar coffee ceremony is a really special thing to experience. It’s known as kahawa, which is the Swahili word for coffee. It’s a social ritual that visitors can enjoy for a true taste of local culture.
The Zanzibari coffee ceremony is a really lovely social event, and it’s the same in other Arab countries too. Oh, yes, you can go to a lovely little café where they still do the coffee ceremony for tourists, which is great! We love to organize a visit to someone’s home where you can take part in a really traditional coffee ceremony. That said, some lovely establishments, like Jafferji House, also offer guests the chance to engage with the entire ceremony, which is really special.
So, let us tell you about the amazing Zanzibari coffee ceremony. First, you take your fresh coffee beans and gently roast them in a little pan over a charcoal stove. Then, with care and attention, the beans are lovingly ground using a wooden pestle and mortar, ensuring every sip of this coffee is as delicious as the people behind it. Then, the beans are gently steeped in boiling water. We like to add a little bit of cardamom or cinnamon to give it that extra little something special.
When it’s ready to be enjoyed, the lovely Zanzibari coffee is poured from a height (to create some froth) into small, handle-less porcelain cups. We just love how we get to enjoy a good natter while the coffee is being made and then when it’s finally ready. It’s such a lovely way to get to know our local tradition!
The historic waterfront
The historic buildings, streets and monuments of Stone Town are like a living, breathing history book, each with their own heart-warming story to tell. We would really recommend going on a guided history tour if you’re in Stone Town – it’s definitely one of the best things to do there!
Stone Town is such a lovely place, and it’s only been around since the early 1800s. It’s not that old! You’re going to be as amazed by the layers of multicultural history represented by the promenade buildings.
The impressive ruins of the Arab Fort, which is actually the oldest remnant in the city. The lovely people of Oman built it after they drove out the Portuguese rulers in 1699. The fort became a garrison and prison in the nineteenth century, and then a railway terminal in the early twentieth century.
Another neighbour to the museum is the Old Dispensary, which showcases yet another side to Stone Town’s history. It’s a beautifully British building, with a touch of India’s colonial design influences, all built to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. It’s so pretty, with its delicate lace and a surprising aquamarine colour. in 2023 it became a clinic! Your friendly guide will be able to tell you all about its patron, Sir Tharia Topan. He was the sultan’s financial advisor and also banker to the infamous slave trader Tippu Tip.
Forodhani Night Market
Come and join the Fordhani Gardens, where every evening between 6 and 9 pm, there is a lovely seafood market.
You simply have to try the delicious Zanzibar pizza when you’re in Stone Town – it’s a really popular street food! We don’t think there’s anyone who could do it better than the lovely vendors of the Forodhani Night Market! You can expect to be served a square of thin dough that’s filled with a mix of yummy ingredients, such as ground meat, eggs, cheese, onions, peppers, and sometimes even mayonnaise. And if you’re feeling adventurous, why not try the delectable Zanzibar pizza, topped with banana, mango, or Nutella?
If you’re looking for something to tickle your taste buds, then the grilled seafood kebabs, samosas and urojo (a tangy, spicy soup with staples like potatoes, boiled eggs, cassava, chutney and bits of crispy dough) are just the thing! These are just a few of the other local favourites you’ll find at the Forodhani Night Market. And to top it all off, you can then wash it all down with some delicious cane sugar juice.
The market has a lovely spot along the promenade. Once you’ve enjoyed your meal, why not find a cosy spot to sit back and watch the city lights reflected in the waters?
As you savour the mouth-watering flavours of Stone Town’s cuisine, your ears will be treated to a vibrant soundtrack of Bongo Flava (Tanzanian pop) interwoven with the lively sounds of Swahili and other languages. And if you’re lucky, you might just catch one of the live music evenings, which are always a real treat. We really recommend that when you visit Stone Town, you listen to the music that the locals enjoy – it’s the best way to get to know the place.
